Warts are non-inflammatory skin diseases. They look like small tumors measuring 1 mm to 1 cm or more. The appearance of warts has a viral etiology (they are caused by the activation of the human papilloma virus). 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 papillomavirus infection. Infection occurs with the slightest damage to the skin (with various cuts, scratches, as well as direct contact with a sick person or when sharing infected objects). The following factors are favorable for the activation of papillomavirus:
- reduced immunity;
- constant stress;
- frequent contact with virus carriers;
- lack of hygiene;
- visit to the pool or sauna;
- tight and low quality shoes;
- increased sweating of the feet and palms.
Warts form on almost any area of the body (legs, arms, face, head). The incubation period is 2-5 months.
Types of warts
There are the following types:
- Ordinary - such warts appear on the hands (back), fingers, scalp, and also on the face. They look like solid round knots with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile) - are small yellowish nodules that have a rounded shape and flat surface and protrude slightly above the level of healthy skin. They usually appear on the face and hands, are common in students and young people.
- Exacerbated - are in intimate places, have the appearance of cauliflower, dark flesh or brown, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most often appear on the foot. They are painful, callus-like and consist of filamentous papillae surrounded by significant stratum corneum.
How to remove warts yourself?
Any skin lesions can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in such cases:
- if the wart hurts, bleeds, has changed shape or color;
- if the wart is large and obstructive;
- if the formation is located on visible parts of the body and is the cause of psychological discomfort;
- if new warts appear constantly.
It is worth noting that improper treatment can lead to malignancy (degeneration into malignant forms).
What can you do at home?
After consulting a doctor, it is recommended to use one of the special chemicals that are sold in pharmacies and help get rid of warts quickly. Before applying any pharmaceutical preparations, it is recommended to first steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda and then remove the stratum corneum with nail scissors. Salicylic ointment is often used to soften plantar warts. To do this, it is applied to the formation and covered with adhesive plaster. For some time, the skin is boiled in water and the keratinized areas are removed. All chemicals that are specifically designed to combat warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the remedies for warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- Solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes protein coagulation and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of areas with hyperkeratosis, promotes the death of viral cells and enhances epithelialization. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts on the palms and soles, removal of dry calluses, genital warts and ordinary warts. This solution is used exclusively externally. When applied to pathological formations, care must be taken not to get the drug on healthy skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, either a single application or an application of 5 to 10 times is required. Side effects include allergic reactions and swelling at the application site. One of the characteristics 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 a potassium and sodium base. When applied to warts, it leads to their necrosis. Before use, healthy areas of skin around the wart should be smeared with a cream to prevent burns. It is quite easy to remove warts with this tool. It is enough to apply only one drop of it on the pathological growth every day for a week. The treatment is then stopped. In cases where the wart remains, re-application is performed.
- Cryotherapy medicine - removal of warts with this tool is one of the methods of cryotherapy. In principle, a single use of the drug is sufficient. To get rid of the buildup, the drug applicator must be pressed against its surface. This freezes the wart. During the procedure, slight burning or tingling, whitening of the skin may occur.
- Transparent gel - the removal of growths on the skin with the help of this tool occurs due to its antiviral action. It is available as a gel that should be applied twice a day for 20 days. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and size of the pathological formations.
- Beginning. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps to soften the accumulation and facilitate its mechanical removal. In addition, this patch contains sulfur, which penetrates deep into the skin and together with salicylic acid provides a keratolytic effect. How to remove warts with a patch? First you need to make a warm foot bath, dry the skin with a towel and stick a plaster 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 pumice). The skin is then dried and a new band-aid is applied. This treatment regimen is repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, longer therapy is needed.
As the appearance of warts is associated with reduced immunity, it is also recommended to take immunomodulators and antiviral drugs to eliminate the main etiological factor - human papillomavirus. If the described methods of therapy are ineffective, laser removal of the formations is resorted to.