Doctors classify warts as benign neoplasms.However, they have an unsightly appearance, which is why 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.Outwardly, it resembles a tuber with a rough surface.Initially, the neoplasm is flesh-colored, but over time it can change: becoming brown or even black.
The wart may 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, on average by several millimeters.Warts appear on various parts of the body, most commonly on the hands.
Causes of warts
They occur due to a strong 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, there needs to be a so-called portal of entry – a scratch or wound on the skin.After penetrating the epithelial cells, the virus moves towards the nucleus.It is in him that its development and subsequent reproduction occur.If the immune system functions normally, infected cells are destroyed.HPV can “sleep” in the body for many years without showing up.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 measuring up to 1 cm with a dense, wrinkled, flesh-colored surface, which over time can turn grayish-brown.They are usually located on the backs of the hands, palms and feet.It is most often found in school-age children.
- Plantar (pine).These are dense, keratinized areas, irregular in shape, but with clear boundaries.Outwardly, they resemble a thorn or callus, but they are characterized by pain.The size reaches 2 cm.They are most often located on the feet, less often on the palms.
- Sharp (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.
- Apartment (young).They look like nodules, are slightly raised above the skin, have a smooth flesh-colored, brown or pale yellow surface.They are mainly located on the face, neck and back of the hands.
- Filiform (acrochorda).These are elastic neoplasms of oblong shape, up to 6 mm long.They are flesh colored or dark brown.The preferred places of localization are the eyelids, chin, armpits, groin, under the mammary glands.
There is another type of wart that appears in older people: age-related keratomas.They do not occur because of HPV, but because of hormonal changes.Such formations can degenerate into malignant tumors and therefore also need to be removed.
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 grow easily.This happens if they are located in places that are often injured, for example, when shaving.In such cases, it is better 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 because they are carried out 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, 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 to make the tumor 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 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 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 carried out on the same day of contact with a specialist, as it does not require special preparation.In just one session, medium-sized tumors can be removed immediately.However, this method is not suitable for removing plantar warts.In this case, there is a high risk of scarring, which can subsequently cause discomfort when walking.
Laser therapy
The use of a laser to remove warts relies on the thermal effect of a light beam which literally evaporates 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 legumes, 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 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 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, destructive methods of influence will have to be resorted to.
To remove warts yourself, use special preparations that can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Medications come 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 pharmaceuticals does not occur immediately, but after 2-4 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 going to bed and cover the wart with a bandage.
It is advisable to use pharmaceutical preparations if the wart is small and appeared not so long ago.
Traditional methods for removing warts
Traditional methods are only effective 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.After choosing the traditional method, it is important to be patient.The first results are generally visible after 3 to 4 weeks.