Doctors classify warts as benign neoplasms.However, 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 predominantly benign in nature.Outwardly, it resembles a tubercle with a rough surface.Initially, the neoplasm is flesh-colored, but over time it can change: become 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 or, less often, conical in shape, with a wide base.
The size of warts varies, with an average of 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 surface layer of the skin.This is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).Infection occurs through direct contact with a virus carrier or through common objects, such as a razor.
For HPV to enter the body, it requires a so-called entry gate - a scratch or wound on the skin.Having penetrated the 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, infected cells are destroyed.HPV can “sleep” in the body for many years without manifesting itself.And only with weakened immunity does it begin to affect many epidermal cells, which leads to the appearance of warts.
Types of warts
Depending on the type of HPV, there are several types of warts.
- Ordinary.They have the appearance of a nodule up to 1 cm in size with a wrinkled dense surface, flesh-colored, which over time can turn into grayish-brown.They are usually located on the back of the hands, palms, and feet.Most often found in school-age children.
- Plantar (pinus).These are dense and keratinized areas of irregular shape, but with clear boundaries.Outwardly 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 (condyloma).They look like a soft flesh-colored or pink nodule, reminiscent of a cockscomb or cauliflower inflorescences.They are usually located on the genitals and around the anus, less often on the tongue.
- Flat (youthful).They look like nodules, are slightly raised above the skin, have a smooth surface of flesh-colored, brown or pale yellow color.They are located mainly 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 places of localization are eyelids, chin, armpits, groin 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 spoil the appearance or cause discomfort.So, plantar warts can hurt when walking.When the skin is damaged, neoplasms easily grow.This happens if they are located in places that are often injured, for example when shaving.In such cases, it is best to resort to wart removal.
There are different ways to get rid of warts.They are most often 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 depending 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, a pronounced 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 causes destruction of the neoplasm.
The mechanism of the procedure is simple.The doctor dips a cotton swab in liquid nitrogen and then applies it to the wart for 15-30 seconds.The application time and number of procedures depend on the size of the wart.Sometimes one session of cryotherapy is enough for the tumor to disappear.
Among the obvious advantages of the procedure are:
- lack of special 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 session begins, 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 at the site of the wart, which dies after a while, and the wound is covered with healthy skin.
The procedure is usually carried out 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, there is a high risk of scar formation, which may subsequently cause discomfort when walking.
Laser therapy
The use of a laser to remove warts is based on the thermal effect of a light beam, which literally evaporates the tumor.The procedure is quite effective, but may leave scars.
Several types of lasers are used to remove warts.Some of the most common are pulse, erbium and carbodioxide (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 proper calculation of the depth of penetration of the laser beam and the time of its exposure to the wart.Injury to healthy skin is excluded.
Any method of removing warts allows you to get rid of only the external manifestations of HPV infection.The virus itself continues to live in the body, so the probability of relapse occurs and is 30%.
Removing warts at home
To reduce the risk of scarring at the site of warts, it is recommended to begin treatment with the use of simple remedies that you can use yourself at home.If they are ineffective, destructive methods of influence should be resorted to.
To remove warts yourself, use special preparations that can be purchased at the pharmacy.
The drugs 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 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, pointwise, avoiding healthy areas of the skin.For convenience, you can use a cotton swab.It is recommended to carry out the procedure before going to bed and cover the wart with a band-aid.
It is advisable to use pharmaceutical preparations if the wart is small in size and it appeared not so long ago.
Traditional methods of removing warts
Traditional methods are effective only if there are few warts and they are small.To remove warts, they usually use:
- acetic acid;
- celandine juice;
- raw potatoes;
- garlic.
These products are applied to the wart until it completely disappears.Having chosen the traditional method, it is important to be patient.The first results are usually visible after 3-4 weeks.