You don’t always need a trip to the pharmacy or drug store to help fix a simple skin condition. However, if you’re not sure about what something is, it’s a good idea to get a medical professional to check it for you. Make sure you’re not dealing with something dangerous.
If not, look to your kitchen and pantry shelves for some tried and true DIY methods that may help with a selection of skin issues. From age spots to warts, we have you covered.
Most of these will take several applications over several days, but if they work, do you really care? Especially when it’s costing you next to nothing.
1. Apple cider vinegar
Use it to treat warts. It has natural antimicrobial properties and my help dissolve them. Always dilute with water! Mix 2-parts apple cider vinegar to 1-part water. Soak a cotton ball and put it on the wart. Leave for 3 to 4 hours or overnight. This will also help remove age spots.
2. Banana peel
The potassium content it thought to help fight HPV. You’ll have to do this daily by rubbing the inside of the peel on your wart. The same treatment is said to work for skin tags.
3. Garlic
This powerful antibacterial can fight all sorts of pathogens, including warts. Make a paste by mixing one crushed clove with water. Cover your wart then put a bandage over it. You’ll need to do this daily for about a month.
4. Orange peel
In a few weeks there is a chance your wart will fall off if you follow these directions. Rub an orange peel on the wart once a day for two weeks. The wart should darken then fall off.
5. Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain which is reported to help in wart removal. You can try a few methods. One is to soak the wart in pineapple juice every day. Or apply fresh pineapple daily.
6. Potato
Potato can supposedly dehydrate a wart. Do this by cutting a small potato in half and rubbing the wart until it is covered in potato juice. You need to do this twice a day.
7. Dandelion
Yes, those pesky weeds are good for a thing or two. Try breaking apart a dandelion and squeeze out some white sap. Apply to the wart once or twice a day and do this for two weeks.
8. Aloe vera gel
This is one plant it pays to keep around, since it has so many uses. Including providing relief from warts. Just spread some of the juice from a leaf on it daily. It can also be used to treat age spots and a variety of other skin issues.
9. Aspirin
This is thought to work like salicylic acid, which peels away infected skin. Crush some aspirin and mix with water. Apply to the wart, and cover with a bandage overnight.
10. Clear nail polish
Clear nail polish supposedly suffocates the HPV. Simply coat a wart with it two or three times a day.
11. Vitamin C
We all know about vitamin Cs ability to boost the immune system. And for things like healing skin tissue. Crush up a tablet and mix with a little water, forming a paste. Apply it to the wart, cover with a bandage, and leave overnight.
12. Vitamin E
Another vitamin that will help pump up your immune system that also has skin benefits and HPV fighting agents. Puncture a capsule and put a little oil on your wart. Cover with a bandage and leave overnight. You’ll need to do this every day for a few weeks. If you have skin tags, you can put the oil on for 15 minutes at a time until it disappears.
13. Bee propolis
This is a resin-like substance that bees produce. You can eat it, and you can treat a wart with it. Simply apply it to the skin, and cover with a bandage. Leave it on overnight and repeat daily until its gone.
14. Castor oil
This is something of a miracle oil that can clear up many issues. You can safely apply it to moles, warts, and skin tags. Keep doing so daily, and they will eventually dissolve or fall off.
15. Duct tape
That’s right. Another thing you can fix with duct tape. It’s said that if you put a small piece of it on a wart for 3 to 6 days. Then soak the wart and scrub it with a pumice stone. Leave it open to the air for about 12 hours, and then repeat the process.
16. Tea tree oil
This is a powerful antimicrobial, useful for a multitude of skin conditions. However, it is often too harsh to use undiluted. Mix 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of almond or castor oil. For a wart, put 3 or 4 drops of this on it 2 or 3 times a day. In the case of a skin tag, you do want to use it undiluted. Put a few drops on the tag and leave for 15 minutes. Continue until the tag falls off.
17. Lemon juice
Thanks to its high acidic content, lemon juice can help break down skin tags. They will dry up and fall off. Use a cotton ball to apply some juice to the tag. Allow it to soak in, leaving it there for several minutes. Continue doing this daily until the tag falls off.
18. Cornmeal
Due to its rough texture, this makes a great general exfoliant, but it works well on blackheads. Simply create a paste with water and smooth onto the skin with a clothe. It will open and clean the pores.
19. Baking Soda
If you are suffering from blackheads or have some skin tags you would like to move, baking soda could be useful. Make a paste with water and apply, leaving on the skin for a few hours. Rinse off and repeat daily.
20. Oil of Oregano
This remedy is great for removing moles. It works to dissolve the tissue from the inside out. If you have sensitive skin you should dilute it, otherwise apply directly to the mole, and allow it to soak in. Do this once a day until the mole disappears.
21. Iodine
Great for those sensitive spots, iodine is safe to use anywhere. At least 3 times a day you should apply it directly to the mole. Leave it on for several hours, until the mole begins to shrink.
22. Tomatoes
Due to their antiseptic properties, tomatoes make a great DIY remedy for removing blackheads. Using them causes the pores to shrink and this pushes out the blackheads. Get a slice of tomato and rub it over your face. Let it sit until it dries then clean off with warm water.
23. Grapefruit juice
In this case a little acid on the skin is a good thing. Critic acid, at least. Using a cotton ball to apple grapefruit juice will aid in drying out moles. Apply and leave overnight, then wash as usual in the morning. You will need to repeat until you see results.
24. Papaya peel
If you need to lighten dark patches of skin or just balance skin tones out, papaya peel is full of alpha hydroxy acids and natural enzymes that can help. Simply apply some peel to the patch overnight and continue until you see results.
25. Sour apple juice
This works much like grapefruit where the acids in the fruit help to dry out a mole. It will probably take several treatments, so prepare to do this overtime before you notice a difference.
26. Honey
Honey is full of antibacterial properties that can repair skin damage, including age spots. Continue to apply it directly to skin until you see results. You will need to leave it on for several minutes.
27. Oatmeal and yogurt
These two combined make a great facial mask. Use it to help fade age spots as well as getting rid of pimples and blackheads.
28. Turmeric
This spice is a wonderful anti-inflammatory that can be used for several things. Just use with care, because it stains whatever it touches. Combine with water to make a paste. Apply directly to the skin and leave for a few minutes, then wipe off with a warm cloth.
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