Warts are non-inflammatory skin conditions. They look like small tumor-like formations growing from 1 mm to 1 cm or more. The appearance of warts has a viral etiology (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 papillomavirus. The infection occurs at the slightest damage to the skin (with various cuts, scratches, and through direct contact with a sick person or when sharing infected objects). The following factors are favorable for papillomavirus activation:
- reduced immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with virus carriers;
- lack of hygiene;
- visit the pool or sauna;
- tight and low quality shoes;
- increased sweating of the feet and palms.
Warts form on almost any part of the body (legs, arms, face, head). The incubation period is 2 - 5 months.
Types of warts
There are the following types:
- Normal - such warts appear on the hands (back), fingers, scalp, and also the face. They look like dense round nodes with a rough surface.
- Flat (or young) - small yellow nodules that have a rounded shape and a flat surface and are slightly protrude above the level of healthy skin. They are usually found on the face and hands, they are most often found in school children and adolescents.
- Lead - located in intimate areas, has the appearance of cauliflower, dark-brown or brown flesh, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts are often seen on the leg. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of filiform papillae surrounded by prominent corneal layers.
How to remove warts yourself?
Any formations on the skin can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in such cases:
- if it hurts, the wart bleeds its shape or color;
- if the wart is large and interferes with it;
- if the gel is located on visible parts of the body and causes psychological discomfort;
- if new warts always appear.
It is worth noting that improper treatment (degradation to malignant forms) can lead to malignancy.
What can you do at home?
After consulting a doctor, it is recommended to use one of the special chemicals sold in pharmacies and help get rid of warts quickly. Before applying any pharmaceutical preparations, it is recommended to first steam the skin in warm water with soap and soda, and then remove the stratum coil using nail scissors. Salicylic ointment is often used to soothe the plantar wart. To do this, it is applied to a gel and covered with adhesive plaster. For some time, the skin is steamed in water and the keratinized areas are removed. Any chemicals specifically designed to combat warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the ways to treat warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- Solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug coagulates proteins and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of hyperkeratosis areas, promotes viral cell death and enhances epithelialization. The main indicators for use are removal of warts on the palms and feet, getting rid of dry corns, genital warts, and common warts. The specified solution is used externally exclusively. When applied to pathological formations, care must be taken so that the medicine does not get healthy skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the wart type, a single application or application is required 5 to 10 times. Side effects include allergic reactions and the appearance of edema at the site of application. One of the features of using the solution is that it is not recommended to use other medicines in the form of ointments before and after application.
- Cosmetic product consisting of potassium and sodium alkali. When applied to warts, it results in necrosis. Before use, the healthy parts of the skin around the wart should be smeared with cream to prevent burns. Removing a wart with this remedy is quite simple. It is enough to apply only one drop of it to the pathological growth every day for a week. After that, the treatment is stopped. In cases where the wart remains, reapply.
- Drug for cryotherapy - getting rid of warts with this tool is one of the methods of cryotherapy. Basically, one use of the drug is enough. To get rid of the collection, the drug applicant should be pushed to its surface. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, there may be a slight burning sensation or a tingling sensation, whitening of the skin.
- Transparent gel - skin growth occurs with the help of this tool 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 extent of the pathological formations.
- Paiste. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps make the mechanical collection and removal easier. In addition, this patch contains sulfur, which penetrates deep into the skin and, in combination with salicylic acid, provides a keratolytic effect. How to remove a wart with a patch? You should first take a warm foot bath, towel dry the skin and apply a plaster of the required size firmly 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 soft layers are removed (for this you can use pumice stone). After that, the skin dries and a new adhesive plaster is applied. This treatment regimen is repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, longer therapy is required.
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 methods of therapy described are ineffective, they can laser-remove the formations.