First you need to understand what warts are. Basically, it is a skin disease characterized by the appearance of small formations. The size of such formations ranges from 1 mm to 1 or more centimeters.
The cause of warts is a virus. It can be spread from person to person through a simple handshake or through the use of objects that have been used by sick people. The incubation period can last several months. Therefore, when warts form on your body, it may be very difficult for you to remember who might have "given" them to you.
It must be said that there are different types of warts, so the attitude towards them should be very delicate. They can be located on the back of the hands, on the face, and even on the scalp. On the feet, warts are usually found on the soles of the feet. If they do not hurt on the arms, then on the legs they can cause a lot of trouble. Their formation can be encouraged by sweaty feet and shoe pressure.
A special place is occupied by juvenile warts that occur during adolescence. Usually these warts are small in size and are located on the hands and face. For any type of wart, you should see a doctor to rule out the possibility of any other skin disease.
Therefore, genital warts are sometimes mistaken for warts, requiring consultation with venereologists and urologists. Any new growth on the skin should require maximum attention. It happens that tumors on the skin are mistaken for warts, and this is very dangerous, especially if you are going to remove them. In this case, you should not turn to folk remedies!
Such a procedure can only be carried out by a professional doctor, first making sure that he is dealing with warts. Not all warts are recommended to be removed; this method is used as a last resort: if the wart causes discomfort or bleeding, if the wart causes aesthetic discomfort, if the wart has reached a large size, if it grows.
If not, it is better to treat warts. Treatment should be carried out by a doctor, and you should be monitored by him throughout the treatment period. It must be said that improper treatment can contribute to the degeneration of warts into malignant tumors. Therefore, contact an expert only.
Types of warts
Warts are diagnosed more often in childhood and adolescence, but can also occur in adults. In medicine, the following types of warts are distinguished:
- Medium/coarse.The most common type of skin tumor, in 70% of cases it is diagnosed in school-aged children. Most often, warts of this type appear on the hands, but they can also be present on the edges of the lips and on the neck. Warts are easily distinguished by the presence of the largest "mother" wart - if it is removed, then the smaller tumor disappears.
- Smooth/ageless.It is rare - only up to 4% of cases are diagnosed. They are located on the back of the hands, along the edges of the lips, on the head of the penis, and on the mucous membrane of the mouth.
- Palmoplantar.They appear in places where there is the most active pressure from uncomfortable shoes. The diagnosis of warts of this type is often difficult, because specialists must distinguish the neoplasm in question from corns and calluses.
- like a thread.It has a special appearance - small "tails" made of thin skin, there may be many of them and they are always arranged in "clusters". Often found in the armpits, neck, and under the breasts.
The method to remove warts on the body and hands directly depends on the type of tumor that will be diagnosed in the patient.
It is worth knowing one more feature of warts - they do not have one exact description of "appearance". For example, a plantar wart may be a small round lump with a dark center, but a simple wart is a growth on the skin that has a heterogeneous structure. The easiest way to answer the question "what does a wart look like" is if it is thread-like - "icicles" appear on the skin, do not cause pain or irritation. It should be noted that frequent rubbing of warts leads to inflammation and irritation - they become red and can cause pain.
Where do warts come from?
This is all caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is most often transmitted through direct contact with warts or the personal belongings of an infected person. Four of the several dozen types of HPV are responsible for the appearance of warts on the skin.
HPV can easily be called "insidious". A person may not suspect for a long time that he has become the owner of HPV.
After infection, the virus is localized in the upper layer of the epidermis and may not be recognized for a long time. But as soon as the protective mechanism weakens, the virus becomes active and manifests itself in the form of one or more warts.
From the moment of infection to the appearance of skin formation, it can take from a week to several months.
Location
Which doctor to contact for warts depends directly on the location of the growth.
Depending on the variety, warts can grow all over the body, and in particular:
- on the legs and arms, on the legs;
- in the armpit area, under the breast and on its surface;
- on the face, neck and head;
- on male and female genitals;
- on the mucous membrane of the vagina, esophagus, larynx;
- in the mouth. on the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks and lips;
- on the body under clothing.
