How to get rid of warts?

The skin can be affected by various rashes, inflammations, moles, formations and much more. And how to get rid of warts is also a common question. Struggling with this problem, it is necessary to know for what reasons it arose, what are its varieties, methods of elimination and preventive measures.

What are warts

These are formations on the skin in the form of lumpy growths. Outwardly, they resemble moles, but the latter are soft to the touch, smooth, and their color is slightly darker than the color of the skin. Warts are hard because their top layer is a horny layer, which is why they are unpleasant to the touch and their color is similar to that of the skin. These growths bring considerable discomfort, so it is not surprising that the question of how to get rid of warts is relevant to those who have encountered them.

A feature of these formations is that they have the ability to grow: after the appearance of one, others appear, but, as a rule, smaller in size. They can affect the genitals (genital warts are formed here), mucous membranes and various parts of the body.

Where do warts come from?

They are benign neoplasms and their provocateur is HPV, which stands for human papillomavirus. Today, medicine knows more than 150 of its types, and all of them provoke the appearance of growths in various areas of the skin. Most often, the places where they occur are the hands (usually the hands), legs (mainly the feet), elbows, neck, face, knees.

Hence, it is a viral disease that is transmitted by contact. This means that the pathogen can enter the body like this:

• Through wounds, scratches on the skin, damaged mucous membranes;
• Using the same household items with an infected person;
• With intimacy;
• In case of using non-sterile equipment during cosmetic procedures, manicures, pedicures, tattoos, in a medical institution;
• In the common areas (swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, etc. ).

Even if the integrity of the skin, mucous membranes is not violated, the risk of virus infection is not excluded from contact with its vector or infected surfaces. The growths can appear six months or more after infection. This is one of the reasons why an infected person may not have outward signs of the disease.

HPV is an infection that becomes active even when exposed to negative factors:

• Decreased immunity;
• Hormonal imbalance;
• The presence of concomitant serious diseases, infectious diseases (in particular, HIV);
• Frequent depression;
• Long-term treatment with the same medicines;
• The presence of bad habits.

Types of warts

Here are the main ones:

• Simple (ordinary);
• Dish;
• Footbed;
• Filiform.

Each of the types of formations has its own characteristics, appearance, structure.

Simple

They are also called ordinary or vulgar. This group comprises about 70% of all formations of this type. They are usually caused by HPV types 2 and 4. They can infect almost any area of the skin. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that they rise considerably above and are usually round in shape. The color of the formations is flesh-colored, grayish or yellow-brown. They are usually dense to the touch, and their diameter is 2-5 mm.

There are two types of simple growths:

• Single room;
• Multi-camera.

The latter needs differential diagnostics, which will ensure that this is indeed the given type of these formations. How to get rid of warts on the arms, legs, elbows, knees and other parts of the body where they appear depends on establishing an accurate diagnosis.

Dish

The peculiarity of this type of growths is that, like vulgar formations, they form above the surface of the skin, but slightly protrude above it. This species possesses 4% -5% of the total number of formations caused by HPV.

More often flat growths are localized in the area of the forearms, on the back of the hands, on the mucous membranes, on the face, but they can also form in other areas.

Doctors note that children and adolescents are more susceptible to this type of growths.

Footbed

The appearance of such growths resembles ordinary corns. If you find a similar phenomenon in yourself, be sure to contact a cosmetologist or, rather, a dermatologist. A specialist will help determine the type and source of the problem. As is clear from the name of this species, these growths on the soles of the feet are affected and adolescents often face this problem. Among all species, this accounts for about 20-25% of cases.

The location of these formations is such that they are often injured, especially if a person is wearing uncomfortable and tight shoes. They almost never bleed, but how to get rid of warts on the legs should interest the person who has these growths.

The increased humidity of this part of the body, the presence of opportunistic microorganisms on it - these factors often provoke suppuration. In this case, it may be necessary to contact a trauma surgeon. But this can be avoided if you take care of how to get rid of the plantar wart in time and get rid of this problem.

Filiform

In medicine, they are called acrochords. They are benign neoplasms with an elongated shape and their size reaches 5-6 mm. Most often, acrochords are located on the neck, face, occupy the armpit, groin area, in women they can occur under the breasts.

Their formation begins with the appearance of a yellow spot on the skin, which subsequently becomes larger and coarser to the touch. They take on an elongated shape, which is why they are called filamentous. In some cases, they take a rounded shape, but are located on a thin stem.

What do you need to know about HPV?

