The appearance of warts on the skin indicates an infection with HPV (human papillomatosis virus). The localization of skin growths on exposed parts of the body (face, neck, fingers) is perceived as a cosmetic defect and causes complexes and psychological problems. Papillomavirus is contagious and can be transmitted through contact. In this article we will talk about how to get rid of warts and what methods of struggle are considered the most effective.
Why do they appear?
Skin formations of a viral nature are considered benign neoplasms. They are formed due to the multiplication of the papilloma virus, which enters the body through microdamage of the skin. Infection occurs through close contact with an infected person or by sharing household items. The pathogen can enter the body through contact with a contaminated surface in transport or in public places.
The active formation of growths is facilitated by a decrease in immunity caused by a number of adverse factors. These include recent illnesses or exacerbation of chronic illnesses, severe stressful situations, poor environment and bad habits. A weakened immune system cannot effectively destroy cells infected with the virus, causing them to multiply rapidly and cause the characteristic growths to appear.
How to remove a wart so that several new ones do not appear in its place? All treatment options should be supplemented with antiviral therapy to limit further spread of the papillomavirus. Strengthening the immune system is another important area. This is the only way to put the virus in "sleep" mode and eliminate possible relapses.
Types of warts
How to remove a wart that spoils your appearance and causes constant discomfort? This question should be addressed to a dermatologist. The doctor will choose treatment methods, taking into account the modification of the virus and the type of tumor. Some warts are recommended to be removed immediately, while others are recommended to be treated with medication.
Main forms of warts:
- Simple (vulgar) - rounded growths with a rough surface in the form of a knot rising above the skin.
- Flat - represent multiple formations with a dense, smooth surface, almost not protruding above the skin. It most often affects children and adolescents.
- Palmoplantar - painful nodes with a deep root, covered with a keratinized layer. They appear in areas of mechanical impact or constant pressure.
- Filamentous - they look like elongated growths on a thin stalk. Localized in the area of the eyelids, eyes, armpits and inguinal folds.
- Genital condylomas have a lobular structure and look like papillomas. They are formed in the perineal area and on the genitals.
Other common types of neoplasms include periungual warts and senile keratomas.
The removal of the listed species is carried out in different ways. For example, warts on the face cannot be removed with aggressive means or resort to burning or freezing growths. This approach does not exclude the formation of scars and chemical burns. Flat warts tend to coalesce into large groups. In this case, many hardware and chemical removal methods are not suitable, except for a special type of laser.
Sometimes skin tumors go away on their own without any treatment. In other cases, one cannot deal with skin growths for years, as some varieties have a tendency to recur. How to remove the wart so as not to face the reappearance of new formations in the future? Much depends on the correct diagnosis and correctly selected treatment tactics.
When should it be deleted?
There is an opinion that it is not necessary to remove benign tumors, since they do not pose a particular threat. But doctors disagree with this attitude. Warts on the face spoil the appearance, cause psychological problems and create difficulties in communicating with people.
Growths on other exposed parts of the body (arms, neck, head, cleavage) can be accidentally damaged when shaving, during hygiene procedures or rubbing with clothes. An injured wart is a serious danger, as there is a threat of bacterial infection and even malignant degeneration.
In what situations is it necessary to urgently seek medical help?
- the growth of the skin grows rapidly and increases in size;
- the shape and color of the neoplasm change;
- the wart becomes painful and bleeds;
- plantar warts hurt a lot and make walking difficult;
- genital warts (genital warts) cause discomfort during intercourse, defecation and urination.
If there is a threat of malignant degeneration, suspicious tumors should be removed immediately. In such cases, not only a person's health, but also a person's life depends on the correct and qualified actions of the doctor.
If the neoplasm is painless and does not cause concern, it is not necessary to resort to surgical intervention. To find out how to remove a wart at home, consult a dermatologist. The doctor will recommend a drug that will be optimal in your case. If there is no result, you will have to resort to more radical methods - removing tumors using hardware methods.
Removing warts at home
There are many ways to fight skin growths using special chemicals. These include drugs with keratolytic (exfoliating), cauterizing and mummifying effects. Your dermatologist will tell you which wart removal product to choose. You should not self-medicate - first you need to understand the type of formation and only then proceed with the procedures.
Neoplasms of a viral nature tend to relapse - often several new ones appear at the site of the removed wart. Only complex treatment will help prevent further spread of the virus. To do this, you must additionally take antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs, which will stop the reproduction of the pathogen and ensure a stable remission.
