Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that arise due to the activation of the human papillomavirus.
They do not look aesthetically pleasing and often become the cause of complexes.One wants to get rid of them, but does not know how.
Should I remove the growth?
It depends on the size of the papilloma, their nature and the age of the person.But most often the answer is a clear yes, because warts are contagious and can be passed on to others.Self-infection is also possible - autoinoculation.
First, the contagiousness of neoplasms is manifested not only by direct contact with them, but also by using ordinary household items, personal hygiene items or simply touching the places touched by an infected person.For example, a railing on a bus.
Second, the localization of the wart can be in a place that is subject to the greatest possible injury - the neck, legs, armpits, groin.These places are more often than others rubbed by clothes, squeezed and touched.Then it is fraught with malignancy, bleeding and growth.
in third place, formations can increase in size and quantity, this causes aesthetic problems.This phenomenon can be called the conquest of territory by a wart.
important!Not always, but it is possible for a wart to turn into melanoma, an incurable, aggressive skin cancer.
Major misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and treatment of warts is the best option.This will save a lot of time, effort and money.Although 70% of warts can spontaneously disappear after 2 years of their existence, they can just as easily return and moreover in new places.
The fears of many when contacting a surgeon are related to the fear of the operation, its complications, recurrences and possible pain during the procedure.They are completely groundless, because modern methods provide very good pain relief, and many of them do not require anesthesia at all.
The opinion still prevails that unnecessary touching of a wart with a surgeon's knife will accelerate its growth.This is the deepest misconception - surgical intervention will prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the growth of the wart.Fortunately, there are enough methods for this.
Those patients who are not afraid to use traditional home methods and refuse qualified help can be called strange.The experience and qualifications of the doctor are of course crucial, but a good surgeon is not uncommon.
And one more note - you don't need to rely on cosmetologists and run to them with warts.They just don't have enough medical education.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.In addition, the effect depends on the size of the wart, its position and the depth of growth.
All methods can be grouped into 3 groups: apparatus 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 choice is made by the patient himself.
A preliminary 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.Among all methods today it is the leader.With the help of a laser, you can remove warts in the most inaccessible, tender and painful places.It is also useful because it does not leave scars.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The efficiency is so high that one procedure is enough.The essence of the thermal effect on the wart is burning with temperature.Healing is fast, without scars and complications.
More advantages of the laser:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- no anesthesia is required;
- complete removal;
- fast - takes 1-2 minutes.Recurrences are possible only in 20% of cases.
The burn leaves behind a hole that heals after 2 weeks.The skin may temporarily lighten, which also disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Liquid nitrogen cauterization
Cryodestruction is the freezing of a wart at low temperatures using liquid nitrogen.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing causes the growth tissue to die.When exposed to freezing, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute it becomes red and swollen.
A bubble of gray liquid will appear at home.Within a week, it will break through on its own and form a crust.The crust heals and falls off in 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, gradually becoming the same color as the skin.The formation will disappear within 2 weeks and a spot with a pink tint will appear at the place of removal, which will gradually disappear.
Pros:
- no pain, no scars and no anesthesia needed;
- no infection or bleeding.
The only downside is that there is no way to control the depth of the shot.
On the steps, the effect lasts about 1 minute.The procedure can be repeated on the sole up to 5 times.The disadvantage is that the wound takes a long time to heal.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation for warts uses high-frequency currents.It concentrates in a loop that cuts off the wart.The cauterization temperature is approximately 80 degrees.
There is no bleeding due to simultaneous coagulation of the blood vessels.Local anesthesia is required.The great advantage of the method is that it prevents further spread of the virus.In addition, the method is quite cheap and effective.
The surrounding tissues should be covered and the skin should be disinfected beforehand.There is also a bark stage.Within a week it disappears.After that, an almost imperceptible, transparent scar remains, but more often a light spot.No relapses!
Application of radio wave therapy
The method is considered no less effective than electric current.Cauterization is performed using special devices;a doctor will help you choose the right one.It is a radio wave generator;its high-frequency electric waves do not touch the wart, but cut it off completely.
The essence of the action is that the cells of the wart contain a liquid that expands when exposed to radio waves, the wart swells and bursts.The work is done with a special tip resembling a chemical.
No scarring or infection.The only downside is that the procedure is painful;therefore, the growth is pre-lubricated with anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.Cauterization lasts about 20 minutes.
advice!At this stage, the crust should not get wet or peel off!It goes away on its own within a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional, classic method that is performed using a scalpel.It is rarely used these days.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.Under local anesthesia, the wart is scraped off with a special spoon after the incision.The sutures are cosmetic and are removed after a week.The scar remains about 3 mm in size and fades over time.
Chemical cauterization
The formation is directed by acid or base.After a certain time, wash it off.Usually there are at least 6 procedures to achieve an effect.A burning or tingling sensation is felt during this procedure.The wart dries up and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk of further spread of the virus and infection cannot be ruled out;
- healthy tissue is often damaged;
- Scarring is possible, healing takes about 10 days.
This method is used only when other methods are not possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which is better and which is better
Each removal method has its pros and cons;there are no ideal options.Today, the most popular methods are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radio waves, surgical scalpel - with the frequency of use decreasing.The cost of the first 3 methods is actually in the same price range.
The laser is leading: there are no inaccessible places for it, it is safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but with it there is no possibility to control the depth of exposure, which is why relapses are possible.
And one more conclusion - the laser can only remove 1 small formation in 1 session.
Cryotherapy is applicable for papillomatosis, when up to 40 formations can be removed in 1 procedure.But here the experience of the doctor is of great importance for the quality.
How does the location and type of growth affect the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– in the form of small nodules, often growing on the fingers and toes, the back of the hands;
- flat- characteristic of teenagers, appear in the form of raised spots;they also include plantar (pines);
- filamentous (acochords)– 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 belong to true warts.
But there are also senile keratomas, which are caused by functional disorders in the skin.They do not require treatment, only observation.If desired, cryotherapy can be used.
The doctor recommends a method of removal, but ultimately the patient chooses.How to choose a method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removedradio wave "knife" or liquid nitrogen.
Radio knifeIt is applied to the face and neck, feet and palms, groin.It is not used for papillomas on the eyelids.They can use a laser or liquid nitrogen.
FreezingIt is also used on the hands and feet (on the feet), papillomas on the neck.The cryo-method can be called universal.It's safe.
A laser— removes any warts on any part of the body, including under the nail.
Surgical methodused for large formations on the oral mucosa.
Electrocoagulationrecommended for flat and vulgar warts.It can even be used on the face.In large formations, the effect is insignificant.Also, the electric knife is not used for plantar warts, as they usually have deep roots and are very dense.
important!It is recommended to remove plantar growths only in a hospital.
The chemical method gives good results for plantar lesions, flat and pointed.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What method of tumor removal do doctors recommend?
Of course, the customer chooses according to his capabilities.But for the right decision, he should be guided by the doctor's opinion.Experts prefer complex (combined) treatment of warts, where the leading place belongs to the removal.
In addition, treatment will include oral administration of drugs with antiviral activity.Although the HPV virus (human papilloma virus) is not 100% curable and its activation largely depends on the state of the immune system, it can be delayed, "put to sleep" and prolonged remission.
In addition to antiviral drugs, immunomodulators are used for this purpose.This is primarily a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods, as the treatment is not carried out by doctors and will be dangerous.It is fraught with damage to surrounding tissues, infection and inflammation.Warts cannot be removed in any way in children under 5 years of age.