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 pays no attention to them, but someone worries, tries to heal them. Most neoplasms do not pose a particular threat, but there are deadly (malignant) types.

wart on finger

Their appearance is a serious dermatological disease that arose as a result of the penetration of the human papillomavirus into 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 in ignorance of the disease, is a carrier and, unfortunately, infects healthy people.

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

What is a wart?

WartIt is a benign skin tumor caused by a virus. It develops as a nodule or papilla. They can be one at a time or in tightly knit groups. Spread in children and adults with low immunity.

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

Types of warts

apartment

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

Hence the second namejuvenile warts. Their appearance on the skin of the face of young men can provoke the start of using the razor: wounds on the skin of the face, neck and non-compliance with basic rules of hygiene. Go by themselves.

A photo

A photograph of flat warts clearly shows the characteristic features of this type:

flat warts

Vulgar

The most common type. It particularly affects children. Location - fingers, palms, hands rarely appear on mucous membranes. Outgrowth of 0. 5 to 2 mm, flesh-colored, which may be speckled with red.

Passing from maternal warts to children. This type of treatment is not mandatory. After 3-6-8 months they go away on their own. A few cases have been identified when the wart lasted 1. 5 years. Of course, they can be removed if they are localized on a large area of the skin or cause discomfort during movement.

A photo

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

common warts

filiform

A common sight among older people. In rare cases, pregnant women are affected, signaling a problem during pregnancy, also with menopause in women, as the hormonal background goes astray. At the initial stage, a bump is formed, increasing in size, takes the form of a 5-10 mm thread of flesh color. They can merge into groups, forming a scallop shell.

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 arecreases and places with excessive perspiration. Requires careful observation of specialists, treatment. They don't go alone. It must be treated or removed.

A photo

The photo shows filiform warts that hit the eye:

Filiform warts

Genital warts

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

Genital warts are soft to the touch, attached to a thin stalk, can be of different sizes: from 2 millimeters to 10 centimeters. They are transmitted only sexually, therefore they belong to the venereal disease of the same name. Areas with small cracks or injuries 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 detected, it is important to urgently contact doctors - specialists: a venereologist, a gynecologist. Get rid of processing and disposal only.

A photo

The photo shows sharp (anogenital) warts:

Genital warts

Senile (seborrheic keratosis)

Occur in the elderly.Dark brown or blacklook like melanomas (malignant tumors), so it is important to see an oncologist. Appear on the face, neck, torso. This type of tumor is the only one not caused by the human papilloma virus. Over time, the wart becomes dense to the touch, covered with a keratinized crust with black or white "pearls".

Location - chest, neck, face, arms. Do not appear on the soles and palms. The size is from 2 mm to 6 cm. Single growths and foci of accumulation up to several dozen are possible. In patients with multiple seborrheic keratosis, a family history is sometimes noted, which is a reflection of a hereditary predisposition.

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

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

A photo

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

Point stage:

Senile warts in the point stage

Papular form (nodules and papules):

Seborrheic keratosis nodules and papules

Keratotic:

Keratotic wart

Hide Horn:

Stage of development of senile wart - skin horn

Typical locations 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 in the form of single or several formations in different areas.
    • Filiform - favorite places are eyelids, lips, neck.
  • Warts on hands and arms:

    • Vulgar - affects fingers, palms, hands (photo).
    • Flat - the backs of the palms, the outer side of the elbow joint area, the nail plates (photo).
  • Plantar warts.Location - fingertips, base of fingers, foot. Plantar warts are commonly called "spikes". Appear in places of shoe pressure, especially in people who suffer from constant sweating of the feet. A keratinized growth that is yellowish-gray in color. The appearance is observed individually, in rare cases, a group of three to five formations. Cause discomfort when walking. Pass on their own or are surgically removed, cauterization.

Causes of warts

As we already know, the source of the appearance of neoplasms is the insidioushuman papillomavirus.Infection of a carrier of an infection to a healthy person through household, sexual contact, through objects of collective use.

It is easy to catch a virus in places of rest - a public bath, sauna, beach, swimming pool. Favorable for infection at night, in the evening, because the sun's rays are detrimental to the virus. Symptoms of the disease appear after two to five months.

