Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that arise from the activation of the human papilloma virus.
They do not look aesthetically pleasing and often become the cause of complexes.A person wants to get rid of them, but does not know how.
Do I need to remove the growth?
This depends on the size of the papilloma, its type and the person's age.But most of the time the answer is clearly “yes” because warts are contagious and can be passed on to others.Self-infection is also possible – autoinoculation.
First, the contagiousness of neoplasms manifests itself not only through direct contact with them, but also through the use of common household items, personal hygiene items or simply touching places that an infected person has touched.For example a bus handrail.
Second, the wart can be located in a place that is exposed to the greatest possible injury - on the neck, on the feet, in the armpits, in the groin.These areas are more likely than others to be rubbed, squeezed and touched by clothing.Then this is fraught with malignancy, bleeding and growth.
Third, Formations can increase in size and quantity, causing aesthetic problems.This phenomenon can be called territorial capture by a wart.
Important!Not always, but it is possible for a wart to develop into melanoma, an incurable aggressive skin cancer.
The main misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and management of warts is the best option.It will save a lot of time, effort and money.Although 70% of warts can disappear spontaneously after 2 years of existence, they can just as easily return, in new places.
The fears of many when contacting a surgeon are associated with fear of surgery, its complications, relapses and possible pain during the procedure.They are completely unfounded, since modern methods provide very good pain relief and many do not require anesthesia at all.
The prevailing opinion is that touching a wart unnecessarily with a surgical knife accelerates its growth.This is the deepest misunderstanding - it is a surgical procedure that prevents the spread of the virus and the growth of the wart.Fortunately, there are enough methods for this.
Those patients who are not afraid to use traditional, self-developed methods and refuse qualified help can be called strange.Of course, the experience and qualifications of the doctor are crucial, but a good surgeon is not uncommon.
And another note: you don't have to rely on beauticians and run to them with warts.They in particular do not have sufficient medical training.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.In addition, the effect depends on the size of the wart, its location and the depth of growth.
All methods can be summarized into 3 groups: hardware method, surgical and chemical.Traditional treatment refers more to the method of physical (mechanical) impact.
When you contact us, the doctor can recommend the best option in his opinion, but the final decision is made by the patient himself.
Advance consultation is also necessary because not all of the methods you choose may be suitable, as there are contraindications and limitations.
Laser treatment
The laser method can be called universal.Today it is the leader among all methods.A laser allows you to remove warts in the most inaccessible, sensitive and painful places.It is also beneficial because it does not cause scarring.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The effectiveness is so high that one intervention is enough.The core of the thermal effect on a wart is burning with temperature.Healing occurs quickly, without scars or complications.
Other advantages of the laser:
- the patient feels no pain;
- no anesthesia required;
- complete removal;
- quick – takes 1-2 minutes.Relapses are only possible in 20% of cases.
The burning creates a hole that heals after 2 weeks.There may be temporary lightening of the skin, but this will disappear on its own after 3 weeks.
Cauterization with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction is the freezing of a wart at low temperatures with liquid nitrogen.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing causes the growth tissue to die.When there is frost, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute it turns red and swells.
At home, a blister appears with a gray liquid.Within a week it breaks through on its own and a crust forms.The crust heals and falls off within 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, which gradually becomes the same color as the skin.The formation disappears within 2 weeks and a pink spot appears at the donor site, which gradually disappears.
Advantages:
- no pain, scarring and no anesthesia required;
- No infection or bleeding.
The only disadvantage is that there is no way to control the impact depth.
The effect lasts about 1 minute on the soles of the feet.The process can be repeated up to 5 times on the sole.The disadvantage is that wound healing takes a long time.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation against warts uses high-frequency currents.It concentrates in a loop that cuts off the wart.The cauterization temperature is about 80 degrees.
Due to the simultaneous coagulation of the blood vessels, no bleeding occurs.Local anesthesia is required.The big advantage of the method is that it prevents the virus from spreading further.In addition, the method is quite inexpensive and effective.
