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SALT LAKE CITY — If you’ve ever suffered from a severe sunburn or been unsure of how to get rid of warts, a local doctor has offered some simple home remedies to help treat those ailments.
Erika Summers, M.D. works at the University of Utah Health Care Dermatology Services and encounters a variety of skin problems. Summers said in severe cases or with persistent, recurring problems, people should seek professional medical attention. However, with other less severe skin ailments, here are some home remedies she recommended.
Duct Tape for warts
Using Duct Tape to get rid of warts is a known home treatment, but Summers said there is no scientific evidence to prove that it will work every time. However, she said it doesn't hurt to try using Duct Tape to get rid of warts, especially for small children who don’t like the typical wart freezing treatment.
A person can place a strip of Duct Tape over the wart and leave it there, changing it every four days. Summers highly recommended leaving the tape off overnight twice a week to allow the skin to dry. This method can be used for up to two months, but should not be used longer than that.
Summers said there is a theory that the rubber adhesive in regular gray Duct Tape initiates an inflammatory reaction in skin and that triggers the immune system to attack the wart.
“The problem with warts is that they basically evade our immune system,” she said. “Most of the time, our bodies don’t even know that the wart is there… One of the theories with Duct Tape would be that you’re creating that inflammatory response to recruit your immune cells to that area to finally fight off the virus.”
People should also periodically file their wart with an emery board while using the Duct Tape.
Licorice root, sage and rhubarb cream for cold sores
A cold sore is an inflamed blister, caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus. With cold sores, Summers said people need to create a barrier against infection and keep it moist.
Licorice root, sage and rhubarb cream have been documented to promote faster healing of a cold sore, Summers said. They can typically be obtained at an herbal remedy store in either a powder or cream form. People with cold sores should frequently apply the cream until the cold sore is gone.
Summers recommended frequently wearing sunscreen or lip balm with SPF because sunburns can trigger cold sores. You should also not share drinks or food with people who have cold sores.
Oatmeal on sunburns
Summers recommends using oatmeal on sunburns because it has anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the symptoms of severe sunburns.
“I don’t know if it helps to heal the sunburn any faster, but it just feels good on the skin,” she said.
Sprinkle plain oatmeal in a bath with warm water and soak in it while rubbing it on the affected skin. You can soak for around 15 minutes. Summers cautioned against soaking in the oatmeal for longer because it could dry the skin out.
Because sunburns dry out skin, people should also use ointments and creams to hydrate their skin. However, Summers recommended staying away from lotions.
Antiperspirant deodorant and vinegar for stinky feet
Foot odor is caused by bacteria coming into contact with sweat, Summers said. She said while deodorant and antiperspirants are traditionally used under the armpits, they are also effective in fighting against foot odor.
Deodorants have antibacterial agents that help kill odor-forming bacteria and if you rub it on the bottom of the foot, it helps eliminate the smell, Summers said. People can rub the deodorant on the bottom of clean, dry feet at night before going to bed.
Vinegar also has antibacterial properties and can be used to treat stinky feet, Summers said. You can dilute a mixture of white table vinegar or apple cider vinegar and water (a half cup of vinegar to six cups of water) and soak your feet in it. Soak your feet once a day for about 10 minutes and then wash them thoroughly.
You can also sprinkle a little cornstarch or baking soda inside particularly smelly shoes. Summers said they help dry out the shoes and neutralize the odor.
What doctor-recommended home remedies have worked for you? Let us know in the comments.
