There are home remedies for removal of warts that you can use. Warts are very common, and are the result of a viral infection affecting the outermost layer of skin or mucous membranes. In most cases, they occur in older children when the virus gains entry through a cut on their skin. It may take between one and eight months before the warts manifest in the skin, and they spread as they are scratched or rubbed.

It is not uncommon for warts to spread from one spot on the body to other locations, and they may reappear after treatment. Most warts, however, do not spread to another person and are generally harmless; the exceptions are genital warts, which are sexually transmitted.

Warts vary in size from about two to ten millimeters, usually have clear borders, and are generally firm and flesh-coloured. The common types of warts are the following:

* Common warts. They often appear as round, flesh-coloured, and hard on the fingers, hands and knees.

* Plantar warts. They are variants of common warts that can be found on the soles of the feet, and are usually painful.

* Flat warts. These are flat-topped and flesh-coloured, most frequently appearing on the backs of the hands, wrists and face.

* Filiform warts. These are long and slender, appearing on eyelids, armpits, and necks of overweight, middle-aged persons.

* Digitate warts. These are dark-coloured warts, with finger like projections.

* Genital warts are pink-coloured and cauliflower-shaped, which appear in the genitalia.

There is a plethora of traditional and alternative treatments for warts. Alternative treatment methods target the virus but also aim to fortify the immune system through proper diet and supplements. Warts are tough to remove, and may require up to two months of conscientious therapy. Genital warts demand immediate attention, as they can be precursors to cervical cancer.

Home remedies for the removal of warts include:

* Crush or grate a garlic clove and apply it directly on the affected area. Take care to avoid the surrounding skin. Cover affected area with a bandage and leave in place for 24 hours. Blisters should develop, and the wart should fall off after a week.

* Make a paste from baking soda and castor oil and apply to the wart. Apply the paste every night and cover with a bandage. The wart may disappear in 3-6 weeks.

* Put the inner side of a fresh banana skin against the wart, holding it in place with a bandage. Replace banana skin every day until the wart disappears.

* If you have a willow tree nearby, get a piece of bark and tape the moist inner side to the wart. Replace bark daily. Willow has large amounts of salicylic acid, which is often used for wart treatment.

For plantar warts, you may want to try this remedy. Cut a square of pineapple peel and tape the inner side to plantar warts overnight. Proteolytic enzymes in pineapple help dissolve warts. In the morning, after removing the peel, soak your foot in hot water and file down any peeling skin. Repeat nightly, as necessary.