Walter the Wart
Bizarre June 16th, 2009
Though my husband Dave is recovering from very painful shoulder surgery, I consider myself the one who had the real major medical problem of late.
I had a wart. On my forehead. For any woman, a crisis of epic proportions.
After a day of searching The Google for wart remedies, including wearing duct tape on it (not kidding), I came to the conclusion that I really ought to ask a doctor about it before I go making things worse.
So I called my sister Ann. Ann is a nurse. Fact: If you work in the medical profession in any capacity short of the janitor in a hospital, you are the doctor in the family.
I asked her what I should do to get rid of Walter the Wart, who I’d gotten so used to seeing every day that I named him. Yeah? What of it?
She gave me a quick reply: Vitamin E.
Every night before bed, I pricked a capsule of Vitamin E and spread the miracle juice all over Walter and then put a Band-Aid on him. We slept like babies.
The next morning I would remove Walter’s bandage, wash up and go out in the world with a big wart on my face.
To my co-workers, thank you for not wondering aloud why I looked like a Cyclops for two weeks.
Gradually, over about ten days, Walter got smaller and smaller until he disappeared and I returned to looking normal, which isn’t saying much.
So there you go. Vitamin E, the wart remover and scar preventer, brought to you by my non-doctor sister. If you’re absolutely sure you have a wart and not something scary like skin cancer, give it a try.
Footnote: In my research, I learned there are several causes for warts, among them stress. You know what causes stress? A giant wart on your forehead.
Stumble it!
June 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
hey Kathy,
wow. It’s been a while since I’ve been #1 (commentor that is).
Anyway, I will try to remember if I get a wart to use vitamin E. I never would have thought it would really work. It’s also funny that warts are caused by stress, but once you have a wart (especially on your forehead) it would stress you out. Very funny. Well, I guess not funny.
~ Steve, the currently-wartless trade show guru
steve, trade show guru’s last blog post..Are You a Trade Show Kinsella
June 16th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
A wart on your forehead???
((((HUGS))))
Why do I wish you had taken a picture?
Carole’s last blog post..Camping Weekend for Geo Jamboree 7
June 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Walter eh ?
Umm… I guess that is all I have to say !
June 16th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Well, the miracle cure really comes from Mom. She did the same thing for me years ago when I had my own Walter. Twelve days later….gone. It’s also available in pure liquid form. No more poking and squeezing, or stomping capsules! Too bad it doesn’t work on wrinkles…..
June 16th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I use Vitamin C and E liquid on my face every day – it must work ’cause I don’t have warts. Oh yeah…I still have wrinkles….
June 16th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Kathy, you are just a font of helpful knowledge! Who knew that Vitamin E could get rid of a wart? (Aside from your mom and your sister Ann, that is.)
absepa’s last blog post..We’re Gonna Take a Break and Introduce the Band
June 16th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Well, I didn’t know that vitamin E was the cure. Learn something new every day. It also makes sense that stress can cause a wart. I just don’t ever want one on my forehead. Just saying.
Have a terrific day.
Comedy Plus’s last blog post..The Promise
June 16th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
My husband had been putting some burny stuff on a wart on his hand for ages. It’s not working. I’ll make him try the Vitamin E thing!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Oh thank you Kathy’s sista!! My daughter gets them on her foot and for the next one we are so going to do this!!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
My mother swore by electrical tape (probably same concept as duct tape). I’ve only had one wart, but it worked for that and it worked for my mother-in-law too.
But I am not a medical expert of any form.
Stephanie Barr’s last blog post..For Aron: First of a trio of questions
June 16th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
I got a big cold sore I’ll swap you for the wart!
MA Fat Woman’s last blog post..Men And Their Chainsaws…Part II
June 17th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Bu-bye Walter the Wart!
The doctors I see most are my cat’s 2 Veteranarians, Dr. Dave and Dr. Tad. Seriously, his name is Tad. Anyway, Dr. Dave just suggested I rub Vitamin E cream on Whitey’s scar to help soften it.
Vitamin E must be the new Castor Oil.
Barb – WillThink4Wine’s last blog post..tucker scissorhands
June 17th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Currently-wartless Trade Show Guru Steve — No, not funny at all! There’s only so much make-up can do. The nice thing is Vitamin E won’t scar like those burn-off type medicines can. Those really scared me (and might have scarred me). Vitamin E to the rescue!
