Warts: what are they and how to get rid of them?

About a quarter of the population suffers from a problem such as warts. Someone does not pay attention to them, but someone cares, tries to cure them. Most neoplasms pose no particular threat, but there are deadly (malignant) types.

Wart on the finger

Their appearance is a severe dermatological disease that occurred due to the human papillomavirus that entered the body with weak immunity or severe disease. The virus affects not only the visible parts of the body: hands, face, legs, but also the internal system of the body, remains for life. A person lives unaware of the disease, is a carrier and, unfortunately, infects healthy people.

Today, more than one hundred varieties of this pathogen are known. Only people are sensitive to it, so the fear of getting infected by animals, especially toads, is a myth.

What is a wart?

WartIt is a benign skin neoplasm caused by a virus. It develops in the form of a lump or papilla. They can be one at a time or in close-knit groups. Spread between children and adults with weak immunity.

In children, there is a desire to tear or simply scratch the wart, this leads to the transmission of the infection to a clean area of the skin. Warts behave in a completely unexpected way: they may disappear on their own without any effect on them, or they may not be affected by the most effective medications and treatments.

Types of warts

dish

Oval platesup to 9 mm in size, slightly above the skin. Painted in gray-yellow or yellow-pink colors. They form numerous clusters. It causes itching. Outwardly, they resemble a nettle burn. They appear on the face, neck, back of the skin of the arms and legs, on the body of girls, boys. This species is not found in adults. They occur during hormonal changes in the body.

Hence the second namejuvenile warts. Their appearance on the skin of the face of young people can provoke the onset of the use of razors: wounds on the skin of the face, neck and non-compliance with basic hygiene rules. Go it alone.

A photo

A photograph of flat warts clearly demonstrates the features of this type:

flat warts

Vulgar

The most common type. It mainly affects children. Location: fingers, palms, hands, rarely appear on the mucous membranes. Growth of 0. 5 to 2 mm, flesh-colored, may be with red spots.

Grow from maternal warts to babies. This type of treatment is not required. After 3-6-8 months they disappear on their own. A few cases have been identified where the wart has lasted 1. 5 years. Of course, they can be removed if they are localized over a large area of the skin or cause discomfort when moving.

A photo

The photograph shows the structure and location of the vulgar wart on the fingers:

Vulgar warts

filiform

A common sight among the elderly. In rare cases, pregnant women are affected, reporting a problem throughout pregnancy, even with menopause in women, as the hormonal background goes astray. At the initial stage, a bump is formed, which increases in size, takes the form of a 5 to 10 mm flesh-colored thread. They can merge into groups, forming a scallop.

They appear in the area of the eyes, nose, neck, groin, armpits, around the chest in women, that is, where there is delicate skin, there are folds and places with excessive sweating. Requires careful observation of specialists, treatment. They don't go alone. It must be treated or removed.

A photo

The photo shows filiform warts affecting the eye:

Filiform warts

Genital warts

small formationsflesh pink, divided into slices. Outwardly, they resemble a cauliflower inflorescence. They develop on the genitals, on the anus, in rare cases in the oral cavity, in the urethra. In appearance, warts are confused with nacre papules, which are not a disease.

Genital warts are soft to the touch, attached to a thin stem, they can be of different sizes - from 2 millimeters to 10 centimeters. They are only transmitted sexually, so they belong to the homonymous venereal disease. Areas with small cracks or wounds are particularly vulnerable.

They appear 2-3 months after sexual contact, if immunity is excellent, the process can stretch for decades. The spread of the virus in the body can cause cervical cancer in women and penile cancer in men. Therefore, if this type of wart is found, it is important to urgently contact doctors - specialists: a venereologist, a gynecologist. Get rid of just treatment and removal.

A photo

The photo shows pointed (anogenital) warts:

Genital warts

Senile (seborrheic keratosis)

They occur in older people.Dark brown or blackthey resemble melanomas (malignant tumors), so it is important to consult an oncologist. They appear on the face, neck, torso. This type of neoplasm is the only one not caused by the human papillomavirus. Over time the wart becomes dense to the touch, covered with a keratinized crust with black or white "pearls".

Position: chest, neck, face, arms. They do not appear on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. The size ranges from 2 mm to 6 cm. Both single growths and foci of accumulations up to several dozen are possible. In patients with multiple seborrheic keratosis, a family history is sometimes noted, which is a reflection of the hereditary predisposition.

