Warts are benign skin growths caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Though harmless, they can be unsightly and embarrassing. This often leads people to seek wart removal through topical treatments like apple cider vinegar (ACV). Some claim that applying ACV to warts and leaving it on overnight can help get rid of them. But is this really effective?
What Causes Warts?
Warts are caused by infection with certain strains of HPV, a group of over 100 viruses. Different HPV strains tend to infect different areas of the body:
- Common warts (verruca vulgaris) – Hands, knees, elbows
- Plantar warts – Feet
- Flat warts (verruca plana) – Face, legs, arms
- Genital warts – Genital area
HPV enters the top layer of skin through tiny cuts and abrasions. It causes rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of skin, resulting in a rough, thickened bump.
Warts are contagious and spread through direct contact, so areas like hands and feet are often affected. They can also spread from one part of the body to another.
Some strains of HPV cause warts while others are linked to cancer. However, the strains that cause common warts are harmless.
Warts often go away on their own, but this can take months or even years. Because they are unsightly and contagious, most people seek removal through various treatments.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Remove Warts?
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular home remedy for various skin conditions. It contains acetic acid, which gives it antibacterial and antifungal properties. Some research shows acetic acid may help remove warts:
- A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found daily application of ACV removed warts in 14 of 26 people after two months.
- A case report described a man whose finger wart disappeared after tapping it with ACV once daily for 10 days.
- However, a clinical trial did not find vinegar (acetic acid) to be very effective at removing warts. Salicylic acid was more effective.
Evidence is limited and mixed on using ACV for warts. But it appears applying it daily may slowly remove warts in some cases.
It’s thought ACV may work by:
- Killing the wart virus – The acetic acid in ACV has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Softening skin – This allows the wart to shed off more easily.
- Stimulating an immune response – Acetic acid can cause irritation, which may trigger inflammation and antibodies to fight off the wart virus.
Is It Safe to Leave ACV on Warts Overnight?
Applying ACV to warts overnight allows more time for the acetic acid to work. But is this safe?
Some precautions need to be taken with overnight ACV application:
- Dilute ACV – Undiluted vinegar is highly acidic and can damage skin. Mix 1 part ACV with 2-3 parts water before applying to warts overnight.
- Protect healthy skin – Apply petroleum jelly around the wart to prevent irritation of surrounding healthy skin.
- Cover – Put a bandage or duct tape over the wart to keep the ACV in place overnight.
- Monitor – Check regularly for excessive redness, stinging, or irritation, which are signs to discontinue use.
As long as it’s diluted and healthy skin protected, evidence indicates overnight ACV application is safe. But no strong evidence proves it’s more effective than short-contact application.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Warts Overnight
If you want to try treating warts with ACV overnight, follow these steps:
- Wash hands and wart thoroughly with soap and warm water. Dry well.
- Dilute ACV by mixing 1 part vinegar with 2-3 parts water. Dip a cotton ball into the solution.
- Apply petroleum jelly to healthy skin around the wart to protect it.
- Hold the cotton ball on top of the wart for 1-2 minutes, allowing the solution to soak in.
- Cover the wart with a bandage or duct tape to hold the cotton ball and ACV in place.
- Leave the ACV soaked cotton ball on overnight (6-8 hours).
- Rinse off the ACV thoroughly in the morning and reapply petroleum jelly to surrounding skin.
- Repeat nightly until wart disappears, up to 2 months.
Stop if irritation develops and consult a dermatologist if warts persist after 2-3 months of ACV treatment.
Other Overnight Wart Remedies
While ACV is one option, other overnight home treatments may also help get rid of warts:
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is found in medicated wart removers. It causes gradual shedding of wart skin:
- Apply a salicylic acid patch at bedtime and leave on overnight.
- The long exposure softens and loosens wart skin so it can shed off.
- Use nightly until wart disappears.
Garlic
Garlic has antiviral compounds that may fight HPV:
- Slice a piece of raw garlic and place directly on the wart at bedtime.
- Hold it in place with a bandage or tape overnight.
- Repeat nightly, replacing the garlic until wart falls off.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is thought to stimulate immune cells to attack warts:
- Crush a vitamin C tablet into powder and mix with a few drops of water or petroleum jelly to form a paste.
- Dab paste onto wart and cover with a bandage or tape overnight.
- Reapply nightly until wart falls off.
Duct Tape
Applying duct tape to warts may trigger irritation and immune responses:
- Place a piece of duct tape over the wart overnight for at least 6 nights in a row.
- The tape helps seal in moisture and irritation to gradually destroy the wart.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity:
- Apply a few drops of tea tree oil directly on the wart at bedtime.
- Cover with an adhesive bandage to keep it in place overnight.
- Reapply nightly until wart disappears.
When to See a Doctor for Wart Removal
While home remedies like ACV may remove warts over time, results can be slow. See a dermatologist promptly if:
- Warts are spreading or not responding to home treatment after 2-3 months.
- Warts are painful, bleeding, or growing rapidly.
- Warts interfere with function or quality of life.
- You have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
- Warts appear on the face or genital region.
A dermatologist can safely remove warts in the office through methods like:
- Freezing (cryotherapy)
- Burning (electrocautery)
- Laser
- Surgical excision
- Bleomycin injections (for excessive warts)
Seeing a doctor promptly can help avoid spreading and recurrence.
When to Stop ACV for Warts
Discontinue ACV if:
- No improvement after 2-3 months of use.
- Warts are spreading or new ones developing.
- Excessive pain, stinging, redness or irritation develop.
- Skin becomes damaged, blistered or bleeds.
These are signs ACV is ineffective or causing complications. Stop use and see a dermatologist to find an alternative wart treatment.
Takeaways
- Evidence on using ACV for warts is limited but indicates applying it daily may slowly remove warts in some cases.
- Leaving ACV on warts overnight allows more exposure to fight the virus.
- Diluting ACV and protecting healthy skin can make overnight application safe.
- Other overnight home remedies include salicylic acid, garlic, vitamin C, duct tape, and tea tree oil.
- See a doctor promptly if warts don’t respond to home treatment or are spreading.
- Stop ACV if it causes irritation or doesn’t remove warts after 2-3 months.