Doctors classify warts as benign neoplasms.But they have an unaesthetic appearance, so many people want to get rid of them.The choice of the optimal removal method depends on the type of wart.
What is a wart and what does it look like?
A wart is a new growth on the skin that is mostly benign.Externally, it resembles a tubercle with a rough surface.Initially, the neoplasm is flesh-colored, but over time it can change: it becomes brown or even black.
A wart can be single or multiple.In the latter case, quite large formations are formed, spherical or less often conical, with a wide base.
Warts vary in size, on average they are several millimeters.Warts appear on different parts of the body, most often on the hands.
Causes of warts
They arise due to the severe spread of the surface layer of the skin.It is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).Infection occurs through direct contact with the virus carrier or through common objects such as razors.
For HPV to enter the body, a so-called gateway is required - a scratch or wound on the skin.Having penetrated the epithelial cells, the virus moves towards the nucleus.It is its development and subsequent reproduction.If the immune system works normally, the infected cells are destroyed.HPV can "sleep" in the body for many years without showing itself.And only with weakened immunity, it begins to affect many epidermal cells, which causes the appearance of warts.
Types of warts
There are several types of warts, depending on the type of HPV.
- Ordinary.They have the appearance of a flesh-colored nodule up to 1 cm in size with a wrinkled dense surface that can turn gray-brown over time.They are usually located on the back of the hands, palms, and feet.It is most common in school-aged children.
- Plantar (pinus).These are dense and keratinized areas of irregular shape, but with clear boundaries.Outwardly, they look like a thorn or callus, only they are characterized by pain.Its size reaches 2 cm.They are mostly localized on the feet, less often on the palms.
- Pointed (condyloma).They look like soft flesh-colored or pink knots, reminiscent of cauliflower or cauliflower inflorescences.They are usually located on the genitals and around the anus, less commonly on the tongue.
- Straight (youth).They look like nodules, rise slightly above the skin, have a flesh-colored, brown or pale yellow smooth surface.They are mainly located on the face, neck and back of the hands.
- Filiform (acrochords).These are elastic neoplasms with an elongated shape up to 6 mm long.They are flesh-colored or dark brown in color.Favorite places of localization are the eyelids, chin, armpits, groin area, under the mammary glands.
There is another type of wart that appears in older people - age-related keratomas.They occur not because of HPV, but because of hormonal changes.Such formations can turn into malignant tumors, so their removal is required.
Of all the types, common and plantar warts are the most common.
How to remove warts
Any type of wart does not pose a threat to the body, but it can spoil the appearance or cause discomfort.Thus, plantar warts can hurt when walking.When the skin is damaged, neoplasms grow easily.This happens when they are located in places that are often injured, for example, during shaving.In such cases, it is better to resort to the removal of warts.
There are different ways to get rid of warts.Most often, they are removed by the following methods:
- cryodestruction;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser therapy.
All procedures are painless as they are performed under local anesthesia.
The removal method is chosen by a specialist depending on the type of wart and its location.
Cryodestruction
This is one of the simple and common ways to remove all types of warts.The neoplasm is briefly exposed to cold - liquid nitrogen, the temperature of which is -196 degrees.As a result, a clear spasm of the capillaries of the wart tissue occurs, the formation of ice crystals inside the cells, the cessation of blood circulation and the cessation of metabolic processes.All this leads to the destruction of the neoplasm.
The mechanism of the procedure is simple.The doctor dips a cotton swab in liquid nitrogen and then holds it against the wart for 15 to 30 seconds.Application time and number of procedures depends on the size of the wart.Sometimes one session of cryotherapy is enough for the tumor to disappear.
Among the clear advantages of the procedure:
- lack of special training;
- minimal risk of scarring;
- no risk of bleeding or infection;
- anesthesia is not required;
- reasonable price.
Electrocoagulation
This elimination method involves the use of high-frequency current.This leads to an increase in temperature in the tissues and subsequent destruction of the tumor.Before the start of the session, the specialist treats the skin around the wart with an antiseptic and gives anesthesia.The procedure involves the use of a special device - a coagulator that burns the tumor using an electrode heated to 80 degrees.After removal, a dark crust appears at the site of the wart, which dies after a while and the wound is covered with healthy skin.
The procedure is usually performed on the day of contacting a specialist, as it does not require special preparation.Medium-sized tumors can be removed immediately in one session.However, the method is not suitable for removing plantar warts.In this case, there is a high risk of scar formation, which can cause discomfort during walking later.
Laser therapy
The use of a laser to remove warts is based on the heating effect of the light beam, which literally vaporizes the tumor.The procedure is quite effective, but can leave scars.
Several types of lasers are used to remove warts.Some of the most common are pulse, erbium, and carbon dioxide (CO2).The latter, unlike the first two, often leaves traces.
Before starting the procedure, the specialist conducts a visual examination of the tumor.In some cases, it is possible to submit skin samples for histological examination.
The effectiveness of laser therapy depends on the correct calculation of the penetration depth of the laser beam and the duration of its exposure to the wart.Damage to healthy skin is excluded.
Any method of removing warts only allows you to get rid of the external manifestations of HPV infection.The virus itself continues to live in the body, so the probability of relapse occurs and is 30%.
Removal of warts at home
To reduce the risk of scarring at the site of warts, it is recommended to start treatment using simple remedies that you can use yourself at home.If they are ineffective, destructive methods should be used.
To remove warts yourself, use special preparations that can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Medicines are available in different forms: cream, solution, stick (pen).Each product has its own rules of use.However, the mechanism of action of these drugs is the same.It is based on cauterization of the wart and subsequent mummification.The effect of using pharmaceutical products is not immediate, but occurs after 2-4 weeks.
Medicines are applied directly to the wart area, the point, avoiding the healthy areas of the skin.You can use a cotton swab for convenience.It is recommended to carry out the procedure before going to bed and cover the warts with a bandage.
If the wart is small and appeared a while ago, it is advisable to use pharmaceutical preparations.
Traditional methods of removing warts
Traditional methods are effective only when the warts are few and small.To remove warts, they usually use:
- acetic acid;
- celandine juice;
- raw potatoes;
- garlic.
These products are applied until the wart is completely gone.Choosing the traditional method, it is important to be patient.The first results are usually visible after 3-4 weeks.