Doctors classify warts as benign neoplasms.However, they have an unsightly appearance, which is why many people want to get rid of them.Choosing the ideal 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.Externally, it resembles a tubercle with a rough surface.Initially, the neoplasm is skin-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, rather large formations are formed, spherical or, less often, conical in shape, with a wide base.
The size of warts varies, on average several millimeters.Warts appear on various parts of the body, especially 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 virus carrier or through common objects such as a razor.
For HPV to enter the body, a so-called gateway is needed - a scratch or wound on the skin.Having penetrated the epithelial cells, the virus moves towards the nucleus.It is there that its development and subsequent reproduction takes place.If the immune system is functioning normally, infected cells will be 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 look like a nodule up to 1 cm in size, with a wrinkled and dense surface, the color of skin, which over time can turn grayish-brown.They are usually located on the backs of the hands, palms and feet.Most often found in school-age children.
- Plant (pine).These are dense, keratinized areas, irregular in shape, but with clear boundaries.Outwardly, they resemble a thorn or callus, but are characterized by pain.The size reaches 2 cm.They are most often located on the feet and less often on the palms.
- Pointed (condyloma).They look like a flesh-colored or pink soft nodule that resembles a rooster's comb or cauliflower inflorescences.They are usually located on the genitals and around the anus, less often on the tongue.
- Plano (young).They resemble nodules, are slightly raised above the skin, have a smooth surface of flesh color, brown or pale yellow.They are mainly located on the face, neck and back of the hands.
- Filiform (accrochords).They are oblong-shaped elastic neoplasms, up to 6 mm in length.They are flesh-colored or dark brown.Favorite places for localization are eyelids, chin, armpits, groin area, under the mammary glands.
There is another type of wart that appears in elderly people: age-related keratomas.They do not occur due to HPV, but rather due to hormonal changes.These formations can degenerate into malignant tumors, therefore they also require removal.
Of all 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 it can spoil the appearance or cause discomfort.Therefore, plantar warts can hurt when walking.When the skin is damaged, neoplasms grow easily.This happens if they are located in places that are frequently injured, for example, when shaving.In these cases, it is best to resort to removing the warts.
There are different ways to get rid of warts.Most often 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 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, there is a pronounced spasm of the capillaries of the wart 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 swab in liquid nitrogen and 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, one cryotherapy session is enough for the tumor to disappear.
Among the obvious advantages of the procedure are:
- lack of special training;
- minimal risk of scars;
- no bleeding or threat of infection;
- no anesthesia is required;
- affordable price.
Electrocoagulation
This removal 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 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 becomes covered with healthy skin.
The procedure is generally carried out on the day of the consultation with the specialist, as 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 can subsequently cause discomfort when walking.
laser therapy
The use of lasers to remove warts is based on the thermal effect of a beam of light, which literally evaporates the tumor.The procedure is quite effective, but it can leave scars.
Several types of lasers are used to remove warts.Some of the most common are pulse, erbium and carbodioxide (CO2).The latter usually leaves scars, unlike the first two.
Before starting the procedure, the specialist performs a visual examination of the tumor.In some cases, it is possible to send 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.Injury to healthy skin is 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 relapse occurs and is 30%.
Removing warts at home
To reduce the risk of scars at the site of warts, it is recommended to start treatment with simple remedies that you can use yourself at home.If they are ineffective, one must 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 cauterization and subsequent mummification of the wart.The effect of using pharmaceutical products does not occur immediately, but after 2 to 4 weeks.
The medications are applied directly to the wart area, punctually, avoiding healthy areas of the skin.For convenience, you can use a cotton swab.It is recommended to carry out the procedure before bed and cover the wart with a bandage.
It is advisable to use pharmaceutical preparations if the wart is small and has recently appeared.
Traditional wart removal methods
Traditional methods are only effective if there are few warts and they are small.To remove warts, they often use:
- acetic acid;
- celandine juice;
- raw potatoes;
- garlic.
These products are applied to the wart until it disappears completely.Having chosen the traditional method, it is important to be patient.The first results are usually visible after 3-4 weeks.