This species develops slowly, over several decades, and does not undergo malignant transformations. They require observation and treatment. Remove as directed by a doctor.

Important: with the appearance of a neoplasm on the skin of an elderly person, you should immediately consult a dermatologist and an oncologist in order not to miss the development of skin cancer!

A photo

The images show the four stages of development of senile warts.

Spot phase:

Senile warts in the spot stage

Papular form (nodules and papules):

Nodules and papules of seborrheic keratosis

Keratotic:

Keratotic wart

Skin horn:

Stage of development of the senile wart - skin horn

Typical localizations of warts

Warts most often appear in the following places:

  • Facial warts:

    • Flat: The most common type, affects the cheeks, the area around the mouth.
    • Vulgar - can appear on any part of the face as single or multiple formations in different areas.
    • Filiform: the favorite places are the eyelids, lips, neck.
  • Warts on hands and arms:

    • Vulgar - affects the fingers, palms, hands (photo).
    • Flat - the back of the palms, the outer side of the elbow joint area, nails (photo).
  • Plantar warts.Location: fingertips, bases of the fingers, foot. Plantar warts are popularly called "spikes". They appear in the pressure points of the shoes, especially in people who suffer from constant sweating of the feet. Keratinized outgrowth of a gray-yellowish color. The appearance is observed individually, in rare cases, a group of three to five formations. Causes discomfort when walking. They pass on their own or are surgically removed, cauterization.

Causes of warts

As we already know, the source of the appearance of neoplasms is insidioushuman papilloma virus.Infection carrier infection in healthy person by family, sexual contact, through objects of collective use.

It is easy to collect a virus in places of rest: a bathhouse, a sauna, a beach, a swimming pool. Good for infections at night, in the evening, as the sun's rays are harmful to the virus. Symptoms of the disease appear after two to five months.

Factors contributing to the appearance of warts:

  • Weak immunity.
  • Synthetic shoes.
  • Sweating.
  • Violation of metabolism in the body.
  • Endocrine pathology.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fungi and other infectious diseases.
  • Insufficient hygiene.
  • Lack of nutrients in the body.
  • Casual sex.
  • Non-compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis during manicures and pedicures.

Treatment of warts at home

When an accumulation appears, first of all you should seek the advice of a dermatologist. It will examine, determine the nature of the event and the type of instruction. He will prescribe the appropriate treatment for your case. In the early stages, drug treatment is highly effective.

In children

Treatment of warts in children:

  1. Ointment prescribed by a dermatologist. Treat the wart directly, after steaming it, wait for complete absorption. The effect occurs from two weeks to two months.
  2. Medical patch for the treatment of warts. It is saturated with salicylic acid. The advantage of the patch is that the affected area is covered. This does not prevent the child from playing. It also prevents bacteria from entering the wound, thus blocking the further spread of the virus.
  3. antiviral therapy.
  4. Apply drugs to protect the immune system.
  5. Conduct preventive vitamin courses.

Tips from traditional medicine:

  • Fresh juice of celandine, dandelion or garlic. Treat the wart several times a day.
  • Dough with vinegar essence. Mix two drops of essence with the flour. Cut a small hole in the patch, equal to the size of the wart. Glue the rough, thereby protecting the healthy areas of the skin. We put a piece of the resulting dough into the hole, fix it on top with another small piece of chalk. It is best to carry out the procedure at night. The result is possible in the morning.
  • Lotions from a decoction of wormwood.

If, after removal, new neoplasms appear, you should think about the state of the baby's immunity. It is important to carefully consider the baby's nutrition, spend more time on walks in the fresh air. If the body's defenses are functioning at full capacity, knowledge of how to remove a wart from a child will not be required. The body will be able to cope with the virus on its own.

In adults

You can use chemicals from pharmacies - antiviral ointments and creams containing alkali or acids.

Additionally, you can use:

  1. Caustic agent based on phenol and metacresol. Using the applicator, treat the wart without getting into healthy skin. Used to remove plantar, filiform, common warts.
  2. Preparation with sodium hydroxide. It is considered the best remedy. Use strictly as directed by your doctor.
  3. Remedy with celandine grass juice. The drug is not only used to remove warts, but is also an antiviral agent.
  4. Spray with coolant, temperature minus 57 degrees.
  5. A solution based on a mixture of different acids.
  6. Antiviral gel containing a unique synthetic peptide. Suitable for adults and children.
  7. A combination of polysaccharides, acetic and citric acid, potassium iodide, extracts of aromatic plants and celandine. The drug has no side effects.

