Removing warts is a necessary measure, as neoplasms can cause discomfort to a person and have an unpleasant appearance on the skin.Although these formations do not itch and most of the time do not hurt, they are of viral origin, so they can easily spread throughout the human body.This is why many doctors recommend removing warts.To do this, a specialist selects the most appropriate method.
Causes of warts
Warts are growths on the epidermis;its parameters vary from 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter.The cause of the appearance of warts on the epithelium is the papillomavirus, which becomes infected through contact with a virus carrier.
Sometimes a person can independently contribute to the spread of infection on the skin, for example, if they use the same razor or towel.In medicine, this infection is called autoinoculation.
Condylomas or warts with sharp tips are most often located in the genital area, which is why they can only be “picked up” during sexual intercourse.
You can become infected with the virus if a person has abrasions or sores on their skin.After the papillomavirus enters the skin, it moves to the cell nucleus, where the reproduction process begins.If a person has a strong immune system, cells susceptible to infection will be destroyed.Otherwise, nearby cells will become infected and warts will appear on the epidermis.
Types of warts
Papules come in several types: regular, flat, plantar, and sharp-edged.Common neoplasms appear regardless of the person's age group.According to statistics, about 70% of children fall ill with the virus.The location of the growths is on the back of the hands and the skin between the fingers.Sometimes warts appear on the face, near the lips and on the palms of the hands.
Round formations can grow up to 1 centimeter above the level of the epithelium.The color of the papules is similar to the color of healthy skin, so they are difficult to notice at the initial stage of the disease.If the formation has been on the skin for a long time, other small growths will form near it.To get rid of the papules, the mother wart must be removed, in this case the small tumors will have nothing to feed on and will also disappear.
Flat papillomas occur in 4% of people on the planet.They are round and polygonal with a smooth, flat surface.The color of the warts is light pink and they practically do not go beyond the skin level.Located on the back of the arms, neck, face and chest area.Sometimes found near the genitals of men and women.
Plantar papules occur on the soles of the feet.They have a rough surface and are somewhat similar to cast lumps.A special characteristic of these warts is the pain on palpation.Plantar papules also cause discomfort when walking.
Condylomas with sharp edges cause pain and discomfort in people.They are located on the skin that connects to the mucous membranes: around the lips, in the anus, near the urethra, near the external intimate organs and in the conjunctiva.
Warts grow in groups and look like cauliflower or rooster's comb.Often, the growths crack and open the way for various infections.To avoid serious illnesses, you should consider wart removal.
When should you remove a wart?
Many condylomas do not interfere with a person's life, so no one is in a hurry to see a doctor.In case of a pronounced cosmetic defect, infectious infection of other areas of the epithelium, large growth parameters, intensive growth of the papule, changes in color and shade, pain when walking and palpating the papilloma, bleeding from the papule, the alarm should sound.
Wart excision methods:
- electrocoagulation;
- radio wave removal;
- removal with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction);
- laser removal;
- surgical intervention;
- chemotherapy.
Traditional methods and combined monotherapy also help to eliminate condylomas.
Doctors treat warts with cytotoxic medications and immunostimulating medications.
Features of electrocoagulation of warts
The procedure, in which a specialist uses an electrocoagulator, is considered one of the safest and most effective.The papule is cauterized with a special electrode, which is heated to a very high temperature under the influence of a high-frequency current.After the operation, a dry crust (crust) forms at the excision site, which disappears on its own after 10-14 days.
The manipulation is carried out under local anesthesia, so the patient does not feel pain or discomfort.The most a patient may feel during surgery is a slight tingling in the area to be removed.After electrocoagulation, the patient does not have scars at the wound site.Complete skin healing takes about 2 weeks.
The essence of radio wave removal
This technique began to be used by doctors relatively recently and has proven to be effective and safe.To excise skin lesions using radio waves, a specialist uses special devices.Their peculiarity is that they emit radio waves at a frequency of 3.8 to 4 MHz.
The technology makes it possible to extirpate the pathological growth without coming into contact with the epidermis.During the procedure, not only the top layer of skin is removed, but also the root of the condyloma.The patient does not feel pain during the procedure.After surgery, there are no scars or scars on the epithelium.The removed material can be sent for further histological studies to find out whether the growth was benign or malignant.
About cryodestruction
Wart removal with liquid nitrogen is especially popular because it is effective and safe.Cryodestruction makes it possible to excise even plantar papillomas without the risk of bleeding and infection.
If the formation is small, it can be removed in one manipulation, but if it is large and has a deep root, the patient will probably need to be operated on twice.
After removal with liquid nitrogen, a crust appears in place of the papule, which disappears after 1.5-2 weeks, and new pink skin remains in its place.The disadvantages of the technology are the formation of small scars on the epithelium;Also, due to the doctor's inexperience, there is a risk of not completely removing the tumor.
Laser removal
Excision of papillomas with a laser has a number of advantages: the operation is painless, there are no defects on the skin in the form of scars or hems, no special wound care is required, the crust peels off the epidermis 3-4 days after the manipulation.
This procedure is characterized by laser blocking of microscopic vessels in the wart area, so that the operation is as bloodless as possible.Condyloma reform is impossible, as the intervention is carried out using sterile equipment.The specialist sends the removed tissue for histological examination.
Surgery and chemotherapy
Surgical assistance is necessary if the tumor is large.The operation is performed under local anesthesia.The technique is considered traumatic and leaves defects in the skin.With surgical excision, there is a high probability of papillomavirus re-entering the blood.
Sometimes methods of removing sharp and flat papules are not as effective as we would like;therefore, to eliminate the defect, acidic solutions or special medications are used.The duration of chemotherapy is at least six procedures.
The solution is applied pointwise to the bumps, and after a certain period of time, the medicines are washed off.To avoid allergies or burns, therapy is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
Removing warts using traditional methods
In folk medicine, there are many ways to help get rid of warts once and for all.Some techniques help a lot, others can, on the contrary, worsen the problem.
People recommend rubbing the growth with fresh garlic every day until it falls off.People also take magnesium (powder).You should consume the powder daily in a dosage of 5 grams.
The celandine method is quite effective.Twice a day it is necessary to lubricate the growth with celandine juice.The procedure is carried out until the papules come off the skin on their own.
Another popular method is freezing the condyloma.Every day you need to apply artificial ice cubes to the wart and hold for 5-10 minutes.After several sessions, the growth will disappear.
An aggressive method of wart removal in folk medicine is to burn the papules with acetic acid.
Every day you should drip 1 drop of acid onto the papillomavirus-infected skin and over time the pathological formation will disappear.Do not apply more than 1 drop to the epithelium, as irritation or an allergic reaction may occur.
You should be very careful with unconventional methods as they are no guarantee that a person will get rid of the problem.
If home treatments do not help remove the tumor on your own, seek qualified medical help from a dermatologist or surgeon.