The papillomavirus, after entering the body, remains in it forever. The main goal of complex therapy is to translate it into an inactive state in order to eliminate visible manifestations on the skin. A specialist knows how to get rid of warts at home to forget about the unpleasant problem forever. If tumors appear on the skin, you should consult a doctor, undergo a diagnostic examination and only then start treatment.
How to quickly remove a wart at home
The most effective ways to combat skin growths include products based on acids, bases or liquid nitrogen. Let's take a closer look at how to use them to remove the wart at home.
- An aqueous solution based on potassium and sodium alkali, which, when applied to a neoplasm, causes necrosis (death) of its tissues. Caustic alkali penetrates deep into the structure of the growth (to the root), as a result of which the wart dries up and soon falls off. Care should be taken when using the drug. Aggressive alkalis can cause chemical burns to healthy tissues, so the skin around the growth should first be lubricated with petroleum jelly or baby cream. Using a special applicator, apply a small amount of solution to the wart and wait until it dries completely.
- An improved version of a drug that has already been discontinued. An oily liquid based on phenol and 3-methylphenol has a cauterizing and mummifying effect. As a result, the wart dies and falls off. To avoid chemical burns, do not allow the solution to come into contact with healthy skin. Before the procedure, the area around the wart should be applied with zinc paste. The growths are treated spot by smearing them 3-4 times and waiting for the liquid to absorb. The number of procedures is from 4 to 10, depending on the type and location of the wart.
- An effective product made in Switzerland, based on a combination of several acids (lactic, oxalic, acetic, nitric). The drug is available in the form of a colorless solution, which, when used, has a powerful mummifying effect. Before applying the drug, it is necessary to remove the dense, keratinized layers. To do this, it is recommended to evaporate the formation in hot water or to first use formulations with a keratolytic effect (for example, salicylic ointment). The solution is carefully applied with a special applicator, being careful not to get it on healthy skin. The procedure is repeated several times, with breaks of 1 day.
- A drug that destroys the wart tissue by freezing it. The active ingredients, a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, have the same effect as the liquid nitrogen wart removal procedure. The medicine is produced in cans with an aerosol nozzle. The temperature of the outlet of the mixture reaches – 57 °C. The cooling composition is applied with a special applicator, keeping it on the growth from 3 to 40 seconds, depending on the type of tumor. Sharp cooling of the wart leads to destruction and necrosis of the pathological tissues. A few days after treatment, the formation dies.
Among other wart removal products, the following drugs are popular:
- a solution based on lactic and salicylic acid;
- cream paste with glycyrrhizic acid;
- freezing spray;
- pencil based on silver nitrate;
- keratolytic agent with salicylic acid;
- a drug with a cauterizing effect based on podophyllotoxin for the treatment of genital warts;
- gel based on polysaccharides from potato shoots with an antiviral effect;
- ointment with interferon alfa-2b, stimulating local immunity.
Any of the listed means can be used only after consultation with your doctor. To achieve the necessary therapeutic effect, it is necessary to take into account the type and structure of the tumor, the area of its localization and possible contraindications.
How to remove warts on fingers
Growths on the fingers are not only an aesthetic problem, but also a direct threat to others. The pathogen can easily be transmitted to a healthy person by shaking hands or close contact. Tumors may be damaged during physical work or during hygiene procedures.
How to remove the wart from the finger with the help of drugs, without resorting to hardware methods? To do this, experts advise using products with a mummifying effect. Using a pencil based on silver nitrate gives a good effect, but you should not expect quick results from this method.
Before removing a wart on your finger, consult your doctor. Perhaps the best solution would be to use products with a freezing effect. With the help of such drugs, you can get rid of large growths in just 5-7 days.
Sometimes several new warts appear at the same time at the site of the removed tumor. In this case, an integrated approach is needed. In addition to agents with a cauterizing or necrotizing effect, it is necessary to use drugs with an antiviral effect. The dermatologist will advise you on how to get rid of the wart on your finger once and for all. To stop the spread of the virus, you will need to additionally take pills, treat the formations with a gel or ointment with antiviral activity.
How to get rid of a wart on the leg
Removing plantar warts presents certain difficulties. These are painful formations with a deep root, the surface of which is covered with a layer of keratinized skin. In order for the drug with a necrotic effect to penetrate into the deep structures of pathological tissues, it is necessary to first evaporate the growth and clean the softened stratum corneum. Another way is to use a keratolytic agent (for example, salicylic acid patch or ointment). Products based on salicylic acid soften and exfoliate dead skin cells.
