Removal of warts is a necessary measure, since neoplasms can bring discomfort to a person and look unpleasant on the skin.Although these formations do not itch and very often 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.For this purpose, a specialist selects the most suitable method.
Causes of warts
Warts are growths on the epidermis;their parameters range from 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter.The cause of the appearance of warts on the epithelium is papillomavirus, which is infected during contact with a carrier of the virus.
Sometimes a person can independently contribute to the spread of the infection on his skin, for example if he uses the same razor or towel.In medicine, such an infection is called autoinoculation.
Warts or warts with sharp ends are most often found in the genital area, so they can only be "picked up" during sexual intercourse.
You can contract the virus if a person has abrasions or wounds 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 are destroyed.Otherwise, nearby cells become infected and warts appear on the epidermis.
Types of warts
Papules are of different types: regular, flat, plantar and with pointed ends.Common neoplasms appear regardless of a person's age group.According to statistics, about 70% of children fall ill with the virus.The location of the growths is 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-shaped 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, which is why they are difficult to notice in the initial stage of the disease.If the formation has remained on the skin for a long time, other small growths will form near it.To eliminate the papules, the mother wart must be removed, in this case the small tumors will have nothing to feed on and will disappear too.
Flat papillomas occur in 4% of people on the planet.They are round and polygonal with a flat and smooth surface.The shade of warts is pale pink and they practically do not rise above the skin level.Located on the back of the arms, neck, face and chest area.It is 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 growths fused together.A special feature of these warts is pain on palpation.Plantar papules also cause discomfort when walking.
Warts with sharp ends cause pain and discomfort in people.They are found on the skin that connects to the mucous membranes: around the lips, in the anus, near the urethra, near the external intimate organs and on the conjunctiva.
Warts grow in clusters and resemble cauliflower or cockscomb.Very often, the growths rupture and pave the way for various infections.To avoid serious diseases, you should consider wart removal.
When to remove a wart?
Many warts do not interfere with a person's life, so no one is in a hurry to consult 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, painful sensations when walking and palpating the papilloma, bleeding from the papule, the alarm should be sounded.
Wart excision methods:
- electrocoagulation;
- radio wave removal;
- removal with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction);
- laser removal;
- surgery;
- chemotherapy.
Traditional methods and combined monotherapy also help to get rid of warts.
Doctors treat warts with cytotoxic drugs and immunostimulating drugs.
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 high-frequency current.After the operation, a dry crust forms at the site of excision, which disappears on its own after 10-14 days.
The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia, so the patient does not feel pain or discomfort.The most a patient can feel during the surgery is a slight tingling in the area to be removed.After electrocoagulation, the patient has no scarring at the wound site.Complete healing of the skin takes approximately 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 remove skin lesions using radio waves, a specialist uses special devices.Their peculiarity is that they emit radio waves at a frequency between 3.8 and 4 MHz.
The technology allows the pathological growth to be removed 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, no scars or scars remain on the epithelium.The removed material can be sent for further histological studies to find out whether the growth was benign or malignant.
Speaking of cryodestruction
Wart removal with liquid nitrogen is particularly popular because it is effective and safe.Cryodestruction also allows plantar papillomas to be removed without the risk of bleeding and infection.
If the formation is small, it can be removed with one manipulation, but if it is large and has a deep root, the patient will most likely have to undergo surgery twice.
After removal with liquid nitrogen, a crust appears in the 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;in addition, due to the inexperience of the doctor, there is a risk of not completely removing the growth.
Laser removal
Removal of papillomas with laser has numerous 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 scab comes off the epidermis 3-4 days after manipulation.
This procedure is characterized by laser blocking of microscopic vessels in the wart area, so the operation is as bloodless as possible.The reformation of warts is impossible since the operation is carried out with 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 blemishes on the skin.With surgical excision there is a high probability of re-entry of the papillomavirus into the blood.
Sometimes the methods of removing pointed and flat papules are not as effective as we would like, so acidic solutions or special drugs are used to eliminate the defect.The duration of chemotherapy is at least six procedures.
The solution is applied timely to the growths, then after a certain period of time the drugs are washed off.To avoid allergies or burns, therapy is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.
Removal of warts with traditional methods
In folk medicine there are many ways to help get rid of warts once and for all.Some techniques really help, others can, on the contrary, aggravate the problem.
People recommend rubbing the growth with fresh garlic every day until it falls off.People also take magnesium (powdered).You should consume the powder every day in a dose of 5 grams.
The method using celandine is quite effective.Twice a day it is necessary to lubricate the growth with celandine juice.The procedure is carried out until the papules detach from the skin on their own.
Another popular method is to freeze the warts.Every day you need to apply artificial ice cubes to the wart and hold them for 5-10 minutes.After several such sessions, the growth will disappear.
An aggressive method of removing warts in folk medicine is burning the papules with acetic acid.
Every day you should drip 1 drop of acid onto the skin infected with papillomavirus, 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 do not guarantee that a person will get rid of the problem.
If home treatments do not help remove the tumor on their own, you should seek qualified medical help from a dermatologist or surgeon.