This is a group of viruses with more than 150 types. Infection is transmitted quite simply, so today, skin manifestations caused by HPV are quite common. Doctors cite statistics which say that more than 60% of the world's population carry one type or another of this virus.

The insidiousness of the infection lies in the fact that, getting into the body, it lingers in the basal layer of the epithelium. And then different types of viruses manifest themselves in different ways:

• Representatives of some of them are in the body without affecting the chromosomes of human cells. In this case, benign skin neoplasms are formed;
• Some types of infections infect and alter the genome of host cells, in which case malignant tumors develop.

Depending on how the virus behaves in the human body, its types are divided according to the level of oncogenicity (ability to cause cancer):

• Not oncogenic (does not cause oncological diseases). This group includes 1-5, 10, 28, 49 types;
• Low oncogenicity (almost never provokes the development of malignant diseases). In particular, types 6, 11, 13, 32, 34, 40-44, 51, 72 fall into this category;
• Medium-risk HPV. These include types 26, 30, 35, 52, 56, 65;
• High oncogenicity (increased risk of a precancerous condition that can develop into a cancerous tumor). This group previously included 16, 18, 31, 45 types. The first two (16 and 18) are often the cause of cervical cancer in women.

If a person is infected with some types of viruses, this does not exclude the risk of infection with others. One vector can be found as one stump and several dozen.

At present, there are no drugs that can completely rid the human body of HPV. Therefore, talking about how to get rid of warts forever, sadly today there is no guarantee that getting rid of them is guaranteed to lead to the fact that they will never come back. This guarantee can only be provided by the complete elimination of the virus, which is currently not possible.

How does the virus manifest itself?

Skin growths are the main manifestation of its presence in the body. If inside it lives an infection affecting the internal genital organs of women, their manifestations in the form of genital warts can be detected at the examination of a gynecologist, but the doctor does not make such a diagnosis "by eye". A PCR smear is performed and this analysis determines the presence or absence of HPV and its strain in the body.

Infection can be accompanied by general weakness, fever. But these manifestations are accompanied by many other diseases, so they should be the reason for the search for a problem in the body.

Doctors note that if an infected person has good immunity, leads a healthy lifestyle, is not susceptible to depression, stress and other negative factors, the virus may not manifest itself for years without disturbing its carrier.

Who can get warts?

They can appear in any person. Therefore, you can face both how to get rid of a wart in a child, and how to get rid of this problem in an adult of any age.

Are warts widespread?

The growths themselves, which appear as a result of exposure to the virus, are not transmitted. But you can get infected with HPV from a person who is infected with it, and he is already able to become a provocateur of the appearance of formations on the skin. Since it is very easy to get infected with the virus, it is necessary to refrain from contact with its carriers, to be careful in everyday life, using only objects.

Medical methods for removing warts

1. It should be borne in mind that getting rid of warts on the face, legs, arms, neck and other parts of the body is not the same as getting rid of HPV. Neoplasms on the skin are the consequences of the provocateur's influence on the body, and if at the moment it is impossible to completely get rid of the infection itself, then it is possible to get rid of its consequences. But modern medicine knows how to weaken the virus. This can be done with the help of antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
2. To eliminate the neoplasms themselves, other methods are used.

Cryodestruction

1. There is another name for this method in medicine - cryotherapy. Cryodestruction literally means freezing destruction. For this, liquid nitrogen is used, with a temperature of -196 degrees C. This is the indicator at which the gas acquires a liquid state.
2. This method of getting rid of the wart quickly involves treating the affected area by freezing the growth tissue. Their cells are so cooled that the liquid they contain expands, causing their destruction and, consequently, the death of the entire neoplasm.
3. The advantages of a method that allows you to quickly and effectively get rid of the wart:
   • The method can be used to treat children;
   • Affordable cost of the procedure;
   • After such moxibustion, no traces remain;
   • Quickness;
   • No contraindications.
4. But it also has drawbacks:
   • If the growths are multiple and large, several procedures may be necessary;
   • Relapse is not excluded;
   • The patient may experience unpleasant and painful sensations during the session.

Burning with a laser

1. This is a modern technique, also called laser vaporization. Its essence lies in the fact that the affected area is exposed to light, due to which the growth cells are evaporated. A crust then appears in its place, and after a while the skin is restored, acquires a healthy color, appearance, texture.
2. There is perhaps only one drawback to this method: the relatively high cost. But if you need to get rid of high-quality warts on the face, arms, legs and any other part of the body, this effective method has many advantages:
   • The speed of the procedure: it takes 20-30 minutes;
   • No additional sessions are usually needed;
   • High efficiency;
   • The technique can be used for patients of any age and gender;
   • Painlessness is a factor that allows you not to use anesthesia;
   • Quick rehabilitation;
   • If you are looking for how to get rid of a wart on your finger, face, leg or other areas, this method will work;
   • Long preparation for handling is not required.

