Coconut oil: a natural remedy against warts?

Could coconut oil be used to treat warts?

The coconut oil is renowned for its antimicrobial and soothing properties, largely attributed to its high medium-chain fatty acid content, particularly lauric acid. In the virgin coconut oil, this fatty acid can represent approximately 45 to 52% of the lipid composition. Lauric acid can be transformed by certain enzymes, lipases, into several derivatives, including monolaurin, compounds that exhibit both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties and are recognized for their antimicrobial activity.

Several experimental studies have shown that lauric acid and monolaurin display a broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. They are notably capable of disrupting the membrane integrity of certain microorganisms, contributing to the inactivation of Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts such as Candida albicans, as well as enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). This membrane-disrupting capacity represents one of the primary antimicrobial mechanisms of coconut oil.

It is in this context that the hypothesis of coconut oil having an effect on warts emerged. As a reminder, warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a skin-tropic virus. However, unlike lipid-enveloped viruses sensitive to monolaurin, HPV lacks a lipid envelope, which theoretically limits the antiviral potential of coconut oil. Furthermore, in the absence of available data on the potential antiviral effects of coconut oil against HPV, it is difficult to assess its efficacy against warts.

Thus, while the biochemical composition of coconut oil suggests antimicrobial potential, its usefulness in the management of warts remains to be confirmed through clinical studies.

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Is there clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of coconut oil against warts?

Despite its popularity in alternative medicine, clinical evidence supporting the direct efficacy of coconut oil against warts remains limited. However, some observations do offer indications that could suggest a potential benefit, without definitively proving its effect.

A case report published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research describes the management of a 22-year-old patient with human papillomavirus–related warts on the right index and middle finger phalanges, causing pain and writing discomfort. The intervention involved the topical application for 21 days of a blend of tea tree oil and coconut oil used as the carrier oil at a 1:5 ratio. At the end of treatment, the warts had completely disappeared, with no recurrence during a one-month follow-up, and the patient also reported reduced pain. The therapeutic effect is primarily attributed to tea tree oil, known for its antiviral properties. However, the use of coconut oil underscores its potential as an effective delivery vehicle.

Évolution de la verrue après application du mélange d'huile essentielle d'arbre à thé et d'huile de coco. — Progression of the wart following application of a tea tree essential oil and coconut oil mixture.
Source: BOOPALAN D. & al. Effect of topical application of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on hand warts: A case report. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (2022).

Another study, published in the International Journal of Herbal Medicine, investigated the use of coconut oil in the management of molluscum contagiosum, a benign cutaneous viral infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). The study enrolled 40 patients divided into two groups: 20 children treated with topical coconut oil application and 20 receiving olive oil. Applications were performed twice daily for two weeks, with an extended two-month follow-up. Results showed complete resolution of lesions in 40% of patients treated with coconut oil, compared to 5% in the control group. The authors thus conclude a potential beneficial and preventive effect of coconut oil in the management of molluscum contagiosum. However, the limited sample size and the biological differences between MCV and HPV prevent extrapolating these results to warts.

Although these examples are promising, it is important to note that no direct clinical evidence currently demonstrates that coconut oil alone is effective against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus responsible for warts. Further research is therefore necessary to examine the antiviral properties of coconut oil against warts.

What should be done in case of a wart?

In the presence of a wart, it is generally advised not to handle it, since this action can facilitate viral dissemination to other regions of the skin. First-line therapies usually rely on keratolytic agents, such as salicylic acid. However, for a persistent, painful, or recurrent wart, or if you are uncertain about the lesion’s nature, it is advisable to seek a dermatologist’s opinion.