Some home remedies suggest applying garlic directly to a wart to remove it. However, this alternative treatment, far from providing a solution, may cause further skin irritation.
Skin lesions are usually very sensitive, and improper handling can result in inflammation. In the case of applying garlic to a wart, since it contains very strong components, it can cause a skin burn if not done correctly.
Basically, some people resort to this homemade method where they crush a clove of garlic. Once the garlic is well crushed and a consistent paste is created, this is applied directly to the lesion.
Additionally, the risk in this method also lies in the fact that many people do not know how to use it and leave the garlic in contact with the skin for several hours, which is not advised.
Why can garlic burn the skin?
Some people have shared their stories with phrases like “I put garlic on a wart and it burned me.” But why does this adverse reaction really occur?
What happens is that garlic is rich in diallyl disulfide, a fairly strong component with adverse effects for the skin. This specific compound is responsible for burns and even skin irritation.
Garlic also contains sulfur among its components, another very strong compound, which can be harmful to sensitive skin. In some cases, people can be affected by severe allergic dermatitis.
And the high exposure of garlic on a part of the skin that can often be sensitive, allows harmful reactions like this to occur. The intensity of the burn depends on the amount of garlic and the hours in contact with it.
Does garlic really work for warts?
Often, people create a paste based on garlic and this is what they apply to warts intending to remove them.
But, is this an effective treatment? No, it is not if you leave the garlic on for too long (more than 5 minutes). It can cause several adverse effects in addition to the risk of burning the skin. It can cause skin rashes and further affect the state of the lesion.
In addition to the risk of worsening the lesion, the risk of creating an infection on the affected area is very high. And this can cause much more serious health problems, especially if there is a poor response from the immune defenses.
In conclusion, it is not recommended to remove warts with garlic if you don’t know what you’re doing. We recommend that you opt for safer methods, generally, those that medicine offers.
These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.
What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.
For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.
I wish you great success in your recovery!
Sources:
- https://newsroom.uw.edu/media-coverage/garlic-causes-contact-burn-yes
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8354410/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Wellington. Dr. John Wellington is a board-certified physician specializing in urology. With over 15 years of experience, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge through a popular health blog. Dr. Wellington holds an MD from Ivy League University and is a member of prestigious medical associations.
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