Mailbag: Duct Tape Use #500236

It’s been a good week for mail. Today I share a testimonial from a thoughtful reader who graciously shared her duct tape experience.

Lee Ann,

I don't normally write in with things like this, but couldn't pass up thisone. I read your blog several times a week and enjoy your duct tape uses. When a recent trip to the doctor ended in his recommending duct tape as aremedy, I had to tell you. (Of course, you may already have this one underyour hat).

I took my 9 month old in for his check up this week. Instead of coming with me or scheduling an appointment for himself, my husband asked me toask the doctor about his current ailment--a plantars wart on the bottom ofhis foot. I'll admit I was embarrassed to ask the doctor for advice thatdid not pertain to my son (since this visit was supposed to be about him), but not embarrassed enough to cough up the additional $90.00 for anothervisit for my husband.

When I asked him how to get rid of the wart, he said the best way was touse duct tape! Covering the affected area with duct tape for 36 hours,removing the tape and sequentially the dead tissue from the wart andleaving the area uncovered for 12 hours was his solution. These steps are repeated until the wart was gone (usually 3-4 weeks). My husband is trying it. I'm hoping the doc wasn't giving me a fakesolution for being too cheap to bring my husband in for a visit. If it works I'll let you know.

Amber

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Amber,

Thanks for taking a moment to write! I have been following this treatment, and I am thrilled to hear a doctor officially endorse the duct tape remedy. It started as something of an urban legend until Vanderbilt did a formal study last year. Glad to know of a personal testimony! How is your husband's wart?

Thanks,
Lee Ann

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Lee Ann,

Warts gross me out, but I'm pleased to tell you the duct tape worked great and in half the time the doctor told me it would take!

I wasn't a believer in the duct tape, so I hit the Wal-Mart wart remedy aisle and purchased a $20 wart removal kit specifically for plantars warts. My husband in the meantime attempted the duct tape directions. When he took the tape off for the first time he was shocked at how well (and painlessly) it had worked. Because the wart wasn't completely gone he also used the $20 stuff. After 15 minutes of soaking the foot, then scrubbing it with a pumice stone, then applying the horribly painful "freeze-off-stuff", he said he'd use the duct tape from now on, even if it did take a little longer.

Perhaps this testimony will help plantars warts sufferers throughout the world.

Amber