5 MYTHS ABOUT HOME REMEDIES

There's nothing wrong with DIY health care chez you, but maybe a little science could come for a visit? Here, a few folk cures that haven't cured many folks.

- KATE ROCKWOOD

1 MYTH: Apple cider vinegar is a great choice for getting rid of warts.

MYTHBUSTER

For warts, this is not effective or recommended. The idea is that the acid in apple cider vinegar (ACV) can burn away layers of a wart and spur the body to mount an immune response, says Elizabeth Houshmand, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, but "there is little scientific proof that ACV is reliably effective for treating warts." Meanwhile, some people have given themselves chemical burns by trying it. About half of warts will go away on their own in a year and two-thirds in two years, but if you want to speed up the process, "there are better ways," Dr. Houshmand says. Methods that have been researched for efficacy and safety include over-the-counter treatments that contain salicylic acid; when followed correctly, they cure warts 50% to 70% of the time. Two instances in which you should always seek a doctor's help with treating warts: if warts are spreading or are on your genitals.

2 MYTH: Toothpaste can make a pimple go poof.

MYTHBUSTER