Warts are formations on the skin and mucous membranes of a benign nature, which occur due to the activation of the human papilloma virus.
They do not look aesthetically pleasing and often cause complexes. The person wants to get rid of them but doesn’t know how.
Should we remove the clumps?
Depends on the size of the papillomas, their nature and the age of the person. But more often, the answer is unequivocally positive, because warts are contagious and can be transmitted to others. Maybe self-infection is also autoinoculation.
First, the contagiousness of neoplasms is manifested not only by direct contact with them, but also by the use of common household items, personal hygiene items or simply by touching the places where the infected person touched. For example, a bus handle.
Second, the localization of the nipple may be in the place that is most likely to be injured - on the neck, feet, armpits, groin. These places are more often than others rubbed with clothes, squeezed and touched. Then it is filled with malignant, bleeding, excessive growth.
Third, formations can increase in size and number, causing aesthetic problems. We can call this phenomenon the conquest of territory by the nipple.
Bitan! Not always, but maybe nipple degeneration into melanoma, an incurable aggressive skin cancer.
Major misconceptions about the dangers of surgery
Early treatment and treatment of warts is best. You will save a lot of time, effort and money. Although 70% of warts can disappear spontaneously after 2 years of their existence, they can return with the same success and, moreover, to new places.
The fears of many when contacting a surgeon are related to the fear of surgery, its complications, recurrence and possible pain during the procedure. They are completely unfounded, because modern methods provide very good pain relief, and many do not need anesthesia at all.
It is still widely believed that the extra touch of the nipple with a surgical knife will increase its growth. This is the deepest misconception - surgery will prevent the virus from spreading and prevent the nipple from growing. Fortunately, there are enough methods for that.
Strange can be called those patients who are not afraid to use traditional home methods and refuse qualified help. The experience and qualifications of the doctor are, of course, crucial, but a good surgeon is not uncommon.
And another help - don't rely on beauticians and run with their nipples. They just don’t have enough medical education.
Modern methods
There are newer or older removal methods. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the effect depends on the size of the nipple, its position and depth of growth.
All methods can be grouped into 3 groups: hardware, surgical and chemical. Alternative treatment is more related to the method of physical (mechanical) impact.
When contacting a doctor, the doctor may recommend the best option, in his opinion, but the last choice is made by the patient himself.
Preliminary consultation is also required as not all methods you have chosen may be selected, as there are contraindications and limitations.
Laser treatment
The laser method can be called universal. Among all methods, he is at the forefront today. With the help of a laser, you can remove warts in the most difficult, sensitive and painful places. It is also advantageous that it does not give scars. The beam is the safest and least traumatic.
The efficiency is so high that one procedure is enough. The essence of the thermal action on the nipple is burning with temperature. Healing is fast, without scars and complications.
More laser pluses:
- the patient does not feel pain;
- no anesthesia required;
- complete removal;
- fast - takes 1-2 minutes. Relapses are possible only in 20% of cases.
Burning leaves the fossa healing in 2 weeks. The skin may temporarily lighten, which also disappears on its own after 3 weeks.
Liquid nitrogen cauterization
Cryodestruction is the freezing of the nipple by the method of low temperatures using liquid nitrogen. Duration - 30 seconds. Freezing leads to the death of growth tissue. When exposed to freezing, the papilloma thickens and turns white. After a minute, she blushed and swollen.
A bubble of gray liquid will appear at home. In a week, it will break through on its own and a crust will form. The bark heals and falls off in 2 weeks.
A pink spot remains, which will gradually become equal to the color of the skin. The formation will disappear within 2 weeks and a pink spot will appear at the site of removal which gradually disappears.
Pros:
- no pain, no scarring and no anesthesia;
- no infection or bleeding.
The only drawback is that there is no way to control the depth of impact.
On the soles the blow lasts about 1 minute. The procedure can be repeated on the sole up to 5 times. Minus - long wound healing.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation for warts uses high frequency currents. It is concentrated in the loop that cuts off the nipple. The temperature of moxibustion is around 80 degrees.
No bleeding due to simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels. Local anesthesia is required. A big plus of the method is that it prevents further spread of the virus. In addition, the method is quite cost-effective and efficient.
Surrounding tissue should be covered and skin disinfected. There is also a crust phase. It disappears in a week. After this, an almost imperceptible, transparent scar remains, but more often a bright spot. No relapse!
