Warts are non-inflammatory skin diseases. They look like small tumor-like structures, ranging in size from 1 mm to 1 cm or larger. The appearance of warts has a viral cause (they are caused by the activation of the human papillomavirus). This article explains how to get rid of warts.
Cause
Why do warts appear on the body? As mentioned earlier, these structures will appear on the skin due to infection with papillomavirus. Infection occurs when the skin suffers the slightest injury (various cuts, scratches, and through direct contact with the patient or sharing infected objects). The following factors are conducive to the activation of papillomavirus:
- decrease in immunity;
- Constant pressure
- Frequent contact with virus carriers;
- Lack of hygiene;
- Visit the swimming pool or sauna;
- Tight-fitting and low-quality shoes;
- Increased sweating of feet and palms.
Warts appear 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-This wart appears on the hands (back), fingers, scalp and face. They look like dense round nodules with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile)-small yellow nodules that are round, flat and slightly above the level of healthy skin. Usually, they appear on the face and hands, and are common in schoolchildren and young people.
- Tip-Located in a private place, has the appearance of cauliflower, dark fleshy or brown, and is sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most often appear on the feet. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of filiform papillae with a clear cuticle around them.
How to remove warts by yourself?
Any formation on the skin can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially if:
- If the wart hurts, bleeds, changes shape or color;
- If the warts are large and interfere;
- If the stratum is located in a visible part of the body and is the cause of psychological discomfort;
- If new warts keep appearing.
It is worth noting that improper treatment can lead to malignancy (regression into a malignant form).
What can I do at home?
After consulting a doctor, it is recommended to use a special chemical sold in pharmacies to help remove warts quickly. Before using any medicinal preparations, it is recommended to steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda, and then use nail scissors to remove the cuticle. Salicylic ointment is often used to soften plantar warts. For this, it is applied to the ground and covered with tape. After a period of time, the skin is steamed in water and the keratinized area is removed. Any chemicals specifically used to fight warts should be used strictly as directed.
What are the methods to treat condyloma acuminatum?
The following tools are very effective:
- A solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes protein to coagulate and has a cauterizing effect. It also causes pathological necrosis and exfoliation of hyperkeratosis areas, promotes the death of virus cells and enhances epithelialization. The main indication for its use is the removal of warts on the palms and feet, the removal of dry corns, condyloma acuminatum and common warts. The specified solution is for external use only. When applied to pathology, care must be taken to prevent the drug from contacting healthy skin. Otherwise, it may cause burns. Depending on the type of wart, it needs to be applied in a single application or 5 to 10 times. Side effects include allergic reactions and edema at the application site. One of the characteristics of using this solution is that it is not recommended to use other drugs in the form of ointments before and after use.
- A cosmetic composed of potassium and sodium base. When applied to warts, it causes their necrosis. Before use, cream should be applied to the healthy area of the skin around the wart to prevent burns. Using this treatment to remove warts is very simple. Only one drop per day for a week is sufficient for pathological growth. After that, stop treatment. With the wart still present, reapply it.
- Cryotherapy drugs-using this tool to remove warts is a method of cryotherapy. Basically, one use of the drug is sufficient. In order to remove deposits, the drug applicator should be pressed against its surface. This will freeze the wart. During the operation, there may be a slight burning or tingling sensation, and the skin may turn white.
- Transparent gel-due to its antiviral effect, this tool can be used to remove growths on the skin. It comes in the form of a gel and should be used twice a day for 20 days. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and size of the pathology.
- repair. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps soften deposits and is easier to remove mechanically. In addition, the patch contains sulfur, which penetrates into the skin and provides a stratum corneum separation effect together with salicylic acid. How to remove warts with patches? You should take a warm foot bath, dry your skin with a towel, and then firmly stick a plaster of the desired size to the growth. The plaster is left for two days, then the sticky plaster is removed, and the wart is soaked in warm water to remove the softened layer (you can use pumice stone for this). After that, the skin dries and new tape is applied. The treatment plan was repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, longer treatment is required.
Since the appearance of warts is related to a decline in immunity, it is also recommended to take immunomodulators and antiviral drugs to eliminate the main cause-human papillomavirus. If the described treatment is ineffective, they turn to lasers to remove the formation.