Warts are non-inflammatory skin conditions. They look like small tumor-like formations ranging in size from 1 mm to 1 cm or more. The appearance of warts has a viral etiology (they are caused by the activation of the human papillomavirus). This article explains how to get rid of warts.
Etiology
Why do warts appear on the body? As already noted, these formations appear on the skin due to infection with papillomavirus. Infection occurs at the slightest damage to the skin (with various cuts, scratches, as well as through direct contact with a sick person or when sharing infected objects). The following factors are favorable for the activation of the papillomavirus:
- decreased immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with virus carriers;
- lack of hygiene;
- visiting the pool or sauna;
- tight and low-quality shoes;
- increased sweating of the feet and palms.
Warts form on almost any area of the body (legs, arms, face, head). The incubation period is 2 - 5 months.
Types of warts
There are the following types:
- Ordinary - such warts appear on the hands (on the back), on the fingers, scalp, and also on the face. They look like dense round nodules with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile) - are small yellowish nodules that have a rounded shape and a flat surface and slightly protrude above the level of healthy skin. As a rule, they appear on the face and hands, they are often found in schoolchildren and young people.
- Pointed - located in intimate places, have the appearance of cauliflower, dark-flesh-flesh or brown, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most often appear on the foot. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of filiform papillae surrounded by significant corneous layers.
How to remove warts yourself?
Any formations on the skin can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in such cases:
- if the wart hurts, bleeds, has changed its shape or color;
- if the wart is large and bothersome;
- if the formation is located on visible parts of the body and is the cause of psychological discomfort;
- if new warts constantly appear.
It is worth noting that improper treatment can lead to malignancy (degeneration into malignant forms).
What can you do at home?
After consulting a doctor, it is recommended to use one of the special chemicals that are sold in pharmacies and help to quickly get rid of warts. Before applying any pharmaceutical preparations, it is recommended to first steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda, and then remove the stratum corneum using nail scissors. Salicylic ointment is often used to soften the plantar wart. To do this, it is applied to the formation and covered with an adhesive plaster. For some time, the skin is steamed in water and the keratinized areas are removed. Any chemicals that are specifically designed to combat warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the means to treat warts?
The following tools are highly effective:
- A solution that contains phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes coagulation of proteins and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of areas of hyperkeratosis, promotes the death of viral cells and enhances epithelialization. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts on the palms and feet, getting rid of dry corns, genital warts, and common warts. The specified solution is used exclusively externally. When applied to pathological formations, care must be taken so that the medicine does not get on healthy skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, either a single application or an application of 5 to 10 times is necessary. Side effects include allergic reactions and the appearance of edema at the site of application. One of the features of using the solution is that it is not recommended to use other medications in the form of ointments before and after its application.
- A cosmetic product that consists of potassium and sodium alkali. When applied to warts, it leads to their necrosis. Before use, the healthy areas of the skin around the wart should be smeared with a cream to prevent burns. It is quite simple to remove a wart with this remedy. It is enough to apply just one drop of it to the pathological growth every day for a week. After that, the treatment is stopped. In cases where the wart remains, reapplication is carried out.
- A drug for cryotherapy - getting rid of warts with this tool is one of the methods of cryotherapy. Basically, a single use of the drug is sufficient. To get rid of the build-up, the drug applicator should be pressed to its surface. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, a slight burning sensation or tingling sensation, whitening of the skin may appear.
- Transparent gel - the removal of growths on the skin with the help of this tool occurs due to its antiviral action. It comes in the form of a gel, which should 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 soften the build-up and its easier mechanical removal. In addition, this patch contains sulfur, which penetrates deeply into the skin and, together with salicylic acid, provides a keratolytic effect. How to remove a wart with a patch? You should first make a warm foot bath, dry the skin with a towel and firmly glue a plaster of the required size onto the growth. The plaster is left for two days, after which the adhesive plaster is removed, the wart is soaked in warm water, the softened layers are removed (for this you can use a pumice stone). After that, the skin is dried and a new adhesive plaster is glued on. This treatment regimen is repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, longer therapy is required.
Since the appearance of warts is associated with a decrease in immunity, it is also recommended to take immunomodulators, as well as antiviral drugs to eliminate the main etiological factor - the human papillomavirus. If the described methods of therapy are ineffective, they resort to laser removal of the formations.