Doctors classify warts as benign neoplasms.However, they have an unsightly 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 in nature.Externally, it resembles a tubercle with a rough surface.Initially the neoplasm is flesh-colored, but over time it can change: becoming brown or even black.
The wart can be single or in the form of clusters.In the latter case, fairly large formations are formed, spherical in shape or, less often, conical, with a broad base.
The size of warts varies, averaging several millimeters.Warts appear on various parts of the body, most often on the hands.
Causes of warts
They arise due to severe proliferation of the superficial layer of the skin.This is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).Infection occurs through direct contact with a carrier of the virus or through common objects, such as a razor.
In order for HPV to enter the body, a so-called entrance gate is needed - a scratch or wound on the skin.After penetrating epithelial cells, the virus moves towards the nucleus.It is in it that its development and subsequent reproduction occurs.If the immune system is functioning normally, the infected cells are destroyed.HPV can “sleep” in the body for many years without manifesting itself.And only with weakened immunity begins to affect many epidermal cells, which leads to the appearance of warts.
Types of warts
Depending on the type of HPV, there are different types of warts.
- Ordinary.They have the appearance of a nodule up to 1 cm in size with a wrinkled and dense, flesh-colored surface, which over time can turn greyish-brown.They are usually found on the backs of the hands, palms and feet.It is most often found in school-age children.
- Footbed (pine).These are dense, keratinized areas of irregular shape, but with clear boundaries.Externally they resemble a thorn or callus, only they are characterized by pain.The size reaches 2 cm.They are most often localized on the feet, less often on the palms.
- Pointed (warts).They look like a soft flesh-colored or pink nodule, resembling a cockscomb or cauliflower inflorescences.They are usually found on the genitals and around the anus, less often on the tongue.
- Flat (juvenile).They look like nodules, are slightly raised above the skin, have a smooth surface of flesh, brown or pale yellow color.They are mainly found on the face, neck and back of the hands.
- Filiform (acrochords).These are elastic neoplasms of oblong shape, up to 6 mm long.They are flesh-colored or dark brown.Favorite localization places are the eyelids, chin, armpits, inguinal area, under the mammary glands.
There is another type of wart that appears in older people: age-related keratomas.They do not occur due to HPV, but due to hormonal changes.Such formations can degenerate into malignant tumors, so they also require removal.
Of all the types, common and plantar warts are the most common.
How to remove warts
Any type of wart does not pose a danger to the body, but can ruin its appearance or cause discomfort.So, plantar warts can hurt when walking.When the skin is damaged, tumors grow easily.This happens if they are found in places that are often injured, for example, during shaving.In these cases it is better to resort to removing the wart.
There are several ways to get rid of warts.In most cases they are removed using 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 based on the type of wart and its location.
Cryodestruction
This is one of the simple and common ways to remove warts of all types.The neoplasm is briefly exposed to cold liquid nitrogen, the temperature of which is -196 degrees.As a result, there is a pronounced spasm of the capillaries of the warty tissue, the formation of ice crystals inside the cells, the cessation of blood circulation and the cessation of metabolic processes.All this causes the destruction of the neoplasm.
The mechanism of the procedure is simple.The doctor dips a cotton ball into liquid nitrogen and then applies it to the wart for 15 to 30 seconds.The application time and number of procedures depend on the size of the wart.Sometimes a cryotherapy session is enough for the tumor to disappear.
Among the obvious advantages of the procedure are:
- lack of specific training;
- minimal risk of scarring;
- no bleeding or threat of infection;
- no anesthesia required;
- affordable price.
Electrocoagulation
This removal method involves the use of high frequency current.It 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 administers anesthesia.The procedure involves the use of a special device - a coagulator which, using an electrode heated to 80 degrees, cauterizes the tumor.After removal, a dark crust appears on 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, since it does not require special preparation.In one session, medium-sized tumors can be removed immediately.However, the method is not suitable for removing plantar warts.In this case the risk of scars forming may cause discomfort during walking.
Laser therapy
The use of laser to eliminate warts is based on the thermal effect of a light beam, which literally evaporates the tumor.The procedure is quite effective, but can leave scars.
Different types of lasers are used to remove warts.Some of the most common are pulse, erbium, and carbon dioxide (CO2).The latter often leaves scars, unlike the first two.
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 exposure time to the wart.Injuries to healthy skin are excluded.
Any method of removing warts allows you to eliminate only the external manifestations of HPV infection.The virus itself continues to live in the body, so the probability of recurrence occurs and is 30%.
Removing warts at home
To reduce the risk of scarring at the site of warts, it is recommended to start treatment with the use of simple remedies that you can use yourself at home.If they are ineffective, one should resort to destructive methods of influence.
To remove warts yourself, use special preparations that can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Medicines are available in different forms: cream, solution, stick (pencil).Each product has its own instructions for use.However, the mechanism of action of these drugs is identical.It is based on the cauterization and subsequent mummification of the wart.The effect of using pharmaceutical products does not occur immediately, but after 2-4 weeks.
The drugs are applied directly to the wart area, in a punctual manner, avoiding healthy areas of the skin.For convenience, you can use a cotton swab.It is recommended to carry out the procedure before bedtime and cover the wart with a plaster.
It is recommended to use pharmaceutical preparations if the wart is small in size and appeared not so long ago.
Traditional methods for removing warts
Traditional methods are only effective if the warts are few and small.To remove warts, they usually use:
- acetic acid;
- celandine juice;
- raw potatoes;
- garlic.
These products are applied on the wart until it disappears completely.Having chosen the traditional method, it is important to have patience.The first results are generally visible after 3-4 weeks.