Removal of warts is a necessary measure, because neoplasms can cause discomfort to a person and look unsightly on the skin.Although these formations do not itch and most often do not hurt, they are of viral origin, which allows them to 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 becomes infected during contact with a virus carrier.
Sometimes a person can independently contribute to the spread of an infection on their skin, for example, if they use the same razor or towel.In medicine, such an infection is called autoinoculation.
Condylomas or warts with sharp ends are most often located in the genital area, so they can only be “picked up” during sexual intercourse.
You can become infected with the virus if a person has abrasions or wounds on the skin.Once the papillomavirus penetrates the skin, it travels to the cell nucleus, where the reproduction process begins.If a person has a strong immune system, cells susceptible to infection are destroyed.Otherwise, neighboring cells become infected and warts appear on the epidermis.
Types of warts
Papules are of several types: regular, flat, plantar and with pointed ends.Common neoplasms appear regardless of a person's age group.According to statistics, around 70% of children contract 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 healthy skin, which is why they are difficult to notice at the early stage of the disease.If the formation remains on the skin for a long time, other small growths will form nearby.To get rid of the papules, you must remove the parent wart, in which case the small tumors will no longer have anything to feed on and they will also disappear.
Flat papillomas occur in 4% of people on the planet.They are round and polygonal with a flat, smooth surface.The color of the warts is pale pink and they practically do not extend beyond the level of the skin.Located on the back of the arms, neck, face and chest.Sometimes found near the genitals of men and women.
Plantar papules appear on the soles of the feet.They have a rough surface and somewhat resemble fused growths.A particularity 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 located on the skin which connects the mucous membranes: around the lips, in the anus, near the urethra, near the external intimate organs and on the conjunctiva.
Warts grow in groups and look like cauliflower or rooster combs.Very often, the growths crack and open the way to various infections.To avoid serious illness, you should consider wart removal.
When should a wart be removed?
Many warts do not interfere with a person's life, so no one is in a hurry to see a doctor.In case of a pronounced cosmetic defect, infectious infection of other areas of the epithelium, significant 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;
- suppression of radio waves;
- elimination with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction);
- laser removal;
- surgery;
- chemotherapy.
Traditional methods and combined monotherapy also help to eliminate condyloma.
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 heated to a very high temperature under the influence of high-frequency current.After the operation, a dry crust (crust) forms at the excision site, which disappears on its own after 10-14 days.
The manipulation is carried out under local anesthesia, so the patient does not feel pain or discomfort.The most a patient may feel during surgery is a slight tingling in the area to be removed.After electrocoagulation, the patient has no scar at the wound level.Complete healing of the skin takes approximately 2 weeks.
The essence of radio wave suppression
This technique began to be used by doctors relatively recently and has proven itself to be effective and safe.To excise skin lesions using radio waves, a specialist uses special devices.Their particularity is that they emit radio waves at a frequency of 3.8 to 4 MHz.
The technology allows you to excise pathological growth without contacting the epidermis.During the procedure, not only the upper layer of skin is removed, but also the root of the condyloma.The patient does not feel any pain during the procedure.After surgery, no scars or scars remain on the epithelium.The removed material may be sent for additional histologic studies to determine whether the growth was benign or malignant.
About cryodestruction
Removing warts with liquid nitrogen is particularly popular because it is effective and safe.Cryodestruction allows you to excise even plantar papillomas without the risk of bleeding and infection.
If the formation is small, it can be removed in 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 doctor's inexperience, there is a risk of not completely eliminating the growth.
Laser Removal
Laser excision of papillomas has many 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 crust comes off the epidermis 3-4 days after manipulation.
This procedure is characterized by laser blocking of microscopic vessels in the wart area, so that the operation is as bloodless as possible.The reformation of a condyloma is impossible because the intervention 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 defects on the skin.With surgical excision, there is a high probability of re-entry of the papillomavirus into the blood.
Sometimes methods of removing sharp and flat papules are not as effective as we would like.Therefore, to eliminate the defect, acid solutions or special drugs are used.The duration of chemotherapy is at least six procedures.
The solution is applied point-wise to the growths, then after a while the drugs are washed off.To avoid allergies or burns, treatment is carried out under the close supervision of a doctor.
Removing warts using traditional methods
In traditional medicine, there are many ways to get rid of warts once and for all.Some techniques really help, others can actually make the problem worse.
People recommend rubbing the sprout with fresh garlic every day until it falls off.People also take magnesium (powder).You should consume the powder daily at the rate 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 come off the skin on their own.
Another popular method is freezing condylomas.Every day you need to apply artificial ice cubes on the wart and hold for 5-10 minutes.After several such sessions, the growth will disappear.
An aggressive method of removing warts in traditional medicine is burning papules with acetic acid.
Every day you need to drip 1 drop of acid onto the skin infected with papillomavirus, and over time the pathological formation will disappear.Do not apply more than one drop to the epithelium, as irritation or allergic reaction will occur.
You need to be very careful with unconventional methods, because they do not guarantee that a person will get rid of the problem.
If home treatments fail to remove the tumor on your own, you should seek qualified medical help from a dermatologist or surgeon.