Removing warts is a necessary measure, because neoplasms can cause discomfort to a person and look unpleasant on the skin.Although these formations do not itch and often do not hurt, they are of viral origin, as a result of which they can easily spread to the human body.That's why many doctors recommend removing warts.For this purpose, the specialist chooses the most suitable method.
Causes of warts
Warts are growths on the epidermis;their parameters are from 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter.The cause of the appearance of warts on the epithelium is the papillomavirus, which is infected during contact with the carrier of the virus.
Sometimes a person can independently contribute to the spread of the infection to his skin if, for example, he uses 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 it is possible to "pick up" them only during sexual intercourse.
If a person has cuts or sores on their skin, they can be infected with the virus.After the papillomavirus enters the skin, it moves to the cell nucleus, where the reproduction process begins.If a person has a strong immune system, cells that are susceptible to infection are destroyed.Otherwise, nearby cells become infected and warts appear on the epidermis.
Types of warts
Papules are of several types: regular, flat, plantar, and pointed.Common neoplasms appear regardless of a person's age group.According to statistics, about 70% of children get sick with the virus.The place 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 papules is similar to the color of healthy skin, so it is difficult to see them in the initial stage of the disease.If the formation has been on the skin for a long time, other small growths will appear near it.To get rid of the papules, the mother wart must be removed, in which case the small tumors will have nothing to feed on and they will disappear.
Flat papillomas occur in 4% of people on the planet.They are round and polygonal with a flat, smooth surface.The shade of warts is pale pink and they practically do not rise above the level of the skin.It is localized on the back of the arms, neck, face and chest.It is sometimes found near the genitals of men and women.
Plantar papules occur on the bottom of the feet.They have a rough surface and are somewhat similar to combined growths.A special feature of these warts is pain during palpation.Plantar papules also cause discomfort when walking.
Condylomas with sharp ends cause pain and discomfort in people.They are located on the skin connected to the mucous membranes: around the lips, in the anus, near the urethra, near the external intimate organs and in the conjunctiva.
Warts grow in clusters and look like cauliflower or rooster comb.Often the growths crack and lead to various infections.To prevent serious diseases, you should consider removing warts.
When should a wart be removed?
Most condylomas do not interfere with a person's life, so no one is in a hurry to see a doctor.An alarm should be given if there is a clear cosmetic defect, infectious infection of other areas of the epithelium, large parameters of growths, intense growth of the papule, changes in color and shade, painful sensations during walking and palpation of the papilloma, bleeding from the papule.
Methods of cutting warts:
- electrocoagulation;
- removal of radio waves;
- removal with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction);
- laser removal;
- surgical intervention;
- chemotherapy.
Traditional methods and combined monotherapy also help to get rid of 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 methods.The papule is burned with a special electrode heated to a very high temperature under the influence of a high-frequency current.After the operation, a dry crust (crust) forms at the incision site, which disappears by itself after 10-14 days.
Manipulation is performed under local anesthesia, so the patient does not feel pain or discomfort.The maximum thing a patient can feel during the operation is a slight tingling in the removed area.After electrocoagulation, the patient has no scar at the wound site.It takes about 2 weeks for the skin to heal completely.
The essence of removing radio waves
This technique began to be used by doctors relatively recently and proved to be effective and safe.A specialist uses special devices to excise skin lesions using radio waves.Their specialty is that they emit radio waves at a frequency of 3.8 to 4 MHz.
The technology allows to excise the pathological growth without contact with the epidermis.During the procedure, not only the top layer of the skin is removed, but also the root of the condyloma.The patient does not feel pain during the procedure.After the operation, the epithelium does not have a scar or a scar.The removed material can be sent for further histological studies to find out if the growth is benign or malignant.
About cryodestruction
Wart removal with liquid nitrogen is especially popular because it is effective and safe.Cryodestruction makes it possible to excise even plantar papillomas without the risk of bleeding and infection.
If the formation is small, it can be removed with one manipulation, but if it is large and has a deep root, it is likely that the patient will have to undergo two operations.
After removal with liquid nitrogen, itching appears at the site 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;there is also a risk that the growth may not be completely removed due to the doctor's inexperience.
Laser removal
Laser excision of papillomas has a number of advantages: the operation is painless, there are no defects on the skin in the form of scars or skirts, no special care of the wound is required, the scab leaves the epidermis 3-4 days after the manipulation.
This procedure is characterized by laser blocking of the microscopic vessels in the area of the wart, so the operation is as bloodless as possible.Re-formation of the condyloma is impossible, because the intervention is carried out with sterile equipment.The specialist sends the removed tissue for histological examination.
Surgery and chemotherapy
If the size of the tumor is large, surgical assistance is necessary.The operation is performed under local anesthesia.The technique is considered traumatic and creates defects in the skin.With surgical excision, there is a high probability of papillomavirus re-entering the blood.
Sometimes the methods of removing pointed and flat papules are not as effective as we would like, so acid solutions or special drugs are used to get rid of the defect.The duration of chemotherapy is at least six procedures.
The solution is applied pointwise to the growths, then after a certain period of time the drugs are washed off.To prevent allergies or burns, the therapy is carried out under the close supervision of a doctor.
Removal of warts by traditional methods
In folk medicine, there are many ways to get rid of warts once and for all.Some methods really help, others, on the contrary, can aggravate the problem.
People recommend rubbing the growth with fresh garlic every day until it falls off.People also take magnesium (powder).You should consume the powder in a dose of 5 grams per day.
The method of using celandine is quite effective.Twice a day, you need to lubricate the growth with celandine juice.The procedure is carried out until the papules separate from the skin by themselves.
Another popular method is condyloma freezing.It is necessary to apply artificial ice cubes to the wart every day and keep it for 5-10 minutes.After several such sessions, the growth will disappear.
An aggressive method of removing warts in folk medicine is to burn the papules with acetic acid.
Every day you need to drip 1 drop of acid on the skin infected with papillomavirus, and over time the pathological formation will disappear.Do not apply more than 1 drop to the epithelium, as irritation or an allergic reaction will occur.
You should be very careful with non-traditional methods, because they do not guarantee that a person will get rid of the problem.
If home treatments do not help to remove the tumor independently, you should get qualified medical help from a dermatologist or surgeon.