How to Treat HPV: 8 Home Remedies

How is HPV Spread?

HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, according to the Mayo Clinic. Genital warts that are caused by HPV are spread through sexual contact, which includes:

• Vaginal intercourse
• Anal intercourse
• Oral sex
• Fingering

The Mayo Clinic also notes that HPV can spread without intercourse or ejaculation, and can spread even if your partner has no symptoms.

Symptoms of HPV

Most cases of HPV have no symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, when symptoms do occur, it is in the form of warts, including:

• Genital warts
• Common warts
• Plantar warts
• Flat warts

How to Treat HPV

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is used for a variety of skin conditions, including warts, according to Medical News Today. They note that tea tree oil shouldn’t be used on genital warts because it can irritate the sensitive skin of the genitalia. However, tea tree oil may be effective for warts on the hands and feet. They recommend mixing the tea tree oil in a small amount of carrier oil (like olive oil) first.

2. Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is relatively mild, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin, according to Medical News Today. However, it still may be irritating to the mucus membranes of the vagina or anus, so they recommend not using it in those areas.

3. Green Tea

There is some limited evidence that green tea may help treat genital warts, according to Healthline. Using a topic green tea extract may be the most effective, they note.

4. Garlic

Garlic is used for several medicinal purposes, according to Medical News Today. Some people believe it is a great remedy for skin warts, however, only small studies show some successful results. Healthline notes that you could apply garlic extract directly to your warts or soak gauze pads in a mixture of garlic and oil if you want to try this home remedy.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Some believe the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar may help cure warts, according to Healthline. They recommend that you use a Q-tip or cotton ball to apply the ACV to your warts.

6. Vegetables

Vegetables are good for you for many reasons. One reason is to support a healthy immune system which can help you ward off HPV, according to Healthline. They recommend getting 4 to 5 servings of vegetables a day.

7. Folate & B12

There may be a connection between folate and B12 deficiency and an increased risk of contracting HPV, according to Healthline. They recommend that you include a multivitamin in your routine to ensure that you get adequate amounts of these and other nutrients.

8. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is known to help support the immune system, according to Healthline. There is little evidence confirming that vitamin C can directly help HPV, but making sure you have adequate levels of vitamin C in your diet is important for overall immune health, which can help you fight an HPV infection.

When to see a Doctor for HPV

The Mayo Clinic recommends that you see a doctor if you or your child has any warts that cause embarrassment, pain, or discomfort.

How to Prevent HPV

You can prevent the spread of HPV and the formation of new warts by not picking at a wart and not biting your nails, according to the Mayo Clinic. To prevent plantar warts, they recommend wearing shoes, especially in public pools and locker rooms. Genital warts can be avoided by reducing the number of sexual partners you have and using condoms when engaging in vaginal or anal sex.

The HPV vaccine is also known to help prevent HPV infections. The CDC currently recommends this vaccine for both men and women, according to the Mayo Clinic.