Carole — Well, um. I did actually take a picture. Then I asked a friend to Photoshop my face covered in cartoon ladybugs that would be numbered 1-20. Then I was going to post it and ask my readers to guess which ladybug Walter was under. Why didn’t I do that? Because I can’t bear to post a close-up picture of my fat face, that’s why. Would have been a fun post. Sigh.
Jaffer — Hey, I bet if you get a wart now, you’ll name it. Right? Right?
ann of the junkdrawerblogfamily — Well then how come Mom never told me about it when I had a wart on my fingertip and she took me to the doctor to have it frozen off? I always knew Mom liked you best.
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids — I’m a big proponent of Vitamin E now. It’s like a miracle cure. I’m afraid only Botox works for wrinkles, but you want to smile naturally, don’t you?
absepa — There were a few references to using Vitamin E in my research. I’m surprised, given my success with it, there weren’t more. The beauty part is you don’t have to worry about scarring or irritation. Believe it or not, garlic is a suggested remedy, but it comes with warnings about harming the surrounding skin. Garlic! With Vitamin E, I had no worries.
Comedy Plus — Yeah, I could pretty much have accepted a wart on any other part of my body. Luckily, it was off to the side a little, enough for me to cover it with my bangs most of the time.
Document Scanning Services — Oh, please do tell him about the “E.” Just make sure he puts a Bandaid. Mine might have gone away sooner if I’d covered it 24/7, but I didn’t want to walk around with a bandaid on my face. Lesser of two evils.
The Mind of a Mom — I can’t remember if I read that “E” is less effective on foot (flat) warts, but there’s no harm in trying. Good luck with her Walter!
Stephanie Barr — Yes, the concept behind the tape is to make your body kick in its immune system to rid itself of the wart. Although there was a recent study that said duct tape isn’t any better than other remedies, so I guess you just have to find what works and run with it.
MA Fat Woman — Oh, my dear. Sorry about that. Luckily, I’ve never had one of those. I don’t know which is more unsightly. It wouldn’t be bad if I hadn’t had to leave the house every day and bring Walter with me.
Barb WillThink4Wine — I think the reason we don’t hear about the benefits of Vitamin E more is because it’s not a prescription where pharmaceutical companies can make millions on it. Too bad. It saves people money and possibly ill side effects. The over-the-counter freezing stuff really scared me. “E” was a whole lot safer to try.
June 17th, 2009 at 5:43 am
I saw that duct tape remedy post too! Duct tape is very useful. Who would have thought it could heal warts! It did hold my car mirror together for a long time when the casing cracked on it.
Karen, author of “my Funny Dad, Harry”’s last blog post..How Fit Are You?
June 17th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Are you sure that was a wart and not your devil horns making their way to the surface? Oh, that’s right, you said that it was in the middle of your forehead. Maybe you’re part unicorn!
Lee’s last blog post..Photo Scrapbook Blogging
June 17th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Oh, Walter. I miss you already — and I never even really knew you.
I walked around for a whole day in junior high school with one of those circular Band-Aids on my nose to cover an unsightly zit. But at least it wasn’t duct tape.
JD at I Do Things’s last blog post..I Am Speaking at BlogHer so you don’t have to
June 17th, 2009 at 8:13 am
You know, I saw you in person when you had Walter. How did I know about Walter? Not because I could see him– only because you told me.
Perhaps Walter was not the giant conquering wart he had convinced you he was.
Potential dictators looking to expand their land are like that.
Jenn Thorson’s last blog post..The Urban Legend Retirement Home and Independent Living Center
June 17th, 2009 at 8:19 am
If you had never written this post, I would never have known about Walter. Are you sure he isn’t your imaginary wart friend? Honest-to-God-swear-on-a-stack-of-Bibles,we share a cube farm and I did not notice a wart on your forehead. It must have been microscopic.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Yes, I agree with Jenn. I bet he was a tiny tiddler really, but you blew him up into a giant wart, covering your whole forehead, and ready to take your face over! Vitamin E a cure for all blemishes! Could it replace cosmetic surgery, I wonder? Spread it on your nose nightly to make your nose smaller?
babs – beetle’s last blog post..A thank you, and a rant!
