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How to get rid of warts?

A wart on a finger

The skin can be affected by various rashes, inflammations, moles, formations and more. And how to get rid of warts is also a common question. Fighting this trouble, you need to know for what reasons it arose, what are its varieties, methods of removal and preventive measures.

What are warts

These are formations on the skin in the form of nodular growths. On the outside, they resemble moles, but the latter are soft to the touch, smooth and their color is slightly darker than the skin color. Warts are tough because their top layer is the stratum corneum, which makes them uncomfortable to the touch, and their color is similar to skin color. These growths bring considerable discomfort, so it’s no surprise that the question of how to get rid of warts is relevant to those who have encountered them.

The characteristic of these formations is that they have the ability to grow - after the appearance of one, others also appear, but as a rule of smaller size. They can affect the genitals (genital warts are formed here), mucous membranes and various parts of the body.

Where do warts come from?

They are benign neoplasms, and their provocateur is HPV, which is an abbreviation of human papilloma virus. Today, medicine knows more than 150 of its species, and all of them cause the appearance of growths on different areas of the skin. The most common sites of their origin are the hands (usually the hands), the legs (mostly the feet), the elbows, the neck, the face, the knees.

So, it is a viral disease that is transmitted by contact. This means that the pathogen can enter the body like this:

  • Through wounds, scratches on the skin, damaged mucosa;
  • Using the same household items with an infected person;
  • With intimacy;
  • In case of using non-sterile equipment during cosmetic procedures, manicures, pedicures, tattoos in a medical institution;
  • In common areas (pool, sauna, steam bath, etc. ).

Even if the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes is not disturbed, the risk of infection with the virus is not excluded by contact with its carrier or infected surfaces. Growth can occur as long as six months or more after infection. This is one of the reasons that an infected person may not have external signs of the disease.

HPV is an infection that is activated even when exposed to negative factors:

  • Decreased immunity;
  • Hormonal imbalance;
  • Presence of concomitant serious diseases, infectious diseases (especially HIV);
  • Frequent depression;
  • Long-term treatment with the same drugs;
  • The presence of bad habits.

Types of warts

Here are the main ones:

  • Simple (usually);
  • Apartment;
  • Plantar;
  • Filiform.

Each of the types of formations has its own characteristics, appearance, structure.

Simple

They are also called ordinary or vulgar. This group includes about 70% of all formations of this type. They are usually provoked by HPV types 2 and 4. They can infect almost any area of the skin. Their peculiarity is that they rise considerably above it and are usually round in shape. The color of the formation is fleshy, grayish or yellow-brown. They are usually thick to the touch and have a diameter of 2-5 mm.

There are two types of simple growths:

  • Single-chamber;
  • Multichamber.

The latter need differential diagnostics, which will ensure that this is really the given type of these formations. How to get rid of warts on the arms, legs, elbows, knees and other parts of the body where they appear depends on establishing an accurate diagnosis.

Stan

The peculiarity of this type of growth is that they, like vulgar formations, form above the surface of the skin, but protrude slightly above it. This species possesses 4% -5% of the total number of formations caused by HPV.

Flat growths are more often localized in the area of the forearms, the back of the hands, on the mucous membrane, on the face, but they can also form in other areas.

Doctors note that children and adolescents are more sensitive to this type of growth.

Plantar

The appearance of such growths is reminiscent of ordinary corns. If you find a similar phenomenon in yourself, be sure to contact a cosmetologist, or better to say - a dermatologist. An expert will help you determine the type and origin of the problem. As it becomes clear from the name of this species, these outgrowths of the soles are affected and adolescents often face this problem. Among all species, this accounts for about 20-25% of cases.

The position of these formations is such that they are often injured, especially if the person is wearing uncomfortable tight shoes. They almost never bleed, but how to get rid of warts on the legs should be of interest to a person who has these growths.

Increased humidity of this part of the body, the presence of opportunistic microorganisms on it - these factors often cause suppuration. In that case, you may need to contact a trauma surgeon. But this can be avoided if you take care in time how to get rid of plantar warts and solve this problem.

Filiform

In medicine they are called accordes. These are benign neoplasms of elongated shape, and their size reaches 5-6 mm. Accordions are most often found on the neck, face, armpits, groin, and in women they can appear under the breast.

Their formation begins with the appearance of a yellow spot on the skin, which subsequently becomes larger and rougher to the touch. They take on an elongated shape, which is why they are called threads. In some cases they acquire a rounded shape, but are located on a thin stem.

What do you need to know about HPV?

