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How Can I Remove Scalp Warts?
Scalp warts do not usually pose a significant health risk unless they are accidentally scraped or cut and develop an infection. Home remedies such as apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil may successfully remove warts on the scalp, but a doctor should be consulted first to make sure the abnormal growth is actually a wart. Medical procedures such as cryosurgery or laser treatments are often used to remove scalp warts. Any specific questions or concerns about the removal of scalp warts in an individual situation should be discussed with a doctor or other medical professional.
Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are among the most popular ways to remove scalp warts at home. Each of these products is prone to causing skin irritation when used full strength, so dilution is usually recommended. A few drops of apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil can be added to a favorite shampoo and allowed to sit on the scalp for at least 15 minutes before rinsing. Alternately, these products can be added to water or carrier oils such as olive or almond oil and applied to the scalp two or three times daily with a cotton swab. It may take several weeks to notice a reduction in the size of the warts when using these home remedies.
While most home remedies commonly used to treat scalp warts are considered to be relatively safe for most people, it is important to consult a doctor before attempting to treat any medical condition. What appears to be warts may sometimes be something else, such as skin cancer or another disorder. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the first step in finding an appropriate treatment program for the individual situation.
Cryosurgery is one of the most common methods used by doctors in the removal of scalp warts. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the warts to freeze the tissue, and then the warts are carefully removed with the use of a scalpel. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes and can be performed in a doctor's office. In some cases, the liquid nitrogen is used alone to freeze off the wart, but the process can be painful and may require multiple treatments.
Laser surgery works in much the same way as cryosurgery, except lasers are used to burn off the scalp warts. As is the case with liquid nitrogen, this procedure often requires several treatments. This method is also quite a bit more expensive than most other treatment options and is not covered under many insurance plans.
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![Tea tree oil may be used to remove warts.]()
By: Lucie ÅÃhováTea tree oil may be used to remove warts. -
![Apple cider vinegar might be helpful with removing warts.]()
By: Comugnero SilvanaApple cider vinegar might be helpful with removing warts. -
![Warts can be removed with a scalpel.]()
By: iofotoWarts can be removed with a scalpel. -
![A doctor should be consulted to determine if an abnormal growth is indeed a wart.]()
By: ShakzuA doctor should be consulted to determine if an abnormal growth is indeed a wart. -
![Warts can be removed by using liquid nitrogen.]()
By: Gordon LauWarts can be removed by using liquid nitrogen. -
![Questions about the removal of scalp warts should be discussed with a doctor.]()
By: JPC-PRODQuestions about the removal of scalp warts should be discussed with a doctor.
Discussion Comments
i just grabbed it with a tweezer and twisted it.
@alisha-- I'm not sure about potatoes, but I have tried apple cider vinegar on scalp warts and it works.
I used the same method that is used on warts that are on other parts of the body. I dipped a clean, rolled piece of cotton in apple cider vinegar and placed it on the wart. It's not easy to keep the cotton on the scalp since you can't put a band aid around it. I kept it in place by putting a headband over it so that the cotton wouldn't move.
I removed and replaced the cotton every day for about four days and the top of the wart become soft and fell off by the end of the fourth day. It basically just disappeared and I didn't get any more scalp warts.
I'm sure adding apple cider vinegar in shampoo or rinsing the scalp with diluted vinegar would help too. But I felt that this method was more aggressive and it probably removed the wart faster this way.
@anamur-- I think liquid nitrogen is a lot better than laser treatment. It's not painful and there is no bad smell. In most cases, there isn't scarring either.
There are also many home remedies out there to remove warts by yourself. Some of them make sense, but some of them are just odd if you ask me. For example, my friend told me once that duct tape is great for warts. I don't see how duct tape would work and it can't be used for scalp warts anyway since you would pull out your hair while removing the tape.
Another remedy I've heard of is applying a piece of peeled potato on the wart. I suppose that might work but how would you keep a piece of potato on your head? It doesn't sound very feasible.
I had a wart appear on my scalp a couple of years ago. I tried the over-the-counter wart medications to get rid of it but it didn't work. I didn't know about natural remedies so I didn't try any of those. Several weeks later, two more warts right next to the initial wart appeared. I started to worry then that it would multiply further and ruin my scalp, so I went to a dermatologist.
He burned off the warts with laser in just one session. For a few weeks after the laser treatment, my scalp smelled like charred wood. This treatment worked though and new warts didn't come up. But for some reason, it left small scar marks where the warts were. Thankfully, it's not noticeable since hair has grown on it.
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