Removal of the wart

You need to start by examining the wart by a doctor, this will help figure out the cause of the event and prevent recurrence.

Laser removal

main method. Quickly and painlessly it will help get rid of the buildup. Used in children from an early age. Fights all types of warts.

There are a number of contraindications:

  • ARVI or exacerbation of a chronic disease at the time of treatment;
  • hypertension;
  • malignant education;
  • pregnancy and breastfeeding.

A high-tech surgical laser is used for the procedure. In any neoplasm, under the action of the high temperatures of the laser beam, the pathogen dies. The beam acts on the surface of the skin without touching or injuring it. The main advantage of this method is that the operator of the laser device can easily control the power and depth of the beam.

After the procedure, it is not recommended to wet the wound, go to the bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool, solarium, protect from direct sunlight, do not use cosmetics, do not hide under plaster.

Benefits of the treatment:

  • there is no risk of infection;
  • the wound does not bleed;
  • minimum time for the procedure;
  • once is enough;
  • method for any type of wart;
  • no age limit.

Removal with liquid nitrogen (cryolysis)

Cell death in the wart tissue occurs during the freezing process. The method is suitable for shallow keratinized growths.

Contraindications:

  • sensitivity to nitrogen;
  • Seizures;
  • hypertension;
  • pregnancy and the first months of breastfeeding;
  • SARS and other infections.

Use a special cryo applicator with nozzle or a wooden stick with a cotton tip. impact on education during10-40 seconds. The growth turns white, within an hour a bubble appears in its place, which in no case should be pierced or cut. It will go away on its own in a week, gradually drying out. Finally, the traces of the treatment disappear in two to three weeks.

When treating flat warts, the doctor performs skin shading: 4 approaches at 2-minute intervals.

Treatment of plantar warts is painful, as deeper nitrogen exposure is required. For efficiency, the procedure is carried out 3-4 times within four days. In severe forms of growth, treatment is delayed for up to six months. The recovery period takes three weeks, as there is pain during healing, which causes discomfort when walking.

Professionals:

  • affordable price;
  • short-term procedure that does not require preparation;
  • the development of infection is excluded;
  • leaves no scars.

Disadvantages:

  • anesthesia is required;
  • with an inaccurate calculation of the depth of exposure, a skin burn is possible.
  • repeated courses for large warts.

Electrical cauterization (electrocoagulation)

Special apparatuselectrocoagulatorproduces a high frequency current. It has a tip with a loop-shaped electrode. The doctor checks and adjusts the power supply. Under the influence of discharges, the temperature of the cells inside the wart reaches 80 degrees. They are dying. Education is interrupted. The scab finally disappears in a week.

Contraindications:

  • herpes activity;
  • malignant tumors or suspicion of them;
  • inflammation in the area of the procedure;
  • the location of the wart near the blood vessels.

Professionals:

  • the procedure takes a short time, from a few seconds to a minute;
  • the ability to burn several growths at once;
  • no bleeding;
  • there is no risk of infection.

Disadvantages:

  • requires anesthesia;
  • damage to surrounding tissues;
  • unpleasant tingling sensations after the procedure;
  • daily processing of the crusts;
  • scars.

Removal with a scalpel

The traditional way is easy to remove. Before the procedure, the area is anesthetized, then the growth is cut with a scalpel. The wound is sutured, which is removed on the eighth day. This method is used with an extensive injury, when other methods are ineffective. It leaves scars. There is a risk of infection, subsequently new outbreaks.

Indications:

  • large size of the wart;
  • suspected development of a malignant tumor;
  • contraindications for other methods.

Minimal contraindications:

  • exacerbation of herpes or other infections;
  • chronic diseases without additional examination;
  • refusal to pregnant women at the discretion of the doctor.

Prevention

Warts prevention:

  1. Hygiene.
  2. Permanent partner.
  3. Personal objects.
  4. Vitamin therapy.
  5. Maintain immunity.

Developed medicine and a variety of ways to deal with warts cannot affect the complete elimination of the human papillomavirus, unfortunately its rate is growing in all countries of the world.You cannot leave the disease unattended.Constant monitoring by specialists and timely treatment will help prevent the risk of a malignant transformation of the focus.