After preliminary preparation, it is recommended to treat the growth with any preparation containing bases or acids, or to use a product with a freezing effect. The most important thing is to destroy the root of the wart, which penetrates deep into the dermis. Only in this case it is possible to prevent repeated relapses and the appearance of new formations.
You can not use aggressive means to remove warts on the face. Delicate skin can suffer from a chemical burn, which subsequently forms an ugly scar. As a result, another cosmetic problem will appear. It is recommended to get rid of tumors on the face using gentle methods (for example, laser wart removal).
When choosing a treatment method, you should consider the type and location of the warts. For example, when treating multiple flat warts, you should not resort to agents with a cauterizing or mummifying effect. In the treatment of genital warts, you can use drugs with a certain concentration of different acids that are applied pointwise. To avoid burns, allergic reactions and other side effects, you should first consult a doctor.
Hardware techniques
In addition to drugs, hardware methods are widely used to combat warts. Some of them have been used for decades, others have been developed recently and are considered the most modern and safe.
Electrocoagulation
This method is recommended for the removal of vulgar, plantar and genital warts. It is based on burning the growth tissue with electric current. An electrocoagulator is a device that generates electric waves with a certain frequency. The working nozzle has a loop at the end that instantly heats up to a high temperature and cuts away tumors while cauterizing blood vessels to prevent bleeding and infection of the surgical field.
In just one session, you can remove several growths at once. This is an old, time-tested and cheap method. But there are a number of disadvantages - the risk of scars, pain and a long period of rehabilitation.
Cryodestruction
Removal of warts with nitrogen or cryodestruction procedure - freezing of the formation with subsequent death. This is one of the simplest, bloodless and painless procedures. The wart is treated using an applicator or a directed stream of liquid nitrogen for a few seconds.
The extreme temperature (-196 °C) ensures rapid freezing and destruction of pathological tissues. A blister forms at the site of the wart, which soon opens and dries up. In its place, a dry crust remains, which soon falls off on its own.
Laser wart removal
Two types of installations are used for laser wart removal. Some of them use heat radiation, which instantly heats and vaporizes the liquid in the pathological cells, destroying them. This type of treatment is used to remove vulgar, filiform and genital warts. Warts on the feet cause significant discomfort and are difficult to treat with chemicals. The removal of plantar warts with a laser, the action of which is based on heat radiation, gives the best results.
The second type of laser installation destroys the warts by gluing the walls of the blood vessels that feed the tumor. The growth, deprived of blood supply, soon dies and falls off, leaving clear skin in its place. This type of laser is best for removing multiple flat warts (including those on the face).
Radioknife removal
This is the latest development providing painless and bloodless tumor removal. High-frequency radio waves produce a powerful heat effect that heats up the wart cells and destroys them from the inside. At the same time, radio waves disinfect surfaces and prevent the spread of the virus. The method is quite expensive and is carried out using a device with high-frequency radio waves. It is used to remove all types of warts.
Laser or nitrogen removal: which is better?
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. The laser provides quick and painless removal of all types of warts. This is the most modern, safe and effective procedure, guaranteeing the absence of complications and relapses. The laser radiation destroys the wart tissue and at the same time coagulates the blood vessels, preventing the risk of infection. The procedure does not require a long period of rehabilitation and eliminates the possibility of scar formation.
The cryodestruction procedure destroys the growth tissue due to ultra-low temperatures. This is one of the most affordable and painless procedures. But if you incorrectly calculate the depth of exposure, a scar may remain on the skin. When using liquid nitrogen, complete healing takes 10 to 14 days.
How much does wart removal cost?
The cost of wart removal services depends on the technique used, the equipment used, the type and area of localization of the tumors. The cheapest procedure is electrocoagulation. In second place is the cryodestruction method.
The cost of the procedures is also influenced by the region of residence.
Removal of warts with yolks
Celandine is a medicinal plant whose juice has long been used to burn skin growths. Its action is similar to alkali-based chemicals. The plant is harvested during the flowering period, taking measures to avoid burning.
Warts are treated with fresh juice 3-4 times a day, avoiding contact with healthy skin. You should not expect immediate results. It will take 2 to 3 weeks for the growth to dry out and fall off. Neoplasms located on the mucous membrane cannot be treated with celandine juice, otherwise a chemical burn cannot be avoided.
Before using any folk remedy (juice of celandine, vinegar, tea tree oil), consult your doctor and get his approval for the procedures.