Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that form due to the activation of the human papillomavirus.
They do not look aesthetically pleasing and often become the cause of complexes.A person wants to get rid of it, but does not know how.
Do I need to remove the growth?
It depends on the size of the papilloma, their nature and the age of the person.But in most cases the answer is clearly yes, because warts are contagious and can be transmitted to others.Self-infection is also possible: autoinoculation.
First of all, the contagiousness of neoplasms manifests itself not only through direct contact with them, but also when using common household items, personal hygiene items or simply touching those places touched by an infected person.For example, the handrail of a bus.
Secondly, the location of the wart may be in a place subject to the maximum possible injury: neck, feet, armpits, groin.These places are more often than others rubbed by clothes, squeezed and touched.So this is fraught with malignant tumors, bleeding and growth.
Thirdly, the formations can increase in size and quantity, which causes aesthetic problems.This phenomenon can be called conquest of territory by a wart.
Important!Not always, but it is possible for a wart to degenerate into melanoma, an aggressive and incurable skin cancer.
Major misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and treatment of warts is the best option.It will save a lot of time, effort and money.Although 70% of warts can disappear spontaneously after 2 years of their existence, they can recur just as easily and, moreover, in new places.
The fears of many when turning to a surgeon are related to the fear of surgery, its complications, relapses and possible pain during the procedure.They are completely unfounded, since modern methods provide excellent pain relief, and many do not require anesthesia at all.
There is still the prevailing opinion that unnecessary touching of a wart with a surgeon's knife will increase its growth.This is the deepest misconception: it is the surgery that will prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the wart from growing.Fortunately, there are enough methods for this.
Those patients who are not afraid to use traditional home methods and refuse qualified help can be called strange.The experience and qualifications of the doctor are, of course, crucial, but a good surgeon is not uncommon.
And one more note: you do not need to rely on cosmetologists and run to them with warts.They are the ones who do not have sufficient medical training.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.Furthermore, the effect depends on the size of the wart, its location and the depth of growth.
All methods can be combined into 3 groups: hardware, surgical and chemical method.Traditional treatment refers more to the method of physical (mechanical) influence.
When you contact us, the doctor can advise you on the best option, in his opinion, but the final choice lies with the patient himself.
Preliminary consultation is also necessary because not all chosen methods may be suitable, as there are contraindications and restrictions.
Laser treatment
The laser method can be called universal.Among all methods, today it is the leader.Using a laser, you can remove warts in the most inaccessible, tender and painful places.It is also useful because it does not leave scars.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The effectiveness is so high that just one procedure is sufficient.The essence of the thermal effect on a wart is burning with temperature.Healing is rapid, without scarring or complications.
Further advantages of the laser:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- no anesthesia required;
- complete removal;
- fast: takes 1-2 minutes.Relapses are possible in only 20% of cases.
Burning leaves a hole that heals after 2 weeks.The skin may lighten temporarily, but disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Cauterization with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction is the freezing of a wart at low temperatures using liquid nitrogen.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing causes the growth tissue to die.When exposed to freezing, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute it turns red and swells.
At home, a bubble with gray liquid will appear.Within a week it will break down on its own and a scab will form.The scab heals and falls off in 2 weeks.
A pinkish spot remains, gradually its color becomes the same as that of the skin.The formation will disappear within 2 weeks, and a spot with a pinkish tint will appear at the site of removal, which will gradually disappear.
Pros:
- no pain, scarring and no anesthesia required;
- no infection or bleeding.
The only downside is that there is no way to control the depth of impact.
On the soles of the feet the effect lasts about 1 minute.The procedure can be repeated on the sole up to 5 times.The disadvantage is that the wound takes a long time to heal.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation for warts uses high-frequency currents.It concentrates in a ring that cuts the wart.The cauterization temperature is approximately 80 degrees.
There is no bleeding due to simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels.Local anesthesia is required.The big advantage of this method is that it prevents the virus from spreading further.Furthermore, the method is quite economical and effective.
Surrounding tissues must be covered and the skin must be pre-disinfected.There is also a crust phase.Within a week it disappears.Subsequently, an almost imperceptible and transparent scar remains, but more often a bright spot.There are no relapses!
