Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that arise due to the activation of the human papilloma virus.
They are not aesthetic and often become the cause of complexes.A person wants to get rid of it, but does not know how.
Should I remove the growth?
It depends on the size of the papillomas, their nature and the age of the person.But more often than not, the answer is clearly yes, because warts are contagious and can be passed on to others.Self-infection is also possible – self-inoculation.
First of all, the contagiousness of neoplasms is manifested not only by direct contact with them, but also when using common household items, personal hygiene items or simply touching those places that an infected person has touched.For example, a bus ramp.
Secondly, the location of the wart can be in a place prone to the most serious possible injuries - the neck, feet, armpits, groin.These places are more often than others rubbed by clothing, pressed and touched.Then this is fraught with malignancy, bleeding and growth.
Thirdly, formations can increase in size and quantity, leading to aesthetic problems.This phenomenon can be called the conquest of territory by a wart.
Important!Not always, but it is possible for a wart to develop into melanoma, an aggressive and incurable skin cancer.
Main misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and treatment of warts is the best option.This will save a lot of time, effort and money.If 70% of warts can disappear spontaneously after 2 years of their existence, they can just as easily reappear and, moreover, in new places.
The fears of many when contacting a surgeon are linked to the fear of surgery, its complications, relapses and possible pain during the procedure.They are completely unfounded, because modern methods relieve pain very well and many do not require any anesthesia.
There is still a prevailing opinion that unnecessarily touching a wart with a surgical knife will increase its growth.This is the deepest misconception: it is a surgical procedure that will prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the wart from growing.Fortunately, there are enough methods for this.
Patients who are not afraid to use traditional methods and refuse qualified help can be called strange.The experience and qualifications of the doctor are of course crucial, but it is not uncommon to have a good surgeon.
And one more note: you do not need to rely on cosmetologists and run to them with warts.They are precisely the ones who do not have sufficient medical training.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.Additionally, the effect depends on the size of the wart, its position and the depth of the 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 recommend the best option, in his opinion, but the final choice remains with the patient himself.
Prior consultation is also necessary because not all methods you choose may be suitable, as there are contraindications and restrictions.
Laser treatment
The laser method can be called universal.Among all the methods, today it is the leader.With the help of a laser, you can remove warts in the most inaccessible, sensitive and painful places.It is also beneficial because it does not cause scarring.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The effectiveness is so high that one procedure is enough.The essence of the thermal effect on a wart is to burn with temperature.Healing is rapid, without scarring or complications.
More advantages of laser:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- no anesthesia is required;
- complete deletion;
- fast - takes 1-2 minutes.Relapses are only possible in 20% of cases.
The burn leaves a hole that heals after 2 weeks.The skin may temporarily lighten, which also disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Liquid nitrogen cauterization
Cryodestruction is the freezing of a wart at low temperature using liquid nitrogen.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing causes the death of growing tissues.When exposed to frost, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute it turns red and swells.
A bubble with gray liquid will appear at home.After a week it will break apart on its own and a crust will form.The scab heals and falls off within 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, gradually its color becomes equal to that of the skin.The formation will disappear after 2 weeks and a spot with a pinkish tint will appear at the removal site, which will gradually disappear.
Benefits :
- no pain, no 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 approximately 1 minute.The procedure can be repeated on the sole up to 5 times.The downside is that the wound takes a long time to heal.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation of warts uses high frequency currents.It concentrates into a loop that cuts the wart.The cauterization temperature is around 80 degrees.
There is no bleeding due to simultaneous clotting of blood vessels.Local anesthesia is necessary.The great advantage of this method is that it prevents the spread of the virus.In addition, the method is quite inexpensive and effective.
Surrounding tissues should be covered and the skin should be pre-disinfected.There is also a crust stage.After a week it disappears.After that, an almost imperceptible transparent scar remains, but more often a light spot.There is no relapse!
Application of radio wave therapy
The method is considered no less effective than electric current.Cauterization is carried out 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 a fluid that expands when exposed to radio waves, the wart swells and bursts.The work is carried out with a special tip resembling a ballpoint pen.
There is no scarring or infection.The only downside is that the procedure is painful;thereby, the growth is pre-lubricated with an anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.The cauterization lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Advice!At the crust stage, you must not wet it or peel it off!It disappears on its own within a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical ablation is a traditional and classic method, carried out using a scalpel.Nowadays it is rarely used.The method is traumatic and produces relapses and scars.
There is a risk of damage to surrounding tissues and a risk of infection.But it is essential if the wart is large.Under local anesthesia, the wart is scraped using a special spoon after the incision.The stitches are cosmetic and are removed after a week.The scar remains about 3 mm and fades over time.
Chemical cauterization
The formation is targeted with acid or alkali.After a while, rinse it off.There are usually at least 6 procedures to achieve this effect.A burning or tingling sensation is felt during this procedure.The wart dries and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk of spreading the virus and infection cannot be excluded;
- healthy tissues are often damaged;
- Scarring is possible, healing takes approximately 10 days.
This method is only used when other methods are not possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which is better and which is better
Any removal method has its advantages and disadvantages;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 opens the way: there are no inaccessible places, it is safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but it does not allow controlling the depth of exposure, leading to possible relapses.
And one more conclusion: the laser can only remove one small formation in one session.
Cryotherapy is applicable for papillomatosis, when up to 40 growths can be removed in one procedure.But here the experience of the doctor is of great importance for quality.
How does location and growth type affect the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– in the form of small nodules, often growing on the fingers and toes, the backs of the hands;
- flat– typical of adolescents, they appear in the form of protruding spots;these also include the plantars (pinus);
- filamentous (acrochorda)– fine elastic growths on the stem which appear on the face (eyelids, lips) and neck;
- genital warts - most often localized on the genital mucosa;They look like cauliflower.
These 4 types are of viral origin and belong to real warts.
But there are also senile keratomas, caused by functional disorders of the skin.They do not require any treatment, only observation.If desired, cryotherapy can be used.
Doctor recommends removal method, but ultimately it is the patient who chooses.How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removed“knife” with radio waves or liquid nitrogen.
Radio knifeApplicable to face and neck, feet and palms, groin.It is not used for eyelid papillomas.They can use laser or liquid nitrogen.
FreezingIt is also used on the hands and feet (on the soles), papillomas of the neck.The cryogenic method can be called universal.That's for sure.
Laser— eliminates warts on any part of the body, including under the nail.
Surgical methodused for large growths on the oral mucosa.
Electrocoagulationrecommended for flat and common warts.Can even be used on the face.For large formations, the effect is insignificant.Additionally, the electric knife is not used for plantar warts, as they usually have deep roots and are very dense.
Important!It is advisable to remove plantar growths only in a hospital.
The chemical method gives good results for plantar, flat and sharp lesions.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What tumor removal method do doctors recommend?
Of course, the client chooses according to his capabilities.But to make the right decision, he must be guided by the doctor's advice.Experts prefer complex (combined) treatment of warts, where the first place belongs to removal.
Additionally, treatment will include oral administration of drugs with antiviral activity.Although the HPV virus (human papilloma virus) is not 100% curable and its activation depends largely 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.It is primarily a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods, because the treatment is not carried out by doctors and will be dangerous.It leads to damage to surrounding tissues, infections and inflammation.Warts cannot be removed by any method in children under 5 years old.