Because of appearance
It is very easy to get infected with human papillomavirus (HPV).
It is enough to have close contact with someone who has a skin tumor.
However, the disease does not appear immediately, and warts may not begin to grow until months or years after infection.
Factors that affect HPV activity:
- weak immunity;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- pressure;
- Malnutrition;
- bad habits;
- passive lifestyle.
What to do if warts have appeared
Let's get back to the survey results. Only 28% of respondents who have warts consult a doctor. It seems that the prospect of a surgical removal procedure is more frightening than the wart itself. 34% of study participants tried to get rid of warts themselves, and 16% decided not to take any action, because they did not care about it.
Why you need to get rid of warts
For those who are still unsure whether to remove warts, it is important to know the following.
- First, warts are contagious. To do this, direct contact with the wart or its carrier's personal hygiene items is sufficient.
- Second, warts tend to "conquer territory, " that is, spread to areas of healthy skin. This process is called autoinoculation (self-infection).
Obviously, it is easier to treat warts in the early stages of the disease, which will save time, effort and money in the future. In addition, at the pharmacy you can buy products to get rid of warts yourself.
When you see a doctor
- if warts quickly change shape, color, or all together;
- if the wart has an uneven color;
- if the border of the wart is blurred (in this case, most likely, it is not a wart);
- if the wart is painful or constantly injured (this increases the risk of it degenerating into something more serious);
- if the number of warts gradually increases;
- if the wart bleeds or itches;
- if warts have formed in the genital area.
Which doctor treats warts in children and adults
If tumors appear on any part of the body, you should contact a doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin diseases - a dermatologist.
- It is he who conducts the examination and decides whether further diagnostics are needed (blood test, PCR test, biopsy).
- In some doubtful cases, when the wart has signs of a malignant tumor, the dermatologist may recommend consulting an oncologist or dermato-oncologist.
- In most cases, the doctor decides to remove the wart, after which the tissue is sent for histological examination to make sure there are no signs of malignancy.
- Warts on the mammary glands in women can cause breast cancer and require examination by a mammologist.
Removal of warts
Removing warts is a radical method and is carried out in several ways. Warts can be removed using a laser. Along with this, cryotherapy and electrocoagulation methods are used. You can get rid of warts effectively using homeopathic remedies. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses.
When choosing a method to remove warts, doctors are usually guided by the location of the wart on the body. Therefore, laser removal can leave scars. Scar formation is sometimes observed after using the Surgitron device. Therefore, the doctor must choose a method to remove the wart: depending on where the wart is located.
Cryotherapy and electrocoagulation are gentle methods to remove warts. Electrocoagulation is carried out using a special device that uses high frequency current. As a result of the use of this device, the temperature of the tissue increases and the wart is destroyed, resulting in the death of the virus.
Cryotherapy is also cauterization, but only with liquid nitrogen. This procedure is relatively painless and does not leave any scars. Speaking of these two methods, it should be noted that their use eliminates contact with blood, which is very important. You can only trust an experienced doctor in this field to get rid of warts.
After removing the wart, you need to think about how to prevent this infection again.Under no circumstances should warts be plucked or tied with thread at the base so that they fall off by themselves! Such unreasonable behavior can lead to serious health problems - for example, the resulting wound can become infected, and due to the tightening of the base of the tumor, blood flow can be disturbed.
A dermatologist or cosmetologist will tell you how to get rid of warts on the hands of children and adults, what procedures will help you forget about tumors on the body and face - you can contact any of these specialists. There are three main methods of removing warts:
- Laser therapy.Usually, this method is used to remove warts in the most tender and painful places, or if the patient wants to avoid scarring. Removing warts on the face with a laser is the optimal solution, because this procedure is painless, does not require a long recovery period, and after that there are no scars left on the skin.
- Cryodestruction.This involves the use of liquid nitrogen, which completely burns the tumor without leaving a trace on the skin, although in some cases a small scar is possible. After removing the wart with liquid nitrogen, the patient should avoid being in direct sunlight; in the future, a small white spot may remain at the site of the procedure.