June 17th, 2009 at 9:03 am
That’s a good tip to know, thanks! I occasionally get warts on my thumb. In the past I have taken tweezers and just ripped them out. (you have to get all of it, or it will grow back immediately) Less blood and pain your way.
shadowsrider’s last blog post..Ice Cream Odyssey
June 17th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Now that is good information. Grandson had one the other day and it had started bleeding. Minor emergency doctor gave a prescription for something that is used for something else but they have found it works on system to get rid of warts. Can’t remember what it was but it worked. I’ll ask daughter and let you know in case it comes back. (heaven forbid)
grannyann’s last blog post..Get "Christmas Ready" NOW
June 17th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Duct tape really does work. Seriously, they did something about it on the Discovery channel or TLC, maybe Mythbusters? I don’t know. My dad was the doctor of the family, of course he was a real doctor. He did all kinds of home remedies on me when I was a kid which I employ on my kids. I figure I almost have a medical license simply by proximity and duration of being around a doctor.
Indeed stress can be caused by a giant wart on one’s forehead.
Jen’s last blog post..Day 6
June 17th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I had no idea that vitamin E would work! I guess if it did not work, you could always get a new hairstyle. One with real long bangs.
Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Harley the Cow Cat
June 17th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Why is it that guys think they can whine and whine about little things like shoulder surgery, but they have NO sympathy for us?
The Mother’s last blog post..How Not to Become a Zombie
June 17th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Duct tape? That’s a new one on me. Then again, according to my dad, duct tape IS the universal solution.
Glad your forehead is once again wart-free. RIP, Walt.
Chris’s last blog post..Silence of the Lame
June 17th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Vitamin E is a wonder! I learn more about it all the time!
Duct tape, that’s a good one. Where did that remedy come from? What color was it? You could have started a trend. Like the band aid under the eye. Duct tape can be used for a lot of things, a fashion statement is a new one.
LaTonya’s last blog post..A Tale Of A Fish
June 17th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Ah the joys of warts. When I was in my early 20’s, I once got a wart on my very private part. I was mortified. The doctor made some kind of sexist remark that I got it from having sex with foreign women. He didn’t know me to well, did he? Anyway, vitamin E really does work. And I’ve never had another wart, anywhere on me after that.
Preston’s last blog post..Philly Gay Pride Parade and Festival Went on Without Me
June 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
At least it wasn’t a boil! I am not sure, but think they involve lancing and pus and maybe even “packing the wound”.
Tracy’s last blog post..Money Money Money, MONEY!
June 17th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Would that mean I’m like the 2nd doctor because my mom is a nurse?
I sure hope not. I just know how to put a band aid on.
Regan’s last blog post..Girl Scout Cookies
June 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Crap… I was all set to cleverly remark that “someone should tell Sarah Jessica Parker about that so she can lose that thing on her chin.” But then I did some “research” and found out that she’s already had it taken off! Oh, and btw… everyone was calling it a “beauty mark” and “mole” but I’m sorry… that was a wart, period.
Jeff’s last blog post..Happy Birthday to my 5 year old?
June 17th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Jenn Thorson and Heather,
I saw Walter about a week before Kathy’s road trip. I believe that the stress of her inaugural solo trip was the reason for Walter’s existence. As for the size of it, I recommended that Kathy wait for nightfall to conduct any business that might involve co-mingling with the general public. Vitamin E….can’t hurt, might help.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Karen — I’d like to see a smackdown between duct tape and baking powder to see which product is good for more things it was never designed to be used for.
Lee — Har! Watch it, buster. The devil can wreak havoc from a distance. Lemme tell ya, I felt like a freak animal as it was. A unicorn actually would have been cuter.
JD at I Do Things — Yeah, but you were the lucky one to have seen a picture of him. OMG. Really? A bandaid on a zit?! That’s brave of you, but then again, you never know what would look worse. The thing or the thing you use to cover the thing up.
Jenn Thorson — I somehow covered enough of my forehead to not notice, I guess. I know Bryan’s going to accuse me now of this being the reason I didn’t want my picture taken. Let’s just say it was one reason of many. I’m sorry Walter traveled all the way to Wellsboro and you were never formally introduced.
Heather — I know you’ve seen me touching Walter on my forehead. He was heavily covered with make-up, and sometimes obscured by my hair. Believe me, he was there for the longest time before I even started treating him. I’ve decided you are blind.
