Warts are non-inflammatory skin conditions. They look like small tumor formations ranging in size from 1mm to 1cm 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 the papillomavirus. Infection occurs at the slightest damage to the skin (with various cuts, scratches, as well as by direct contact with a sick person or by sharing infected objects). The following factors are favorable for the activation of the papilloma virus:
- decreased immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with virus carriers;
- lack of hygiene;
- visit the pool or sauna;
- low-quality, tight-fitting 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 to 5 months.
Types of warts
There are the following types:
- Ordinary - These warts appear on the hands (on the back), on the fingers, on the scalp, and also on the face. They look like dense round nodules with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile): These are small yellowish nodules that have a rounded shape and a flat surface and protrude slightly 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, it has the appearance of cauliflower, dark or brown meat, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts appear most often on the foot. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of threadlike papillae surrounded by significant horny layers.
How to remove warts yourself?
Any formation 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 shape or color;
- if the wart is large and interferes;
- if the formation is located in visible parts of the body and is the cause of psychological distress;
- if new warts appear constantly.
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 preparation, it is recommended to first steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda, and then remove the stratum corneum with 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 chemical that is specifically designed to fight warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the means to treat warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- A solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes protein coagulation and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of areas of hyperkeratosis, promotes viral cell death, and improves epithelialization. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts on the palms and feet, removal 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 drug does not come into contact with healthy skin. Failure to do so can result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, 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 application site. One of the features of the use of the solution is that it is not recommended to use other drugs 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, healthy skin areas around the wart should be smeared with a cream to prevent burns. It is quite easy to remove a wart with this remedy. It is enough to apply just one drop on the pathological growth every day for a week. After that, the treatment is stopped. In cases where the wart remains, a new application is made.
- A medicine for cryotherapy - Getting rid of warts with this tool is one of the cryotherapy methods. Basically a single use of the drug is sufficient. To get rid of build-up, the drug applicator must be pressed against its surface. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, a slight burning or tingling sensation may appear, whitening of the skin.
- 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 must 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 smooth the build-up and facilitate its mechanical removal. In addition, this patch contains sulfur, which penetrates deep into the skin and, together with salicylic acid, provides a keratolytic effect. How to remove a wart with a patch? First you need to do a warm foot bath, dry the skin with a towel and firmly stick a plaster of the required size on 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 strip 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 formations.