Warts are not inflammatory skin diseases. They appear to be small tumor-like formations ranging in size from 1 mm to 1 cm. The appearance of warts has a viral etiology (caused by activation of the human papillomavirus). This article explains how to get rid of warts.
Etiology
Why do warts appear on the body? As already mentioned, these formations appear on the skin due to papillomavirus infection. Infection occurs with the slightest damage to the skin (various cuts, scratches, and direct contact with a sick person or sharing infected objects). The following factors favor papillomavirus activation:
- decreased immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with virus carriers;
- lack of hygiene;
- a visit to the pool or sauna;
- tight and poor quality shoes;
- increased sweating of the feet and palms.
Warts appear on almost any part of the body (legs, arms, face, head). The incubation period is 2-5 months.
Types of warts
The following types exist:
- Common - such warts appear on the hands (back), fingers, scalp and face. They look like dense round lumps with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile) - small yellowish lumps that are rounded in shape, have a flat surface, and protrude slightly above the level of healthy skin. They usually appear on the face and hands and are often found in schoolchildren and young people.
- It is found in pointed - intimate places, cauliflower-looking, dark-fleshed or brown, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most commonly appear on the feet. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of filiform papillae surrounded by significant layers of cornea.
How to remove warts manually?
Any skin formation can be malignant, so it is advisable to consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in the following cases:
- if the wart hurts, bleeds, changes shape or color;
- if the wart is large and bothers you;
- if the formation is located in visible parts of the body and causes psychological discomfort;
- if new warts appear continuously.
It is worth noting that improper treatment can lead to malignancies (degeneration into malignant forms).
What can you do at home?
After consulting your doctor, it is recommended that you use one of the specialty chemicals sold in pharmacies to help get rid of warts quickly. Before using any medicine, it is recommended to first steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda and then remove the stratum corneum with nail clippers. Salicylic ointment is often used to soften plantar warts. To do this, we apply it to the formation and cover it with adhesive plaster. For a while, the skin is steamed in water and the keratinized areas are removed. Any chemicals specifically designed to control warts should be used in strict accordance with the instructions.
What are the tools to treat warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- Solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes coagulation of proteins and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes the death of pathological formations and exfoliation of hyperkeratosis areas, promotes the death of viral cells and increases epithelial formation. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts from the palms and soles of the feet, the removal of dry corns, genital warts and common warts. The specified solution is used externally only. When applying to abnormal formations, care should be taken to avoid contact with the skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, it is necessary once or 5-10 times. Side effects include allergic reactions and the appearance of edema at the site of application. One of the features of using this solution is that it is not recommended to use other medicines in the form of an ointment before and after use.
- Cosmetic product consisting of potassium and sodium hydroxide. When applied to warts, it leads to their death. Before use, apply a cream to the healthy areas of skin around the wart to prevent burns. Wart removal with this agent is fairly straightforward. It is enough to apply only one drop per day for a week for abnormal growth. After that, the treatment stops. In case the wart persists, re-application should be performed.
- Cryotherapy medicine - getting rid of warts with this device is one of the methods of cryotherapy. A single use of the drug is basically sufficient. The drug applicator should be pressed against its surface to remove deposits. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, there may be a slight burning or tingling sensation, and the skin may become white.
- Transparent gel - the removal of growths on the skin with the help of this tool is due to its antiviral effect. It is available as a gel to be applied twice a day for 20 days. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and size of the pathological formations.
- Patch. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps to soften deposits and make them easier to remove mechanically. In addition, this patch contains sulfur, which penetrates deep into the skin and, together with salicylic acid, has a keratolytic effect. How to remove a wart using a patch? First, make a warm foot bath, dry the skin with a towel, and then firmly apply the appropriate size plaster to the growth. The plaster is left for two days, then the adhesive plaster is removed, the wart is soaked in warm water, and the softened layers are removed (pumice stone can be used for this). The skin is then dried and a new adhesive patch is applied. This procedure is repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, longer therapy is needed.
Because the appearance of warts is associated with a decrease in immunity, the use of immunomodulators as well as antiviral drugs is also recommended to eliminate the main etiological factor, human papillomavirus. If the described therapeutic methods are ineffective, laser removal of the formations is used.