Warts are benign formations on the skin and mucous membranes that occur due to activation of the human papillomavirus.
They don't look good and are often 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, nature of the papilloma and the age of the person.But in most cases the answer is obviously yes, as warts are contagious and can be passed on to other people.Self-infection is also possible - self-inoculation.
firstTumors are contagious not only through direct contact, but also through the use of common household items, personal hygiene products, or simply touching areas that have been touched by an infected person.For example, bus handrails.
Secondly, warts may be located in the most vulnerable places - neck, feet, armpits, groin.These areas are more likely to be rubbed, squeezed, and touched by clothing than other areas.Then it is full of malignancy, bleeding and growth.
third, the size and number of strata will increase, which can cause aesthetic problems.This phenomenon can be called warts conquering territories.
Important!This isn't always the case, but it's possible for warts to degenerate into melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer that has no cure.
Major misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Treating and treating warts early is your best option.This will save a lot of time, effort and money.While 70% of warts go away on their own after 2 years, they can easily come back and appear in new places.
The fears that many people have when contacting a surgeon are related to the fear of surgery, surgical complications, recurrence, and possible pain during surgery.They are completely unfounded because modern methods provide excellent pain relief and many do not require anesthesia at all.
It is still widely believed that unnecessary contact with warts with a surgeon's knife accelerates their growth.This is the deepest misconception - surgical intervention can prevent the spread of the virus and prevent warts from growing.Fortunately, there are enough ways to do this.
Patients who are not afraid to use traditional indigenous methods and refuse qualified help are arguably bizarre.A doctor's experience and qualifications are of course crucial, but excellent surgeons are not rare.
One more thing to note – you don’t have to rely on a beautician and go to them with warts.It's just that they don't have enough medical education.
modern approach
There are newer or older removal methods.Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.Additionally, effectiveness depends on the size, location, and depth of growth of the wart.
All methods can be divided into 3 groups: hardware methods, surgical methods, and chemical methods.Traditional treatment refers more to methods of physical (mechanical) influence.
When you contact us, the doctor can recommend what he thinks is the best option, but the final choice is made by the patient himself.
An initial consultation is also necessary as not all methods you choose will be suitable as there are contraindications and limitations.
laser treatment
Laser method is a universal method.Of all methods, it is the leader today.Using a laser, you can remove warts from the most hard-to-reach, tender, and painful places.It is also beneficial because it does not cause scarring.Beams are the safest and least invasive.
It's so efficient that just one program is enough.The essence of the thermal effect on warts is that they burn with temperature.Heals quickly with no scars or complications.
More advantages of laser:
- The patient does not feel pain;
- No anesthesia required;
- Completely clear;
- Quick - takes 1-2 minutes.Relapse is possible in only 20% of cases.
The burn will leave a hole that will heal in two weeks.The skin may temporarily lighten, which will disappear on its own after three weeks.
cauterize with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction uses liquid nitrogen to cryogenically freeze the wart.Duration – 30 seconds.Freezing can cause the death of growing tissue.When exposed to freezing, papillomas can thicken and turn white.After a minute, it becomes red and swollen.
A bubble with gray liquid will appear in your home.Within a week, it will break apart on its own and form a crust.The scab will heal and fall off after two weeks.
A pink spot is left, which gradually becomes the same color as the skin.The formation will disappear within two weeks and a pink spot will appear at the removal site that will gradually disappear.
advantage:
- Painless, scarless and no anesthesia required;
- No infection or bleeding.
The only drawback is the inability to control the depth of impact.
Apply to the soles of your feet and the effect lasts about 1 minute.This procedure can be repeated up to 5 times on the sole.The disadvantage is that the wound takes a long time to heal.
electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation uses high-frequency electric current to treat warts.It concentrates in a loop, cutting off the wart.The burning temperature is about 80 degrees.
Since the blood vessels coagulate simultaneously, no bleeding occurs.Local anesthesia is required.A big advantage of this approach is that it prevents the virus from spreading further.In addition, this method is quite cheap and effective.
Surrounding tissue must be covered and the skin must be pre-sterilized.There is also a crustal stage.It will disappear within a week.Afterwards, a barely noticeable clear scar is left, but more often it is a light spot.No recurrence!
