Can people use banana peels to treat warts? - Medical News Today

Banana peel is a common home remedy to remove warts. While there is anecdotal evidence that this treatment may work, there is currently no scientific proof of its effectiveness.

People may tape banana peel over a wart and leave it on overnight to treat this virus. While there is no scientific evidence that banana peels can remove warts, bananas do have other health benefits, such as antimicrobial properties.

This article discusses how to use banana peels for wart removal, their effectiveness, and other home remedies and medical treatments for warts.

Warts are noncancerous growths that form on various parts of the body. Warts occur due to human papillomavirus (HPV). People can contract HPV through skin-to-skin contact with people who have this virus.

Currently, there is no scientific evidence that banana peel can treat warts. A 2016 study noted that there was no difference between the wart removal rates of banana peel and cryotherapy. The authors state that neither of these interventions was effective, although due to the small sample size, the results of the study were inconclusive.

However, while there is no evidence that banana peels can treat warts, this method is safe to use.

If a person wishes to use banana peel for wart removal, they may try the following steps:

1. At bedtime, peel a banana that is not overripe.
2. Cut a small piece of the peel and place it with the fleshy side down over a wart.
3. Tape it in place.
4. Leave it on overnight.
5. Repeat nightly for a few weeks.

An alternate method consists of rubbing the inside of a peel over a wart.

Several studies suggest that banana peel may have several benefits.

Learn more about the health benefits of bananas here.

Bacterial infections

Research states that banana peels are rich in phenolic compounds, which are antioxidants with antimicrobial properties.

An older study notes that earlier research indicates banana peels have antibacterial properties that may be effective against bacteria that can cause gum disease.

Evaluation of an extract of banana peel on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infections in test tubes suggest that both bacterial strains are sensitive to the peel.

Memory, anxiety, and depression

A 2017 animal study on mice found that banana fruit and peel extract may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, as well as improve memory.

The authors suggest that the antioxidant compounds in bananas may be responsible for these benefits.

Diabetes

A 2020 animal study investigated the effect of banana fruit and peel extract on rats with diabetes. The results of this study indicate that the extract increased insulin secretion and sensitivity of tissues to insulin.

However, this study only investigated the effects of banana and banana peel on rats, and more research is needed to discover whether the fruit has the same benefits in humans.

Liver damage

Polyphenols are compounds that may help protect the liver from alcohol-related damage.

An older animal study found that polyphenols in banana peel can function in a similar way. Banana peel may improve symptoms of liver damage and help prevent liver injury.

While there is limited research on the effectiveness of home wart removal, there is some evidence that the below remedies may be effective:

Vitamin A

An older case study explored the effects of vitamin A treatment on a 30-year-old female who had a history of warts. The treatment involved a daily application to the skin of natural vitamin A from fish liver oil.

This case study found that the smaller warts disappeared within 70 days, but larger warts required 6 months of treatment with vitamin A.

Garlic

A 2014 clinical trial assessed the value of lipid garlic extract for warts that had not responded to other medical interventions. This study had 50 participants, half of whom received garlic treatment, and the other half received treatment with saltwater.

At the end of the study, the participants who used garlic reported a better response than the group that used saltwater. The researchers concluded that lipid garlic extract might be beneficial for warts that are resistant to other interventions.

Most warts do not cause any symptoms. However, people may experience pain, tightness, or itching.

Some warts may also have small brown or black dots as a result of clotted blood from tiny blood vessels in the skin.

Learn more about how to identify warts here.

Warts may appear anywhere on the body but are most likely to be present on the hands, feet, face, or genitals.

Typically, warts disappear after a few weeks or months and do not require treatment. However, there are two main medical treatments that a doctor may recommend if a wart is causing discomfort.

A salicylic acid solution is a liquid that a person applies to the hard part of the wart several times per day for several weeks. Over time, the acid dissolves the wart.

This treatment is commonly available over the counter. However, it is important to only apply the salicylic acid to the wart and not the surrounding skin as it can cause pain and burns.

The other treatment is cryotherapy, which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze a wart. A dermatologist usually administers this treatment, and people will require several applications over weeks.

While there is no scientific evidence that banana peels can remove warts, this home remedy is unlikely to cause harm. People can either tape a piece of peel over the wart overnight or rub the inside of the peel over the wart.

Warts are unlikely to cause symptoms and will generally resolve themselves. However, people should contact a doctor for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. A doctor may recommend salicylic acid treatment or cryotherapy for wart removal.