- Drug therapy.It is used in conjunction with the above method. There are many drugs that have a local effect and help destroy warts faster. The most effective remedy for warts is celandine extract, which is used in the direction of growth. You can not use the celandine plant itself to treat warts - if the juice comes into contact with healthy skin, it causes severe burns.
Getting rid of this type of skin tumor should be thorough. It is not enough to visit the doctor and find out what is causing the warts on your fingers or face; you must follow all prescriptions and recommendations of experts. Even with proper treatment, disease recurrence is recorded quite often - in 40-50% of cases, warts reappear.
More information about what warts are, which doctor to contact to treat plantar warts and what is meant by the term "general therapy for human papillomavirus" can be found on our website page.
Is it possible to get rid of warts yourself?
Warts can be removed at home, but only after diagnosis by a specialist.
There are special burning pharmaceutical products that can remove the growth after the first use. They have a cauterizing and necrotizing effect.
Such drugs are toxic and can cause burns to the tissue around the wart, so they must be used with caution. It is not recommended to remove warts at home in places with very delicate and sensitive skin (on the face, neck, mammary glands and genitals). You also need to make sure the wart is completely gone and no roots or other parts remain. The ability of warts to multiply is so great that even a small piece of tissue can become a source of infection in a healthy area of the dermis.
When using pharmaceutical drugs, you must strictly follow the instructions for use and pay attention to contraindications. Most of them are prohibited for use in children, pregnant and lactating women.
Warts are an external manifestation of an unsatisfactory internal state of the body. It is important not only to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but to continue to fight the virus. The human immune system is capable of independently overcoming disease-causing agents if it is given all possible assistance. To do this, it is enough to live a healthy and active lifestyle, strengthen the body with sports and healthy food.
Complications
Anogenital warts under certain circumstances (for example, in the case of infection with sexually transmitted infections, general and/or local immunity decrease) can increase in size and grow, thereby worsening a person's sexual life and significantly reducing his quality of life.
In addition, inflammation and pus of anogenital warts, as well as their ulcers, may develop as a result of prolonged mechanical effects on them. In rare cases, their malignant degeneration is possible.
Recommendations for wart patients
- Since two-thirds of cases heal spontaneously within two years, warts can be observed without treatment. When old lesions disappear, new warts may appear. This is not the result of treatment failure, but is part of the natural history of HPV infection.
- Treatment often takes weeks or months, so patience and persistence are required for successful therapy.
- Tools that have been used to remove warts, such as nail files and pumice stones, should not be used on healthy skin or by other people. For the same reason, if the wart is located in an area of the skin that has hair, you should use a depilator or electric shaver to remove the hair in this area, or not remove the hair at all, thus limiting the spread of the wart.
- To monitor and evaluate the results of treatment, repeated visits to the doctor are necessary. • If the patient is self-medicating, he can schedule a follow-up visit with the doctor at his own discretion.
Prevention
Preventive measures include:
- vaccination with quadrivalent vaccine (against HPV types 6 and 11, 16, 18);
- exclusion of casual sexual relations;
- use of barrier contraceptive methods (condoms);
- compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- timely and adequate treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
Frequently asked questions
Which doctor treats warts?
For warts, it is best to consult a dermatologist. Dermatologists specialize in treating skin conditions and are experienced in removing warts.
Is it possible to see a general doctor with warts?
Yes, you can see a general doctor, such as a general practitioner. He will be able to conduct an initial consultation and, if necessary, refer you to a dermatologist.
What methods of treating warts do doctors use?
Doctors can use a variety of methods to treat warts, including cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen), chemical removal, electrocautery (using an electric current to remove the wart), and laser removal. The doctor will choose the most suitable method depending on the characteristics of the wart and the individual characteristics of the patient.
Useful tips
Tip #1
See a dermatologist. Dermatologists specialize in skin conditions and can help you with warts. He will conduct an examination, make a diagnosis and offer the most effective treatment.
Tip #2
Visit an oncodermatologist. Warts may be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause skin cancer. Dermatologist oncologists specialize in diagnosing and treating skin cancer, so they can conduct additional tests and recommend appropriate treatment if necessary.