Factors that contribute to the appearance of warts:

  • Weak immunity.
  • Synthetic shoes.
  • Sweat.
  • Violation of metabolism in the body.
  • Endocrine pathology.
  • Stress.
  • Fungal diseases 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 a buildup appears, you should first seek the advice of a dermatologist. He will examine, determine the nature of the event and the type of education. He will prescribe the appropriate treatment for you. In the early stages, drug treatment is very effective.

In children

Treatment of warts in children:

  1. Ointment prescribed by a dermatologist. Treat the wart itself directly, after spraying it, wait for complete absorption. The effect occurs from two weeks to two months.
  2. Medical dressing 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, thereby blocking the spread of the virus.
  3. antiviral therapy.
  4. Apply medications to protect the immune system.
  5. Arrange preventive vitamin courses.

Advice from traditional medicine:

  • Fresh juice of celandine, dandelion or garlic. Treat the wart several times a day.
  • Vinegar essence paste. Mix two drops of essence with flour. Cut a small hole in the patch, equal to the size of the wart. Paste the blank, thereby protecting healthy areas of the skin. We put a piece of the resulting paste into the hole, fix it on it with another small piece of plaster. 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 need to think about the state of the baby's immunity. It is important to carefully consider the nutrition of the child, to devote more time to walks in the fresh air. If the body's defenses are working at full strength, it will not be necessary to know how to remove a wart from a child. The body will be able to cope with the virus on its own.

In adults

You can use chemical products in pharmacies: antiviral ointments and creams containing alkalis or acids.

Additionally, you can use:

  1. Caustic agent based on phenol and meta-cresol. Using the applicator, treat the wart without touching healthy skin. Used to remove plantar, filiform and common warts.
  2. Preparation with sodium hydroxide. It is considered the best medicine. Use strictly as directed by your doctor.
  3. Remedy with celandine grass juice. The drug is not only intended to remove warts, it is also an antiviral agent.
  4. Spray with refrigerant, 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. Combination of polysaccharides, acetic and citric acids, potassium iodide, aromatic plant extracts and celandine. The drug has no side effects.

Warts removal

You need to start by examining the wart by a doctor, this will help to understand the cause of the appearance and prevent recurrences.

Laser removal

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

There are several contraindications:

  • ARVI or exacerbation of chronic disease at the time of treatment;
  • hypertension;
  • malignant education;
  • Pregnancy and breast feeding.

A high-tech surgical laser is used for the procedure. In any neoplasm, under the action of 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 public baths, sauna, swimming pool, solarium, protect yourself from direct sunlight, do not use cosmetics, not to hide under the bandage.

Treatment benefits:

  • there is no risk of infection;
  • the wound does not bleed;
  • minimum time for the procedure;
  • Once is enough;
  • method for any type of warts;
  • no age restrictions.

Elimination with liquid nitrogen (cryolysis)

Wart tissue cell death occurs during the freezing process. The method is suitable for shallow keratinized growths.

Contraindications:

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

Use a cryoapplicator with a special 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 within a week, gradually drying out. Finally, the traces of treatment disappear in two to three weeks.

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

Treatment for plantar warts is painful, as deeper exposure to nitrogen is required. For greater efficiency, the procedure is carried out 3-4 times in 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.

Advantages:

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

Less :

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

Electrical cauterization (electrocoagulation)

Special deviceelectrocoagulatorproduces a high frequency current. It has a tip with a loop-shaped electrode. The doctor monitors and regulates the power supply. Under the influence of discharges, the temperature of the cells inside the wart reaches 80 degrees. They die. Education is cut. The scab eventually disappears within a week.

Contraindications:

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

Advantages:

  • 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.

Less :

  • requires anesthesia;
  • damage to surrounding tissues;
  • unpleasant tingling sensations after the procedure;
  • daily treatment of scabs;
  • healing.

Scalpel excision

The traditional, easy-to-remove way. Before the procedure, the area is anesthetized and 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 lesion, when other methods are ineffective. Leaves scars. There is a risk of infection, subsequently new outbreaks.

Indications:

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

Minimum contraindications:

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

Prevention

Prevention of warts:

  1. Hygiene.
  2. Permanent partner.
  3. Personal items.
  4. Vitamin therapy.
  5. Maintenance of immunity.

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