Application of radio wave therapy
The method is considered no less effective than electric current.Cauterization is performed using special devices;a doctor will help you choose the right one.This is a radio wave generator;its high-frequency electrical waves do not touch the wart, but cut it completely.
The essence of the action is that the cells of the wart contain liquid, which expands when exposed to radio waves, the wart swells and bursts.The work is performed with a special tip that resembles a ballpoint pen.
There are no scars or infections.The only disadvantage is that the procedure is painful;for this reason, the growth is pre-lubricated with an anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.Cauterization lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Advise!During the crust phase it must not be wet or peeled off!It disappears on its own within a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional and classic method, which is performed using a scalpel.Nowadays it is rarely used.The method is traumatic and produces relapses and scars.
There is a risk of damage to nearby tissue and the possibility of infection.But it is essential if the wart is large.Under local anesthesia, the wart is scraped with a special spoon after the incision.The stitches are cosmetic and are removed after a week.The scar remains approximately 3 mm in size and fades over time.
Chemical cauterization
The formation is targeted with acids or alkalis.After a certain time, wash it off.There are usually at least 6 procedures to achieve the effect.During this procedure you feel a burning or tingling sensation.The wart dries up and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk that the virus will spread further and contagion cannot be ruled out;
- healthy tissue is often damaged;
- Scarring is possible, healing takes about 10 days.
This method is used only when other methods are not possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which is better and what is better
Any removal method has its pros and cons;there are no ideal options.Today the most popular methods are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radio waves, surgical scalpel - as the frequency of use decreases.The cost of the first 3 methods is actually in the same price range.
The laser is cutting edge: there are no inaccessible places for it, it is safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but with it it is not possible to control the depth of exposure, due to which relapses are possible.
And another conclusion: the laser can remove only 1 small formation in 1 session.
Cryotherapy is applicable to papillomatosis, when it is possible to remove up to 40 growths in 1 procedure.But here the experience of the doctor is of great importance for quality.
How do the location and type of growth influence the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– in the form of small nodules, which often grow on the fingers and toes, on the back of the hands;
- dish– typical of adolescents, they appear in the form of protruding spots;these also include insoles (pinus);
- filamentous (acrochords)– thin elastic growths on the stem that appear on the face (eyelids, lips) and neck;
- genital warts - most often localized on the genital mucosa;They look like cauliflowers.
These 4 types are of viral origin and belong to real warts.
But there are also senile keratomas, caused by functional skin disorders.They do not require treatment, only observation.If desired, you can use cryotherapy.
The doctor recommends a removal method, but in the end it is the patient who chooses.As the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removed“knife” of radio waves or liquid nitrogen.
Radio knifeApplicable to face and neck, feet and palms, groin.It is not used for papillomas on the eyelids.They can use lasers or liquid nitrogen.
FreezingIt is also used on hands and feet (on the soles of the feet), papillomas on the neck.The cryogenic method can be called universal.It's safe.
Laser— removes any warts on any part of the body, even under the nail.
Surgical methodused for large growths on the oral mucosa.
Electrocoagulationrecommended for flat and common warts.It can also be used on the face.For large formations the effect is insignificant.Also, the electric knife is not used for plantar warts, because they usually have deep roots and are very dense.
Important!It is recommended to remove plantar growths only in the hospital.
The chemical method gives good results for plantar, flat and pointed lesions.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What method for removing tumors do doctors recommend?
Naturally the customer chooses based on his abilities.But to make the right decision, you must be guided by your doctor's opinion.Experts prefer complex (combined) treatment of warts, where the main place goes to removal.
Furthermore, the treatment will involve the oral administration of drugs with antiviral activity.Although the HPV virus (human papillomavirus) is not 100% curable and its activation largely depends on the state of the immune system, it can be slowed down, “put to sleep” and remission prolonged.
In addition to antiviral drugs, immunomodulators are used for this purpose.This is, first of all, a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods, since the treatment is not carried out by doctors and is not safe.It is fraught with damage to surrounding tissues, infection and inflammation.Warts cannot be removed by any method for children under 5 years of age.