Coconut oil: a natural treatment for warts?

Could coconut oil be used in the treatment of warts?

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

Several experimental studies have shown that lauric acid and monolaurin exhibit a broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity. In particular, they can disrupt 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 lipid-enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). This ability to perturb membrane structures is one of the main antimicrobial mechanisms of coconut oil.

It is in this context that the hypothesis that coconut oil may affect warts emerged. For reference, warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a cutaneous virus. However, unlike lipid-enveloped viruses sensitive to monolaurin, HPV lacks a lipid envelope, which theoretically limits the antiviral scope of coconut oil. Moreover, 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 potential antimicrobial properties, its usefulness in managing warts must be confirmed in clinical trials.

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

Despite its popularity in alternative medicine, clinical evidence directly supporting the efficacy of coconut oil against warts remains limited. Some observations nonetheless provide indications that may suggest a potential benefit, without conclusively establishing its effect.

A case report published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research describes the management of a 22-year-old patient presenting with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related warts on the proximal phalanges of the right index and middle fingers, causing pain and difficulty with handwriting. The intervention consisted of topical application over 21 days of a mixture of tea tree oil and coconut oil used as the carrier in a 1:5 ratio. At the end of the treatment, the warts had completely resolved, with no recurrence during the one-month follow-up, and the patient also reported a reduction in pain. The therapeutic effect is mainly attributed to tea tree oil, recognised for its antiviral properties. Nevertheless, the use of coconut oil emphasises its potential as a delivery vehicle.

Évolution de la verrue après application du mélange d'huile essentielle d'arbre à thé et d'huile de coco. — Evolution 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, examined 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 a topical application of coconut oil and 20 receiving olive oil. Applications were performed twice daily for two weeks, with an extended follow-up of two months. Results showed complete resolution of lesions in 40% of patients treated with coconut oil, compared with 5% in the control group. The authors thus conclude a potentially beneficial and preventative effect of coconut oil in the management of molluscum contagiosum. However, the limited sample size and the biological differences between MCV and HPV do not allow extrapolation of these results to warts.

Whilst 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 studies are therefore necessary to explore the antiviral properties of coconut oil against warts.

What should be done in the event of a wart?

In the presence of a wart, it is generally advisable to avoid touching it, a manoeuvre that can favour viral spread to other areas of the skin. First-line treatments most often rely on keratolytic agents, such as salicylic acid. However, in the case of a persistent, painful or recurrent wart, or if you have any doubt about the nature of the lesion, it is preferable to seek the advice of a dermatologist.