Warts are non-inflammatory skin conditions. They look like small tumor formations varying in size from 1 mm to 1 cm 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 through direct contact with a sick person or when sharing infected objects). The following factors are favorable for the activation of the papillomavirus:
- decreased immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with carriers of viruses;
- lack of hygiene;
- visit the swimming pool or sauna;
- tight and shoddy shoes;
- increased sweating of the feet and palms.
Warts form on almost all areas of the body (legs, arms, face, head). The incubation period is 2 to 5 months.
Types of warts
There are the following types:
- Ordinary - such warts appear on the hands (on the back), on the fingers, scalp and also on the face. They look like dense round nodules with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile) - 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, has the appearance of a cauliflower, flesh with dark or brown flesh, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most often appear on the foot. They are painful, callus-like, and made up of threadlike papillae surrounded by large stratum corneums.
How to remove warts yourself?
Any formation on the skin can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in the following cases:
- if the wart hurts, bleeds, has changed shape or color;
- if the wart is large and interferes with;
- if the training is located on visible parts of the body and is the cause of psychological discomfort;
- if new warts are constantly appearing.
It should be noted that improper treatment can lead to malignancy (degeneration into malignant forms).
What can you do at home?
After consulting with a doctor, it is recommended to use one of the special chemicals sold in pharmacies that can quickly get rid of warts. Before applying pharmaceutical preparations, it is recommended to first spray the skin in warm water with soap and soda, and then remove the stratum corneum using nail scissors. Salicylic ointment is often used to soften plantar wart. To do this, it is applied to the formation and covered with an adhesive bandage. For a while, the skin is steamed in water and the keratinized areas are removed. All chemicals specifically designed to fight warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the ways to treat warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- A solution that contains phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes proteins to clot and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of areas of hyperkeratosis, promotes the death of viral cells and improves epithelialization. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts on the palms and feet, the removal of dry corns, genital warts and common warts. The specified solution is used exclusively externally. When applied to pathological formations, care should be taken that the drug does not get on healthy skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, only one application or one 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. Applied to warts, it leads to their necrosis. Before use, healthy areas of the skin around the wart should be smeared with a cream to prevent burns. It is quite simple to remove a wart with this remedy. Just apply a single drop to the pathological growth every day for a week. After that, the treatment is stopped. In cases where the wart persists, a new application is made.
- A drug for cryotherapy - getting rid of warts with this tool is one of the methods of cryotherapy. Basically, just one use of the drug is enough. To remove the buildup, the drug applicator should be pressed against its surface. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, a slight burning or tingling sensation, bleaching of the skin may appear.
- Transparent gel - the removal of growths on the skin with the help of this tool is due to its antiviral action. It comes in the form of a gel, which should be applied twice a day for 20 days. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and size of the pathological formations.
- Room. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps soften the build-up and facilitate its mechanical elimination. 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 bandage 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 bandage is glued. This treatment regimen is repeated 3 to 4 times. In some cases, longer therapy is needed.
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.