This is a group of viruses with more than 150 species. The infection is transmitted very easily, so today skin manifestations caused by HPV are quite common. Doctors refer to statistics that say that more than 60% of the world's population are carriers of this or another type of this virus.

The insidiousness of the infection lies in the fact that, penetrating the body, it remains in the basal layer of the epithelium. And then different types of viruses manifest in different ways:

  • Representatives of some of them are found in the body without affecting the chromosomes of human cells. In this case, benign neoplasms form on the skin;
  • Some types of infection infect and alter the genome of host cells, in which case malignant tumors develop.

Depending on the behavior of the virus in the human body, its types are divided according to the degree of oncogenicity (ability to cause cancer):

  • Non-oncogenic (do not cause oncological diseases). This group includes 1-5, 10, 28, 49 species;
  • Low oncogenicity (almost never causes the development of malignant diseases). This category includes, in particular, 6, 11, 13, 32, 34, 40-44, 51, 72 species;
  • Medium risk HPV. These include types 26, 30, 35, 52, 56, 65;
  • High oncogenicity (increases the risk of a precancerous condition that can develop into a cancerous tumor). This group previously includes 16, 18, 31, 45 species. The first two (16 and 18) are often the cause of cervical cancer in women.

If a person is infected with some type of virus, this does not exclude the risk of infecting others. One carrier can be found as one strain and several tens.

There are currently no drugs that can completely cure the human body of HPV. Therefore, talking about how to get rid of warts forever, unfortunately, today there is no guarantee that getting rid of them is guaranteed to lead to the fact that they will never come back. Such a guarantee can only be provided by the complete elimination of the virus, which is currently not possible.

How does the virus manifest itself?

Skin growths are the main manifestation of its presence in the body. If there is an infection in it that affects the internal genital organs of women, then their manifestations in the form of genital warts can be detected on examination by a gynecologist, but the doctor does not make such a diagnosis "by eye". the absence of HPV and its strain in the body.

The infection may be accompanied by general weakness, fever. But these manifestations are accompanied by many other diseases, so they should be a reason to look for a problem in the body.

Doctors note that if an infected person has good immunity, leads a healthy lifestyle, is not susceptible to depression, stress and other negative factors, the virus may not manifest itself for years without disturbing its carrier.

Who can get warts?

They can occur in any person. Therefore, you can face how to get rid of warts in a child, and how to eliminate this trouble in an adult of any age.

Do warts spread?

The growths themselves, which appear as a result of exposure to the virus, are not transmitted. However, HPV can be contracted from a person who is infected with it, and they are already able to become a provocateur of skin formations. Since the virus is very easy to catch, you must refrain from contact with its carriers, be careful in everyday life, using only objects.

Medical methods for removing warts

  1. It should be borne in mind that resolving warts on the face, legs, arms, neck and other parts of the body is not the same as resolving HPV. Neoplasms on the skin are the consequences of the influence of provocateurs on the body, and if it is currently impossible to completely get rid of the infection itself, then it is possible to get rid of its consequences. But modern medicine knows how to weaken the virus. This can be done with the help of antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
  2. Other methods are used to eliminate the neoplasms themselves.

Cryodestruction

  1. In medicine, there is another name for this method - cryotherapy. Cryodestruction literally means freezing destruction. For this, liquid nitrogen is used, temperatures of -196 degrees C. This is an indicator at which the gas turns into a liquid state.
  2. This method of quick wart removal ensures that the affected area is treated by freezing the growth tissue. Their cells cool down so much that the fluid they contain expands, causing their destruction and, as a result, the death of the entire tumor.
  3. Advantages of the method that allows you to get rid of warts quickly and efficiently:
    • The method can be used to treat children;
    • Affordable cost of the procedure;
    • No traces remain after such moxibustion;
    • Speed;
    • There are no contraindications.
  4. But there are also drawbacks:
    • If the growths are multiple and large, several procedures may be required;
    • Recurrence of the disease is not excluded;
    • The patient may experience uncomfortable, painful feelings during the session.

Laser incineration

  1. This is a modern technique, which is also called laser evaporation. Its essence lies in the fact that the affected area is exposed to light, due to which the growth cells evaporate. Then a crust appears in its place, and after a while the skin regenerates, takes on a healthy color, appearance, structure.
  2. There is perhaps only one disadvantage of this method - the relatively high cost. But if you need to get rid of high-quality warts on the face, arms, legs and any other parts of the body, then this effective method has many advantages:
    • Speed of the procedure - lasts 20-30 minutes;
    • No additional sessions are usually required;
    • High efficiency;
    • The technique can be used for patients of any age and gender;
    • Painlessness is a factor that allows you not to use anesthesia;
    • Rapid rehabilitation;
    • If you are looking for how to get rid of warts on your finger, face, foot or other areas, this method will work;
    • There is no need for lengthy preparation for manipulation.

