Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that arise due to the activation of the human papillomavirus.
They do not have an aesthetic appearance and often cause complexes.A person wants to get rid of them, but does not know how.
Do I need to remove the growth?
It depends on the size of the papilloma, its nature and the age of the person.But most of the time the answer is clearly yes, because warts are contagious and can be transmitted to other people.Self-infection is also possible - autoinoculation.
first of all, the spread of neoplasms is manifested not only through direct contact with them, but also when using common household items, personal hygiene items, or simply touching those places where an infected person has touched.For example, the handrail of a bus.
in second place, the location of the wart may be in a place subject to the greatest possible injury: the neck, feet, armpits and groin.These places are rubbed, squeezed and touched more often than others with clothing.So this is fraught with malignancy, bleeding and growth.
Third, the 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 degenerate into melanoma, an aggressive and incurable skin cancer.
Top misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and treatment of warts is the best option.You will save a lot of time, effort and money.Although 70% of warts can disappear spontaneously after 2 years of existence, they can reappear just as easily and in new places.
The fears of many when contacting a surgeon are related to the 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 opinion still prevails that unnecessarily touching a wart with a scalpel will increase its growth.This is the deepest mistake: it is the surgical intervention that will prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the wart from growing.Fortunately, there are enough methods for this.
Strangers can be considered those patients who are not afraid to use traditional homegrown methods and refuse qualified help.The doctor's experience and qualifications are, of course, crucial, but it is not uncommon to find a good surgeon.
And one more note: it is not necessary to trust cosmetologists and go to them with warts.It is precisely they who do not have sufficient medical training.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.Additionally, the effect depends on the size of the wart, its position and the depth of growth.
All methods can be combined into 3 groups: hardware, surgical and chemical method.Traditional treatment refers more to the method of physical (mechanical) influence.
When you contact us, the doctor can recommend the best option, in his opinion, but the final choice is made by the patient himself.
Prior consultation is also necessary because not all methods you choose may be suitable, as there are contraindications and restrictions.
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, sensitive and painful places.It is also beneficial because it does not cause scars.The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The effectiveness is so high that one procedure is sufficient.The essence of the thermal effect on a wart is to burn with temperature.Healing is rapid, without scars or complications.
More advantages of laser:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- anesthesia is not required;
- complete removal;
- fast: takes between 1 and 2 minutes.Relapses are possible only in 20% of cases.
The burning leaves a hole that heals after 2 weeks.The skin may temporarily lighten, which also disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Liquid nitrogen cautery.
Cryodestruction is the freezing of a wart at low temperatures using liquid nitrogen.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing causes growing tissue to die.When exposed to freezing, the papilloma thickens and turns white.After a minute it turns red and swells.
A bubble with a gray liquid will appear at home.After a week it will open on its own and a scab will form.The scab heals and falls off in 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, little by little its color becomes the same as the skin.The formation will disappear within 2 weeks and a spot with a pinkish tint will appear at the site of removal, which gradually disappears.
Advantages:
- without pain, without scars and without the need for anesthesia;
- no infection or bleeding.
The only drawback is that there is no way to control the depth of the impact.
On the soles of the feet, the effect lasts approximately 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 focuses on a loop that cuts the wart.The cauterization temperature is about 80 degrees.
There is no bleeding due to simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels.Local anesthesia is required.The great advantage of the method is that it prevents the virus from spreading further.In addition, the method is quite economical and effective.
Surrounding tissues should be covered and the skin disinfected beforehand.There is also a bark stage.After a week it disappears.After this, 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 carried out using special devices;A doctor will help you choose the right one.This is a radio wave generator;Its high-frequency electrical waves do not touch the wart, but rather cut it completely.
The essence of the action is that the cells of the wart contain fluid, which when exposed to radio waves expands, the wart swells and bursts.The work is done with a special tip that resembles a pen.
There are no scars or infection.The only drawback is that the procedure is painful;Because of this, the growth is pre-lubricated with an anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.The cauterization lasts about 20 minutes.
Advice!At the crust stage, it should not be soaked or peeled!It disappears on its own in a week.
surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional and classic method that is performed with a scalpel.Nowadays it is rarely used.The method is traumatic and produces relapses and scars.
There is a risk of damage to neighboring tissues and the possibility of infection.But it is essential if the wart is large.Under local anesthesia, the wart is scraped with a special spoon after the incision.The stitches are cosmetic and are removed after a week.The scar remains about 3 mm in size and disappears over time.
chemical cauterization
The formation is attacked with acid or alkali.After certain time, wash it.Usually there are at least 6 procedures to achieve the effect.During this procedure, a burning or tingling sensation is felt.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;
- Scars may remain, 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.
Any removal method has its pros and cons;There are no ideal options.Today, the most popular methods are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radio waves and surgical scalpel, as the frequency of use decreases.The cost of the first 3 methods is actually in the same price range.
The laser leads the way: there are no places inaccessible to it, it is safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but it is not possible to control the depth of exposure, so relapses are possible.
And one more conclusion: the laser can remove only 1 small formation in 1 session.
Cryotherapy is applicable for papillomatosis, when up to 40 growths can be removed in 1 procedure.But here the doctor's experience is of great importance for quality.
How does location and type of growth influence the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– in the form of small nodules, which often grow on the fingers, toes, and the back of the hands;
- flat– typical of adolescents, they appear in the form of protruding points;these also include planting (pine trees);
- filamentous (acrochords)– thin, elastic growths on the stem that appear on the face (eyelids, lips) and neck;
- genital warts: located most frequently in 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 of the skin.They do not require treatment, only observation.If desired, cryotherapy can be used.
The doctor recommends a removal method., but in the end the patient chooses.How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removed“knife” of radio waves or liquid nitrogen.
radius knifeApplicable on face and neck, feet and palms, English.It is not used for papillomas on the eyelids.They can use laser or liquid nitrogen.
FreezingIt is also used on hands and feet (on the soles), papillomas on the neck.The cryogenic method can be called universal.It's safe.
Laser— removes warts anywhere on the body, even under the nail.
surgical methodIt is used for large growths on the oral mucosa.
ElectrocoagulationRecommended for flat and vulgar warts.It can even be used on the face.For large formations the effect is negligible.Additionally, the electric knife is not used for 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 in plantar, flat and pointed lesions.Physical methods are ineffective in comparison.
What method of removing tumors do doctors recommend?
Of course, the client chooses according to his capabilities.But to make the right decision, it is necessary to be guided by the opinion of a doctor.Experts prefer complex (combined) treatment of warts, where the main place belongs to removal.
Additionally, treatment will include oral administration of drugs with antiviral activity.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, “slept” and prolonged remission.
In addition to antiviral drugs, immunomodulators are used for this purpose.It is, above all, a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods, since the treatment is not performed by doctors and will not be safe.It is plagued by damage to surrounding tissues, infections and inflammation.Warts cannot be removed by any method in children under 5 years of age.