The surrounding tissue must be covered and the skin must be pre-disinfected.There is also a crust stage.It disappears within a week.Afterwards, a barely noticeable, transparent scar remains, but more often a light spot.There are 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 remedy.This is a radio wave generator;Its high-frequency electrical waves do not touch the wart, but cut it off completely.
The essence of the effect is that the wart cells contain fluid, which expands when exposed to radio waves, causing the wart to swell and burst.The work is done using a special tip that resembles a ballpoint pen.
There are no scars or infections.The only downside is that the procedure is painful;For this reason, the growth is pre-lubricated with an anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.Cauterization takes about 20 minutes.
Advice!It should not be wetted or peeled off during the crusting stage!It will disappear on its own within a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional, classic method performed with a scalpel.Nowadays it is rarely used.The method is traumatic and leads to relapses and scars.
There is a risk of damage to adjacent tissues and the possibility of infection.But it is indispensable if the wart is large.After the incision, the wart is scraped out with a special spoon under local anesthesia.The stitches are cosmetic and will be removed after one week.The scar will remain approximately 3mm in size and will fade over time.
Chemical cauterization
The formation takes place specifically with acid or alkali.Wash off after a certain time.To achieve the effect, at least 6 procedures are usually required.A burning or tingling sensation may be felt during this procedure.The wart dries up and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk of the virus spreading further and infection cannot be ruled out;
- healthy tissue is often damaged;
- Scarring is possible and healing takes about 10 days.
This method is only used when other methods are not possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which one is better and which one is better
Each removal method has its advantages and disadvantages;There are no ideal options.The most popular methods today are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radio waves, surgical scalpel - with decreasing frequency of use.The cost of the first three 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 method, but there is no way to control the depth of impact, which makes relapses possible.
And one more conclusion: the laser can only remove a small formation in one session.
Cryotherapy is applicable for papillomatosis, when up to 40 growths can be removed in one procedure.But here the doctor's experience is of great importance for quality.
How do location and type of growth affect the choice of technology?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– in the form of small nodules that often grow on the fingers and toes and the backs of the hands;
- flat– typical for teenagers, they appear in the form of protruding spots;this also includes Plantar (Pinus);
- threadlike (acrochord)– elastic, thin growths on the stem that appear 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 are true warts.
But there are also senile keratomas that arise due to dysfunction of the skin.They do not require treatment, just observation.Cryotherapy can be used if desired.
The doctor recommends a method of removal, but in the end the patient decides.How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: Smaller formations can be safely removedRadio wave “knives” or liquid nitrogen.
radio knifeApplicable to face and neck, feet and palms, groin area.It is not used for papillomas on the eyelids.You can use laser or liquid nitrogen.
FreezeIt is also used on the hands and feet (on the soles of the feet), as well as for papillomas on the neck.The cryo method can be called universal.It's safe.
Laser— removes all warts on all parts of the body, including under the nail.
Surgical methodUsed for large growths in the oral mucosa.
ElectrocoagulationRecommended for flat and common warts.Can even be used on the face.For large formations the effect is insignificant.The electric knife is also not used on plantar warts because they usually have deep roots and are very dense.
Important!It is advisable to remove plantar growths only in a hospital.
The chemical method gives good results on flat and pointed plantar lesions.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What method of tumor removal do doctors recommend?
Of course, the customer chooses according to his abilities.But to make the right decision, he must be guided by the doctor's opinion.Experts prefer a complex (combined) wart treatment that focuses on removal.
In addition, treatment includes oral administration of drugs with antiviral effects.Although the HPV virus (human papillomavirus) is not 100% curable and its activation largely depends on the state of the immune system, it can be slowed down, “put to sleep” and prolong remission.
In addition to antiviral medications, immunomodulators are also used for this purpose.First of all, this is a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods because the treatment is not carried out by doctors and is unsafe.It is fraught with damage to surrounding tissue, infection and inflammation.Warts cannot be removed by any method in children under 5 years of age.