Electrocoagulation

  1. The method involves destroying neoplastic cells with a high-frequency current. Since the beginning of the use of laser evaporation, this method of removing growths has become increasingly rare.
  2. However, it has its advantages:
    • Speed of proceedings;
    • High efficiency;
    • Rapid rehabilitation and healing of the skin;
    • Affordable price;
    • The physician can control the penetration depth of instantaneous discharges;
    • After the procedure, the skin quickly regenerates, acquires a healthy look and color.
  3. Disadvantages of this method, how to get rid of warts on the toe, foot, elbow, knees, etc. :
    • It will not work if the affected area is large. In such cases, scarring is possible;
    • The procedure can be painful;
    • The use of this technique may be associated with small but blood loss;
    • It is not recommended to use this method to remove formations on sensitive parts of the skin - face, neck, décolleté.

Surgical removal

  1. This method is rarely used. If there is a possibility of using a bloodless, less traumatic method (for example, laser burning), then it is better to resort to it.
  2. Surgical removal involves removing the lumps with a scalpel, and the wound formed on the skin is sutured. The procedure is performed using local anesthesia.
  3. The advantages of the method are the ability of the operating physician to control the depth of penetration of the scalpel and the volume of excision of the affected tissues. It can be used to remove growths from areas with thick skin - for example, plantar warts on the legs.
  4. Disadvantages:
    • Its use is associated with blood loss, and in some cases it is quite abundant;
    • A scar may remain after application;
    • After surgical removal, the duration of rehabilitation can be long, as well as the time of skin healing.

How to remove warts with folk remedies?

  1. They are used at home, their effect is similar to moxibustion methods, and there are many ways to solve this problem.
  2. How to get rid of warts at home and what medications are considered effective for it?
    • Apples, beets, potatoes. You can choose one of these products. It is cut into two parts, each of which is rubbed on the affected area. After the halves of the product are tied, tied with thread, wrapped in paper, sent to any place (you can go outside). It is believed that the growths will disappear when the fruit decays;
    • Acetic acid. Take an adhesive plaster, make a hole in it, whose diameter and shape match the parameters of the neoplasm. It must be glued to the skin around the growth so that the latter is located in the hole of the adhesive plaster. Combine a little vinegar and wheat flour, you should create a thick porridge. It is applied to the nipple, wrapping it around the treated area with a clean cloth or bandage. You need to apply a new mixture every day until the problem subsides;
    • Ash. Burn a few matches completely after removing the sulfur heads. Grind them into a powder, add a little water to get a thick mixture. To get rid of warts at home, it is applied to the affected area, after which the "medicine" must be fixed with a bandage, a clean cloth. The procedure is repeated daily until the problem subsides;
    • Celandine. With the infusion of the plant, which you can buy at the pharmacy, wipe the growth every day.
  3. Before you get rid of warts by folk methods, consider some comments from doctors on this issue. Official medicine does not consider them effective because there is no scientific justification for their effect. In addition, you need medical advice that will allow you to determine the type of neoplasm, its structure. This is necessary to rule out its malignancy.
  4. These are not the best ways to get rid of baby warts. He will need the help of an expert - there is no need to risk the health of a small patient. The doctor will choose one of the most effective methods of action, removing troubles quickly, efficiently and painlessly.

Prophylaxis

  1. The phenomenon has a viral etiology and, given the ways in which its provocateur is transmitted, certain preventive measures need to be followed. When visiting common areas, use only your personal belongings, hygiene supplies. It is desirable to do this in everyday life, on vacation. Barrier contraception should be used to prevent the risk of genital infection.
  2. Warts that appear on the fingers, feet, hands, knees, elbows, face, neck, décolleté are also felt due to decreased immunity. Therefore, if the virus has already entered the body, measures should be taken to increase the body's defenses:
    • Proper nutrition;
    • Sports;
    • Rejection of bad habits;
    • Adequate sleep;
    • Avoiding stress, depression and other negative emotional states.

Unfortunately, the wart will not be possible to get rid of forever, unfortunately. But that does not mean that they will be guaranteed to return after the treatment. Take preventative measures to reduce risks. In addition, you only need to be treated by a specialist. This is another way to significantly increase the chances of dealing effectively with the problem.