A painless, do-it-yourself (DYI) treatment for stubborn plantar warts may sound too good to be true, but recent research suggests it could be a surprisingly effective option. Given the limitations of many traditional wart treatments, this simple at-home approach has SkinCare Physicians excited. See what our expert dermatologist, Dr. Travers, thinks about this emerging treatment and whether it’s worth a try.
Understanding plantar warts and traditional treatments
Plantar warts are one of the most common skin infections we treat here at SkinCare Physicians. Caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), they develop on the soles of the feet and can become quite painful, especially with walking or sports activities.
Many of the most common treatments have the same intention: they try to destroy the skin cells infected by the wart virus. Whether you use a chemical treatment like Compound W, freeze the warts with liquid nitrogen, or vaporize them with a laser, these approaches are effective but can be painful and require multiple office visits.
A recent paper published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Saline immersion for the treatment of refractory plantar warts: An open-label, single-arm, single-center trialhas suggested a simple, painless home remedy that offers an exciting alternative.
Saturated saline absorbs the noticeable results
A saturated salt soak does exactly what it sounds like: you submerge the affected feet in water mixed with as much salt as possible to dissolve.
For comparison, normal saline solutions such as those used in IV fluids or contact lens products contain about 0.9% salt. Homemade saturated saline has closer to 35%-40% salt! This high salt concentration creates a very inhospitable environment for warts.
The study looked at 17 patients with refractory plantar warts, warts that failed to respond to other standard treatments. These patients were instructed to soak their feet in saturated saline for 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks. The results were quite spectacular:
- 3% of warts cleared completely
- 88% of patients achieved complete remission
- No recurrences were observed in the 6-month follow-up period
How to make a saturated saline solution at home
A saturated saline solution is made by mixing enough table salt (sodium chloride) into hot water until no more salt is dissolved. It can be prepared in a basin or foot bath with enough warm water to cover the affected area. You will need to stir, stir, and stir until some of the salt remains at the bottom and can no longer dissolve: this is the sign that the solution is fully saturated.
Patients should soak the foot with plantar warts for 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks according to research guidelines.
Important considerations before you begin
Although the results are very encouraging, there are some downsides to keep in mind!
- The treatment has only been studied in plantar warts and we do not know if it can be used in other areas of the body.
- It’s time consuming! 30 minutes daily sounds easy until you actually try to find time in your day to do it. This is especially difficult for teenagers for whom carving out 30 minutes a day to soak their feet can seem impossible.
- Healing takes a LOT of salt! To prepare a medium-sized soak with 4 cups of solution, you will need about 1.5 cups of salt. If you decide to start this course of treatment, buy your salt in bulk!
When should you consult your dermatologist first?
Before trying this DIY treatment, you should see your dermatologist if:
- You have diabetes, poor circulation, leg wounds, or skin damage to get a more careful evaluation.
- Not sure if you have plantar warts versus another type of skin bump and need an accurate diagnosis.
In any case, call SkinCare Physicians at 617 731-1600 to schedule an appointment before starting the saline solution treatment for plantar warts!