Application of radiowave therapy
The method is considered to be no less efficient than electricity. Attenuation is done using special devices, and the doctor will help you choose the right one. This is a radio wave generator, its high-frequency electric waves do not touch the nipple, but completely interrupt it.
The essence of the action is that the cells of the nipple contain fluid that spreads by radio waves, the nipple swells and bursts. The work is done with a special pen-like tip.
Scars and infections do not occur. The only drawback is the soreness of the procedure, because the accumulation is previously lubricated with anesthetic. Healthy cells are not damaged. Moxibustion lasts about 20 minutes.
Tip! In the bark phase it cannot be wetted and peeled! She disappears on her own in a week.
Surgical excision
Surgical removal is a traditional, classic method performed with a scalpel. It is often not used now. The method is traumatic and gives recurrences, scars.
There is a risk of damage to neighboring tissues, the possibility of infection. But it is irreplaceable if the nipple is large. Under local anesthesia, the nipple is scraped with a special spoon after cutting. The sutures are cosmetic, they are removed after a week. The scar remains about 3 mm, fading over time.
Chemical moxibustion
Acid or alkali acts on the formation. Rinse after a certain time. There are usually at least 6 procedures to achieve the effect. There is a burning or stinging sensation during it. The wart dries and falls off.
Disadvantages:
- there is a risk of further spread of the virus and infection is not ruled out;
- healthy tissue is often damaged; They are possible
- scars, healing takes about 10 days.
The method is used only if other methods are impossible.
Advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which is better
Whichever removal method has its advantages and disadvantages, there are no ideal options. Today, the most popular methods are: laser therapy, cryotherapy, electrocautery, radio waves, surgical scalpel - in descending order of frequency of use. The cost of the first 3 methods is actually in the same price range.
The laser is the first to lead: there are no inaccessible places for it, it is safe, fast and painless. Cryodestruction is considered the second most effective, but with it there is no possibility to control the depth of exposure, which is why relapses are possible.
And another conclusion - the laser can remove only 1 small formation in one session.
Cryotherapy is applicable for papillomatosis, when up to 40 growths can be removed in one procedure. But here the experience of the doctor is of great importance for quality.
How does the place and type of growth grow on the choice of technique?
There are 4 types of warts:
- vulgar- in the form of small nodules, often growing on the fingers and toes, on the back of the hands;
- flat- typical for adolescents, they are in the form of protruding spots; these include plantar (thorns);
- filamentous (chords)- elastic thin growths on the leg, appear on the face (eyelids, lips) and neck;
- genital warts - often localized on the genital mucosa; in appearance reminiscent of cauliflower.
These 4 types are of viral origin and belong to real warts.
But there are also senile keratomas, which are caused by functional disorders in the skin. They don’t need treatment, just observation. Cryotherapy can be used as desired.
The doctor recommends a method of removal, but ultimately the patient chooses. How the choice of method depends on the type of wart: small formations can be safely removed with aradiowave "knife" or liquid nitrogen.
Radio knifeis applicable on the face and neck, feet and palms, groin. It is not used with papillomas on the eyelids. I can use laser or liquid nitrogen.
Freezingis also used on the arms and legs (soles), papillomas on the neck. The cryo method can be called universal. It's safe.
Laser- removes all warts on any part of the body, including under the nail.
Surgical methodis used for large growths on the oral mucosa.
Electrocoagulationrecommended for flat and vulgar nipples. It can also be applied to the face. In large formations, the effect is negligible. Also, an electric knife is not used for plantar warts because they usually have deep roots and are very thick.
Bitan! It is desirable to remove plantar growths only in the hospital.
The chemical method gives good results in plantar lesions, straight and pointed. Physical methods are ineffective compared to them.
Which method of removing formations do doctors recommend?
The client chooses, of course, according to his abilities. But for the right decision must be guided by the opinion of a physician. Specialists prefer a complex (combined) treatment of warts, where the leading place belongs to the removal.
In addition, treatment will include oral administration of antiviral drugs. Although the HPV virus (human papilloma virus) is not 100% cured and in many respects its activation depends on the state of immunity, it can slow down, “sleep” and prolong remission.
Antiviral drugs, immunomodulators, are used for this purpose. This is, first of all, a group of interferons.
Doctors treat folk methods without much enthusiasm, because the treatment is not carried out by doctors and will be unsafe. It is burdened with damage to the surrounding tissues, infection, inflammation. Children under the age of 5 should never have their nipples removed.