Warts are a non-inflammatory condition of the skin. They look like small tumor-like growths, ranging 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 human papillomavirus). This article explains how to get rid of warts.
Etiology
Why do warts appear on the body? As already mentioned, these formations appear on the skin due to infection with papillomavirus. Infection occurs when the skin is slightly damaged (by various wounds, scratches, as well as by direct contact with the patient or by sharing infected objects). The following factors are conducive to papillomavirus activation:
- Impaired immunity;
- Constant stress;
- Frequent contact with carriers of the virus;
- Lack of hygiene;
- Visiting the pool or sauna;
- Tight and low quality shoes;
- Increased sweating of the feet and hands.
Warts appear 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:
- Normal - such warts appear on the hands (back), fingers, scalp and also on the face. They look like dense round knots with a rough surface.
- Flat (or juvenile) - are small yellowish nodules that have a rounded shape and a flat surface and protrude slightly at the level of healthy skin. They usually appear on the face and hands, often found in school children and young people.
- Spotted - located in intimate areas, has the appearance of cauliflower, dark fleshy or brown, sexually transmitted.
- Plantar warts most often appear on the feet. They are painful, callus-like, and consist of filiform papillae surrounded by important corneal layers.
How to get rid of warts yourself?
Any growth on the skin can be malignant, so you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment, especially in such cases:
- If the wart hurts, bleeding, changed shape or color;
- If the wart is large and obstructed;
- If the formation is located on visible parts of the body and is a cause of psychological discomfort;
- If new warts constantly appear.
It should be noted that improper treatment can lead to malignant tumors (degeneration into malignant forms).
What can you do at home?
After consulting your doctor, it is recommended to use one of the special chemicals that is sold in pharmacies and helps to get rid of warts quickly. Before using any pharmaceutical preparation, it is recommended to first steam the skin in hot water with soap and soda, and then remove the corneal layer with nail scissors. Salicylic ointment is often used to soothe plantar warts. To do this, it is applied to the formation and covered with adhesive plaster. For some time the skin evaporates in water and removes keratinized areas. Any chemical specially formulated to combat warts should be used in strict accordance with the instructions.
What are the remedies for treating warts?
The following tools are very effective:
- A solution containing phenol and m-cresol. The drug causes protein coagulation and has a causative effect. It also causes necrosis of pathological formations and exfoliation of areas of hyperkeratosis, promotes viral cell death and enhances epithelialization. The main indications for its use are the removal of warts on the hands and feet, the removal of dryness, genital warts and ordinary warts. The specified solution is used exclusively externally. Care should be taken when using the product on abnormal growths so that the medicine does not get on healthy skin. Failure to do so may result in burns. Depending on the type of wart, it is necessary to use either single or 5 to 10 times. Side effects include allergic reactions and swelling at the application site. One of the characteristics of using the solution is that it is not recommended to use other medications in the form of ointments before and after its use.
- A cosmetic product consisting of potassium and sodium alkali. When used on warts it causes their necrosis. Healthy areas of the skin around the wart should be massaged with the cream before use to prevent burns. Removing a wart using this tool is quite simple. It is enough to apply only one drop of it for a week on abnormal growth every day. After that the treatment is stopped. In case of wart remaining, re-use is carried out.
- Cryotherapy Remedy - Getting rid of warts with this tool is one of the methods of cryotherapy. Basically, a single use of the drug is sufficient. To get rid of the precipitate you have to press the medicine applicator on its surface. It freezes the wart. There may be a slight burning or tingling sensation during the procedure, whitening of the skin.
- Transparent gel - this tool removes skin growths due to its antiviral action. It comes in the form of a gel that should be applied twice a day for 20 days. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and size of the abnormal growths.
- Patch. Its main active ingredient is salicylic acid, which helps to soften the accumulation and its mechanical removal. In addition, this tincture 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 take a warm foot bath, dry the skin with a towel and firmly put the required size plaster 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 (pumice stone can be used for this). The skin is then dried and a new adhesive plaster is applied. This treatment regimen is repeated 3-4 times. In some cases, long-term therapy is required.
Since the appearance of warts is associated with impaired immunity, it is also recommended to take immunomodulators, as well as antiviral drugs to eliminate the main etiological factor - human papillomavirus. If the described methods of therapy are ineffective, they resort to laser removal of the formations.