Electrocoagulation

1. The method involves the destruction of neoplastic cells by high frequency current. Since the beginning of the use of laser vaporization, this method of removing growths has become less common.
2. However, it has its advantages:
   • The speed of the procedure;
   • High efficiency;
   • Rapid rehabilitation and healing of the skin;
   • Affordable price;
   • The doctor can check the depth of penetration of current discharges;
   • After the procedure, the skin is quickly restored, acquires a healthy appearance and color.
3. Disadvantages of this method, such as getting rid of the wart on the toe, leg, elbow, knees, etc. :
   • It won't work if the affected area is large. In these cases, the appearance of scars is possible;
   • The procedure can be painful;
   • The use of this technique can be associated with small, but blood loss;
   • It is not recommended to use this method to eliminate formations on sensitive areas of the skin: face, neck, décolleté.

Surgical excision

1. This method is rarely used. If there is the possibility of using a bloodless and less traumatic method (for example, laser burning), it is better to resort to it.
2. Surgical removal involves removing the accumulation with a scalpel and suturing the wound formed on the skin. The procedure is performed using local anesthesia.
3. The advantages of the method are the ability of the operating physician to control the depth of penetration of the scalpel and the volume of excision of the affected tissues. It can be used to remove growths from areas with thick skin, such as plantar warts on the legs.
4. Disadvantages of the method:
   • Its use is associated with blood loss, and in some cases it is quite abundant;
   • After applying it, a noticeable scar may remain;
   • After surgical removal, the duration of rehabilitation can be long, as can the healing time of the skin.

How to remove warts with folk remedies?

1. They are used at home, their effect is similar to moxibustion methods, and there are many ways to deal with this problem.
2. How to get rid of warts at home and what remedies are considered effective for it?
   • Apples, beets, potatoes. You can choose one of these products. It is cut into two parts, each of which is rubbed on the affected area. After the halves of the product are connected, tied with a thread, wrapped in paper, sent to storage everywhere (you can go out). It is believed that the growths will go away when the fruit decays;
   • Acetic acid. Take an adhesive plaster, make a hole, the diameter and shape of which coincide with the parameters of the neoplasm. It needs to be glued to the skin around the growth so that the growth is in the hole in the adhesive patch. Combine some vinegar and wheat flour, it should form a thick gruel. It is applied to the wart, wrapped around the treated area with a clean cloth or bandage. Every day it is necessary to apply a new mixture until the problem is solved;
   • Ash. Completely burn several matches after removing the sulfur heads. Grind them into powder, add a little water to get a thick mixture. To get rid of warts at home, it is applied to the affected area, after which the "medicine" must be fixed using a bandage, a clean cloth. The procedure is repeated daily until the problem is resolved;
   • Celandine. Using an infusion of the plant, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, dry the growth daily.
3. Before getting rid of warts using folk methods, consider some of the doctors' comments on this topic. Official medicine does not consider them effective, as there is no scientific justification for their effect. In addition, medical advice is required, which will allow you to determine the type of neoplasm, its structure. This is necessary to exclude its malignancy.
4. These are not the best ways to get rid of a baby's wart. He will need the help of a specialist: one should not risk the health of a small patient. The doctor will select one of the most effective methods of action, eliminating the problem quickly, effectively and painlessly.

Prophylaxis

1. The phenomenon has a viral etiology and, given the manner in which its provocateur is transmitted, it is necessary to follow some preventive measures. When visiting the common areas, use only your personal belongings, hygiene items. It is desirable to do this in everyday life, on vacation. To prevent the risk of genital infection, barrier contraception should be used.
2. Warts that appear on the fingers, feet, hands, knees, elbows, face, neck, décolleté are also felt due to a decrease in immunity. Therefore, if the virus has already entered the body, it is necessary to take measures to increase the body's defenses:
   • Appropriate nutrition;
   • Sport;
   • Refusal of bad habits;
   • Adequate sleep;
   • Avoid stress, depression and other negative emotional states.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to get rid of warts forever, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to come back after treatment. Take preventative measures to reduce risks. Also, you just need to be treated by a specialist. This is another way to greatly increase the chances of effectively addressing the problem.