Radio wave therapy applications
This method is considered no less than the galvanic method.The cauterization is done using special equipment; your doctor will help you choose the appropriate medication.This is a radio wave generator; its high-frequency waves don't come into contact with the wart, but cut it off completely.
The essence of its effect is that the wart cells contain liquid, which will expand when exposed to radio waves, causing the wart to swell and rupture.This work is done with a special nib similar to a ballpoint pen.
No scarring or infection.The only drawback is that the procedure is painful; therefore, the growth site needs to be pre-lubricated with anesthetic.Healthy cells are not damaged.The cautery lasts about 20 minutes.
suggestion!It should not get wet or peel during the crusting stage!It will go away on its own within a week.
surgical resection
Surgical resection is a traditional classic method, performed using a scalpel.It is rarely used now.This method is invasive and can lead to recurrence and scarring.
There is a risk of damage to adjacent tissue and the possibility of infection.But it is essential if the wart is large.Under local anesthesia, the wart is scraped out using a special spoon after an incision is made.The sutures are cosmetic and will be removed after a week.The scar remains approximately 3 mm in size and disappears over time.
chemical cautery
Formed by targeting acids or bases.After a certain amount of time, wash it off.Usually at least 6 processes are required to achieve the effect.You may feel a burning or stinging sensation during this process.The warts will dry out and fall off.
shortcoming:
- There is a risk of further spread of the virus, and the possibility of infection cannot be ruled out;
- Healthy tissue is often damaged;
- Scarring may remain and will take approximately 10 days to heal.
Use this method only when other methods are not feasible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which one is better, which one is better
Any removal method has its advantages and disadvantages; there is no ideal choice.The most popular methods today are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, radio waves, scalpels – with decreasing frequency of use.The costs of the first 3 methods are actually in the same price range.
Lasers lead the way: no place is unreachable, safe, fast and painless.Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but it does not control the depth of exposure, so recurrence is possible.
One more conclusion - laser can only remove 1 small structure in 1 session.
Cryotherapy is used for papillomatosis, and up to 40 growths can be removed in one surgery.But here, doctor's experience is very important for quality.
How does growth location and type affect the choice of technology?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar– In the form of small nodules, usually growing on the fingers, toes, and back of the hands;
- flat– Typical features of adolescents, they appear in the form of prominent spots; these also include the soles of the feet (pine trees);
- Filamentous (acrochords)– Thin elastic growths on the stems that appear on the face (eyelids, lips) and neck;
- Genital warts - most common 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, which are caused by skin dysfunction.They don't need treatment, just observation.Cryotherapy can be used if needed.
Doctors recommend a removal method, but ultimately it is the patient’s choice.How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small structures can be safely removedRadio wave "knife", or liquid nitrogen.
radio knifeSuitable for face and neck, feet and palms, groin.It does not apply to papillomas on the eyelids.They can use lasers or liquid nitrogen.
freezingIt is also used for papillomas of the hands and feet (soles), and neck.The freezing method can be said to be universal.Very safe.
laser— Remove warts anywhere on the body, including those under the nails.
surgical methodFor large growths on the oral mucosa.
electrocoagulationRecommended for flat and common warts.Can even be used on the face.For large formations, the impact is negligible.Also, electrosurgery is not suitable for plantar warts because they are often deeply rooted and very dense.
Important!It is recommended that plantar tags be removed only in the hospital.
Chemical methods give good results for plantar lesions (flat and pointed).Physical methods appear ineffective by comparison.
What method does the doctor recommend to remove the tumor?
Of course, customers choose based on their abilities.But in order to make the right decision, he must be guided by his doctor's opinion.Experts prefer comprehensive (combination) treatment of warts, the main thing of which is removal.
In addition, treatment includes oral medications with antiviral activity.Although the HPV virus (human papillomavirus) is not 100% curable and its activation depends largely on the state of the immune system, it can be slowed down, "put to sleep" and prolong remissions.
In addition to antiviral drugs, immunomodulators are also used for this purpose.First, this is a group of interferons.
Doctors are not particularly enthusiastic about traditional methods because the treatments are not performed by doctors and are not safe.It is filled with damage, infection, and inflammation of surrounding tissue.In children under 5 years of age, warts cannot be removed with any method.