Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes caused by the activation of the human papillomavirus.
They do not look aesthetically pleasing and are often the cause of complexes.A person wants to get rid of them, but does not know how.
Should I remove the growth?
It depends on the size, nature and age of the person.But in most cases, the answer is clearly yes, because warts are contagious and can be passed on to others.Self-infection is also possible - autoinoculation.
First, the infectiousness of neoplasms manifests itself not only in direct contact with them, but also when using common household items, personal hygiene items or simply touching places touched by an infected person.For example, bus stops.
Secondly, the localization of the wart can be in the place of greatest possible damage - neck, leg, armpit, groin.These places are rubbed, squeezed and touched with clothes more often than others.Then it is full of malignancy, bleeding and growth.
Thirdly, formations can increase in size and quantity, which causes aesthetic problems.This event can be called the conquest of the territory by warts.
It is important!Not always, but it is possible for a wart to turn into melanoma, an incurable aggressive skin cancer.
The 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.Although 70% of warts can disappear on their own after 2 years, they can come back just as easily and in new places.
Many people's fears when contacting a surgeon are related to the fear of surgery, its complications, recurrences and possible pain during the procedure.They are completely unfounded, because modern methods provide very good pain relief, and many do not require anesthesia at all.
There is still a prevailing opinion that touching a wart unnecessarily with a surgeon's knife will increase its growth.This is the most profound misconception - surgical intervention will prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the growth of the wart.Fortunately, there are quite a few methods for this.
Patients who are not afraid to use traditional home-grown methods and refuse qualified help can be called strange.The experience and qualifications of the doctor are of course decisive, but a good surgeon is not rare.
And one more note - you don't need to trust beauticians and run to them with warts.They do not have enough medical education.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.In addition, the effect depends on the size, position and depth of growth of the wart.
All methods can be combined into 3 groups: hardware method, surgical and chemical.Traditional treatment refers 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 is made by the patient himself.
An initial consultation is also necessary, because all the methods you choose may not be suitable, as there are contraindications and limitations.
Laser treatment
The laser method can be called universal.Among all methods, it is the leader today.Using a laser, you can remove warts in the most inaccessible, sensitive and painful places.It is also beneficial because it does not cause scars.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The efficiency is so high that one procedure is enough.The essence of the thermal effect on a wart is burning with temperature.Recovery is quick, without scars and complications.
More advantages of laser:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- anesthesia is not required;
- complete removal;
- fast - takes 1-2 minutes.Relapses are possible only in 20% of cases.
The burning remains behind a hole that improves after 2 weeks.The skin may lighten temporarily, which disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Cauterization with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction is the freezing of the wart at a low temperature using liquid nitrogen.Duration - 30 seconds.Freezing causes the growth tissue to die.When exposed to freezing, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute, it becomes red and swollen.
A bubble with gray liquid will appear in the house.It will break down on its own within a week and form a crust.The crust heals and falls off within 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, which gradually becomes the same color as the skin.The formation will disappear within 2 weeks, and a pink spot will appear at the removal site, which will gradually disappear.
Pros:
- pain, scar and anesthesia are not required;
- no infection or bleeding.
The only downside is that there is no way to control the depth of impact.
The effect on the soles of the feet lasts about 1 minute.The procedure can be repeated on the heel up to 5 times.The downside is that the wound takes a long time to heal.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation for warts uses high-frequency currents.It concentrates in a loop that cuts the warts.Cauterization temperature is about 80 degrees.
There is no bleeding due to simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels.Local anesthesia is required.The great advantage of the method is that it prevents further spread of the virus.In addition, the method is quite cheap and effective.
The surrounding tissues should be covered and the skin should be disinfected beforehand.There is also a shell stage.It disappears within a week.After that, an almost invisible, transparent scar remains, but more often a light spot.No relapses!
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 electric waves do not touch the wart, but completely cut it off.
The essence of the action is that the wart cells contain fluid, expand when exposed to radio waves, the wart swells and bursts.The work is done with a special tip that looks like a ballpoint pen.
No scarring or infection.The only downside is that the procedure is painful;for this reason, the growth is prelubricated with anesthesia.Healthy cells are not damaged.Cauterization lasts about 20 minutes.
Advice!At the crust stage, it should not get wet or peel off!It disappears on its own within a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional, classic method performed using a scalpel.It is rarely used nowadays.The method is traumatic and causes relapse and scarring.
There is a risk of damage to neighboring tissues and the possibility of infection.But if the wart is large, it is indispensable.Under local anesthesia, the wart is removed using a special spoon after the incision.The stitches are cosmetic and are removed after a week.The scar remains about 3 mm in size and fades over time.
Chemical cauterization
The form is targeted by acid or alkali.Wash it off after a certain period of time.There are usually at least 6 procedures to achieve the effect.During this procedure, burning or tingling is felt.The wart dries up and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk of further spread of the virus and infection cannot be excluded;
- healthy tissue is often damaged;
- Scars are possible, healing takes about 10 days.
This method is used only when other methods are not possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which is better and which is better
Any removal method has pros and cons;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 price of the first 3 methods is actually in the same price range.
The laser shows the way: there are no inaccessible places for it, it is safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but with it there is no possibility to control the depth of exposure, so relapses are possible.
And one more result - the laser can remove only 1 small formation in 1 session.
Cryotherapy is used for papillomatosis, up to 40 growths can be removed in one procedure.But the doctor's experience is of great importance for quality here.
How does the location and type of growth affect the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar- in the form of small nodules that often grow on the fingers and toes, on the back of the hands;
- right- characteristic of teenagers, they appear in the form of protruding spots;they also include plantar (pinus);
- filamentous (acrochords)- elastic thin growths visible on the body 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 refer to true warts.
But there are also senile keratomas, which are caused by functional disorders in the skin.They do not require treatment, only observation.Cryotherapy can be used if desired.
The doctor recommends a method of elimination, but ultimately the patient chooses.How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removedradio wave "knife" or liquid nitrogen.
Radio knifeIt is applied on face and neck, feet and palms, groin.It is not used for papillomas on the eyelids.They can use a laser or liquid nitrogen.
Ice creamIt is also used for papillomas on hands and feet (soles), neck.Cryo-method can be called universal.It is safe.
Laser— removes warts anywhere on the body, including under the nails.
Surgical methodused for large growths on the oral mucosa.
Electrocoagulationrecommended for flat and vulgar warts.It can even be used on the face.For large formations, the effect is insignificant.Also, electric razors are not used for plantar warts because they usually have deep roots and are very dense.
It is important!It is advisable to remove plantar growths only in a hospital.
The chemical method gives good results for plantar lesions, flat and pointed.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What method do doctors recommend to remove tumors?
Of course, the customer chooses according to his capabilities.But to make the right decision, he should be guided by the doctor's opinion.Experts prefer complex (combined) treatment of warts, which includes the removal of the leading part.
In addition, treatment will include oral administration of drugs with antiviral activity.Although the HPV virus (human papillomavirus) is not 100% curable and its activation mainly depends on the state of the immune system, it can be slowed down, "put to sleep" and the period of remission can be extended.
In addition to antiviral drugs, immunomodulators are used for this purpose.This is primarily a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly keen on traditional methods because the treatment is not carried out by doctors and would be dangerous.Damage to the surrounding tissues is fraught with infection and inflammation.For children under 5 years of age, warts cannot be removed by any method.