Babs Beetle — See above. And I would love to make my nose smaller without surgery. If I was ever going to have plastic surgery, it’d be on my nose. I’m no fan of it.
shadowsrider — You have got to be kidding me!!! OMG. Please don’t do that again. I feel faint just reading that!
grannyann — Oh, no! Bleeding not good. I did have one day where Walter bled a little around the edge. But I resisted the urge to pick at it and eventually it healed.
Jen — Home remedies work so often, but unfortunately people would rather get a prescription for something because a doctor said so. Not saying one shouldn’t see a doctor for diagnosis, but if you do know what your ill is, nice to know it can be taken care of at home easily and less expensively. There’s enough anecdotal evidence that duct tape works, so I say ‘why not?’
Daisy the Curly Cat — I was a master at concealment, apparently. I hope you don’t get any warts in your curly furs. A lady likes soft skin and no blemishes!
The Mother — Seriously. Don’t they understand priorities?
Chris — Yep, remember it. But I do hope you never have the displeasure of waking up one day with a thing growing out of your head.
LaTonya — I have no idea who in the world would even think that duct tape would work. Who’s doing all this weird experimentation? I would love to be a fashion trend starter, but not with Walter and not with duct tape. We’ll have to imagine what could have been.
Preston — Holy ouch, Batman! Also, your doctor was a jerk.
Tracy — Ewwww! A boil! What exactly is a boil besides a disgusting pus-filled infection? OMG. So gross. And, yeah, real thankful that wasn’t it. The wart was funky enough.
Regan — Yes, I’ll pose my next medical questions to you. Be ready.
Jeff — Well, well, well. So she had that thing removed? I’m inclined to think it was a wart, too. Warts are the same as your skin color. Moles and beauty marks are not. I don’t understand why she would have kept it all those years if it was a wart. And why wouldn’t someone tell her “Hey, I can take care of that?” So many questions.
ann of the junkdrawerblogfamily — So I guess I should be grateful you went to lunch in public with me the day you met Walter? What a good sister you are.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Ha! Stress = Warts
Warts = Stress
Yep, it’s the old Catch 22 alright. Thanks for the tip on the Vitamin E. Whodathunkit??? It’s a miracle drug, apparently.
Maureen’s last blog post..Summer Vacation
June 17th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Kathy, only you would name a Wart on your forehead Walter. And make us laugh!
What is next?
Amy Acne? Zelda the Zit? You should really consider writing childrens books. Start with Frida Freckles,, and maybe Donna the double chin.
I am waaaaaaaay too creative. I should lay off the coffee, huh?
Chris Casey’s last blog post..Marriage maintenance with Mrs. C!
June 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I’m glad the vitamin E worked! I’m using the burning stuff on a wart on my hand, but I think I’ll try your sister’s method tonight. How long did you say it took to get rid of it? Two weeks?
Elizabeth’s last blog post..
June 17th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Oh my–now that’s a good look! And, uh, bullfrogs are NOT the cause. Somebody’s got to stick up for my frog friends. Nice photo, though.
Lin’s last blog post..Waitress!!!
June 17th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
OMG Kathy! That must have been awful for you!
And I’m sure Dave was whining about a little ole major shoulder surgery the whole time!
How do you put up with him?
; D
June 18th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Maureen — No kidding. I have stress enough making myself presentable in the morning. Like I needed a wart, too.
Chris Casey — Well, in the tradition of naming inanimate objects on this blog, don’t be surprised.
Elizabeth — Yes, about two weeks and that was only putting it on at night. If you can put it on 24/7, I’m guessing it’ll go away faster. Always change the bandage and put new E on at night. Good luck!
Lin — Well, a frog picture has got to be better than an actual wart picture, right? I have to think of all the people who might be eating while reading Junk Drawer.
Ferd — Oh, yes. It was earth-shattering. Shoulder shmoulder. I had the wart!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Kathy, I would say, “Stay away from that frog!” but am sure you didn’t let it pee on your head.(You heard that when you were a kid, right?) Anyways, glad that all turned out okay, and just in case you happen to someday be plagued with toenail fungus (I know, eeewww), two words—white vinegar—I swear.
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June 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Stress causes warts? Is that where the expression “worry wart” came from? I heard tea tree oil rubbed on removes them, too. Problem is, it really smells. Of course, that could be good in the folks would not want to get close enough to you that they actually see the wart!
