Does duct tape work to remove warts?

Q: I had a plantar wart when I was a child, and we tried all the standard medical treatments for months. Freezing, soaking and shaving didn’t work at all. Then we put duct tape on it and the wart came right out. I’ve heard this only works for kids. Have you ever encountered this remedy?

A: One of the earliest studies of duct tape for warts was carried out at a pediatric and adolescent clinic (Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, October 2002). The investigators compared freezing to duct tape as a treatment for common warts. For these kids, duct tape was significantly more effective.

A more recent study compared freezing to duct tape for treating plantar warts in adults (Dermatologic Therapy, May 2020). Of the 100 patients, 20% responded to duct tape and 58% healed their warts with cryotherapy (freezing). The authors note that freezing is more effective in adults but “duct tape may represent a practical and convenient alternative to cryotherapy in certain circumstances.”

An article in Canadian Family Physician (May 2019) gives these instructions: “When using duct tape for warts, apply a small piece of duct tape directly to the wart once every four to seven days; then remove the tape, clean the area with soap and water, and remove the dead skin using an emery board. Apply another piece of tape 12 hours later. Repeat this cycle for four to six weeks.”

Q: My doctor said that I would need to take Prilosec for life due to my hiatal hernia, Schatzki ring and GERD. But once I started reading about long-term side effects, I decided to wean myself off the drug.

An elimination diet and DGL helped enormously. I also discovered that I was lactose intolerant and went dairy-free. In addition, I made notes of when I had any attacks. Eating steak, salad with oil-based dressing and baked potato with sour cream was a guaranteed trigger. So, I swore off high-fat meals.

My husband and I became semi-vegetarians and gradually became vegans. Reflux is now rare for me and responds to antacids.

I highly recommend elimination diets and keeping a food diary. By the way, the vegan diet lowered our cholesterol and allowed my husband to drop those last few stubborn pounds he was carrying around.

A: Thank you for sharing your success. Many people with anatomical conditions like yours, with a narrowing of the esophagus and displacement of the stomach, suffer severe heartburn.

A food diary can be very helpful. Some people find a low-carb diet reduces their reflux, while others do better on a low-fat regimen.

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is licorice with the ingredient glycyrrhizin removed. This component of the licorice plant contributes to some serious side effects. They include high blood pressure, potassium depletion, irregular heart rhythm, fluid retention, headache and lowered libido.

Herbal expert Dr. Tieraona Low Dog recommends DGL for people who prefer a natural way to control reflux. She has also suggested it to help those who are trying to wean off powerful acid-suppressors such as omeprazole (Prilosec).

For more information on controlling heartburn naturally, as well as the pros and cons of medications, you may wish to consult our “eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders.” This online resource is available under the Health eGuides tab at PeoplesPharmacy.com.

Getty Images A study found that about 20% of people report having success removing warts when they apply a small amount of duct tape to the affected area.