Doctors classify warts as benign tumors.However, they don’t look great, so many people want to get rid of them.Choosing the best removal method depends on the type of wart.
What is a wart and what does it look like?
Warts are new growths on the skin that are mostly benign in nature.In appearance, it resembles a nodule with a rough surface.Initially, the tumor is flesh-colored, but over time it changes: turning brown or even black.
Warts can be single or in clusters.In the latter case, rather large structures are formed, spherical or, less commonly, conical in shape, with a broad base.
Warts vary in size, averaging several millimeters.Warts appear on various parts of the body, most commonly on the hands.
causes of warts
They occur due to severe proliferation of the superficial layers of skin.This is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).Infection occurs through direct contact with a person carrying the virus or through common objects such as razors.
For HPV to enter the body, it needs what's called a point of entry - a scratch or wound on the skin.After the virus penetrates epithelial cells, it moves toward the nucleus.It is within this that its development and subsequent reproduction takes place.If the immune system is functioning normally, infected cells are destroyed.HPV can "sleep" in the body for many years without manifesting itself.Only when immunity weakens does it begin to affect many epidermal cells, leading to the appearance of warts.
Types of warts
There are many types of warts, depending on the type of HPV.
- Ordinary.They appear as nodules up to 1 cm in diameter, with a densely wrinkled surface and flesh-colored flesh that turns gray-brown over time.They are usually located on the back of the hands, palms, and tops of the feet.Most common in school-age children.
- Plantar (Pine).These are dense, keratinized areas that are irregular in shape but well defined.On the outside, they look like a thorn or callus, except they are characterized by pain.Size reaches 2 cm.They are most commonly found on the feet and less commonly on the palms of the hands.
- acuminata (genital warts).They look like soft flesh-colored or pink nodules, reminiscent of cockscombs or cauliflower inflorescences.They are usually found around the genitals and anus and less frequently on the tongue.
- Flat (young).They look like nodules, slightly higher than the skin, have a smooth surface, and are flesh-colored, brown, or yellowish in color.They are mainly found on the face, neck and back of the hands.
- Filamentous (acrochords).These are oval, elastic tumors up to 6 mm long.They are flesh-colored or dark brown.Favorite places to target are the eyelids, chin, armpits, groin area, and under the breasts.
There is another type of wart that appears in older people - age-related keratomas.They occur not because of HPV, but because of hormonal changes.This formation can degenerate into malignancy and therefore also needs to be removed.
Of all types, common and plantar warts are the most common.
How to remove warts
Warts of any type do not pose a danger to the body, but they can disfigure their appearance or cause discomfort.Therefore, plantar warts can be painful when walking.When the skin is damaged, tumors can easily grow.This can happen if they are in an area that is frequently injured, such as when shaving.In this case, it is best to resort to wart removal methods.
There are several ways to remove warts.They are most commonly removed using the following methods:
- freezing damage;
- electrocoagulation;
- Laser treatment.
All surgeries are painless as they are performed under local anesthesia.
Experts choose removal methods based on the type of wart and its location.
freeze damage
This is one of the simple and common ways to remove all types of warts.The tumors were briefly exposed to cold liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of -196 degrees.As a result, the capillaries in the wart tissue spasm significantly, ice crystals form in the cells, blood circulation stops, and the metabolic process stops.All of these can lead to the destruction of the tumor.
The mechanics of the process are simple.The doctor dips a cotton swab into liquid nitrogen and applies it to the wart for 15 to 30 seconds.The application time and number of surgeries depend on the size of the wart.Sometimes, a single cryotherapy session is enough to make a tumor disappear.
Obvious advantages of this program include:
- lack of specialized training;
- Minimal risk of scarring;
- No threat of bleeding or infection;
- No anesthesia required;
- Affordable price.
electrocoagulation
This removal method involves the use of high-frequency electrical current.It causes an increase in tissue temperature and subsequent destruction of the tumor.Before treatment begins, a specialist will treat the skin around the wart with an antiseptic and anesthetize it.The procedure involves the use of a special device, a coagulator, which uses electrodes heated to 80 degrees to cauterize the tumor.After removal, a dark scab will appear over the wart, which will die over time and be covered with healthy skin.
The procedure is usually performed on the same day as the specialist is contacted, as no special preparation is required.Medium-sized tumors can be removed immediately with one treatment.However, this method is not suitable for removing plantar warts.In this case, the risk of scarring is high, which may subsequently lead to discomfort when walking.
laser treatment
Wart removal using laser is based on the thermal effect of the beam, which actually vaporizes the tumor.The procedure is very effective but may leave scars.
There are several types of lasers used to remove warts.The most common are pulse, erbium, and carbon dioxide (CO2).Unlike the first two, the latter often leaves scars.
Before surgery begins, a specialist will perform a visual inspection of the tumor.In some cases, skin samples may be submitted for histological examination.
The effectiveness of laser treatment depends on the correct calculation of the depth of penetration of the laser beam and the time it irradiates the wart.Eliminate damage to healthy skin.
Any wart removal method only removes the external manifestations of HPV infection.The virus itself continues to survive in the body, so the chance of recurrence is 30%.
Wart removal at home
To reduce the risk of scarring at the wart site, it is recommended to start treatment with simple remedies that you can use at home.If that doesn't work, destructive influence methods should be used.
To remove warts on your own, use special preparations available in pharmacies.
These medicines 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 the same.It is based on cauterizing the wart and subsequently mummifying it.The effects of using the medicine will not appear immediately, but will appear after 2-4 weeks.
These medications are applied in dots directly to the wart area, avoiding healthy areas of the skin.For convenience, you can use a cotton swab.It is recommended to perform the procedure before bed and cover the wart with a band-aid.
If the warts are small and appear recently, medicinal preparations are recommended.
Traditional ways to remove warts
Traditional methods are only effective if the warts are few and small.To remove warts, they usually use:
- acetic acid;
- celandine juice;
- raw potatoes;
- garlic.
Apply these products to the wart until it completely disappears.Patience is important when choosing traditional methods.The first results are usually visible after 3-4 weeks.