Ungirdled’s last blog post..When It Comes To The Effects Of Aging, It’s Best To Keep Your Chin Up
June 18th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Walter. the Wart. Uh huh. You really need to get out more, duct tape or bandaid or no. hahaha! Be like me– don’t care what the heck the world thinks!
Seriously, I have to wonder if it is the “E” vitamin that kills the wart, or perhaps the suffocating effect of the gel itself? At any rate, glad to hear you are less warty. Er, worried. Uh, both.
Crabby Blogging Lady’s last blog post..HA!!
June 19th, 2009 at 7:54 am
That is WAY worse than shoulder surgery!
Momo Fali’s last blog post..He Gets it Naturally
June 19th, 2009 at 8:17 am
1) I stopped reading when I got to the part about you spreading your miracle juice all over Walter.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Should I ever get a wart from all the stress I’m under of late then I’ll know what to do. So glad you were there first to teach us what we need to do. That’s our Kathy — the trail blazer!
June 19th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I had one on my finger for ages, and couldnt seem to get rid of it. A holiday to Portugal and a few days in the sun and it was gone. Never to return
Wiggy’s last blog post..Bad day at work?
June 19th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I’m storing this information for future use, ’cause if stress causes warts then I’m sure to need it!
Musingwoman’s last blog post..Summer break
June 20th, 2009 at 5:35 am
earthtoholly — Holy ribbit! No, I never heard that one before. Where do these silly things come from? Toenail fungus? I’m pleased to report that I’ve never been plagued by that, but I’ll have the vinegar at the ready. Thanks for the tip.
Ungirdled — Perhaps. Yes, I read about tree oil. That was going to be my next remedy if the vitamin E didn’t work. I’m glad “E” doesn’t stink. I had enough problems.
Crabby Blogging Lady — Well, I did walk around with the wart in full view for weeks before doing something about it, so I guess I don’t care all that much. I have no idea how the magic E works. I know the duct tape works for its suffocation properties. Weird.
Momo Fali — No kidding. And pain? Pshaw! I had mental anguish!
Geakz — I should have known you’d take it there. What was I thinking? And so I guess that’s why you’re missing the next four points? For shame.
Lisa — I do what I do for you. Now do something about your stress! Do I see a spa day in your future?
Wiggy — It’s weird how they can just disappear on their own. I had one on my foot for years. Suddenly it decided it had enough and went away. Strange.
Musingwoman — Or like I recommended to Lisa, you could schedule a spa day. That reminds me. I think I’m due for a massage.
June 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Fyi the duct tape does work:
http://2kids-jeanne.blogspot.com/2008/04/yet-another-use-for-duct-tape.html
…but I can understand why you wouldn’t want to wear it on your face
I didn’t know about the vitamin E though – thanks for that tip, I’ll remember it for next time.
Jeanne’s last blog post..My Puppy And His Paws
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I had mine operated and removed back in High School, my Mom decided to get it operated because I am the one who’s making it worst, I keep on pricking and touching it until it bleed and got infected. If only we knew that Vitamin E would be a big help. Do you have any actual before and after photos of Walter?
July 15th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
That’s great to know for the next time I get a wart. Also, you know cyclops only have one eye, I think you’d be considered a triclops. Kidding.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Jeanne — Yeah, the vitamin E thing is so much less obvious and intrusive and horrible to look at. Aside from the wart itself.
modern sofa — Oooo, bleeding is bad! Don’t want to do that. I do have a picture of Walter, but I’m terrified to post it because I have an extra 10lbs on my face I don’t care to share with all you fine people.
Warren P. Bonds — You, sir, are correct. I was a triclops. Still nasty. NastiER, actually.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I had a wart removed two years ago and the guy froze it.
January 24th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Hello all who have this problem, I want to give a remedy instruction for them:
Ingredients: A pennie and guaze tape
Instructions: When I was little my cousin told me to do this,put a pennie on the wart and wrap with the guaze tape. Leave it on the pennie maybe a week or two…it well dependon the wart and severity of the wart…and it will be gone.I think it has to do something with the copper. The spot where the wart will be
green for awhlie, but it beats having the wart…
San Diego Scanning
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I’ve heard many people use a combination of Vitamin E along with Apple Cider Vinegar to help speed up the process of killing off the wart. I had one that lasted months despite cryo treatment and everything! Worst experience of my life!
Eric´s last blog ..How To Remove a Skin Tag, Wart, or Mole – Review