First you need to understand what warts are? These are neoplasms of viral etiology. They can form on any part of the body. Hands are the most favorite place; feet, face and neck can also become an area for the location of such formations. It has been established that the root cause of formation is the HPV papilloma virus.
This virus has more than a hundred varieties , a large number of which can make a neoplasm malignant. Underestimate the appearance of growths on your body. It is worth visiting a doctor immediately to make a diagnosis, the nature and type of formation.
Where and how can you get warts?
how you can get rid of warts on your fingers at home. We will also answer questions about what warts look like, how they are transmitted, and why they appear in general.
If microtrauma occurs, then it is quite easy to become infected with any type of papillomavirus. To do this, contact with affected skin, or contact with the clothing of a person infected with this virus, or through other household items is enough.
It should be noted that in a person with normal immunity , the body can easily stop the virus from multiplying. A long stay in a state of stress, hormonal imbalances, overwork, the negative effects of radiation, chemical emissions, and so on, on the contrary, are a negative factor that contributes to the preservation and reproduction of the virus.
Rooms where the air is warm and humid (sauna, swimming pool, bathhouse, sports hall and gym) are favorable places for transmission of infection . Since people at work, at home and at play usually come into contact through their hands, it immediately becomes clear why it is in these places that warts appear most often. Children get the spread of warts due to the fact that they often do not restrain themselves from scratching or tearing off warts altogether, and this contributes to the spread of the virus. Children also often bite their nails and this helps in getting infection under their nails. If warts on the fingers and under the nails are not treated, there is a high probability of their growth.
What does a wart look like?
There are 3 types:
- simple;
- vulgar;
- flat.
The first two types usually form on the arms, palms, and back of the hands . There is no pain. Less often they can be seen on the face and mucous membranes. Verruca vulgaris is the most common type, and this species accounts for more than 60% of all skin neoplasms.
Vulgra warts are uneven, rough to the touch, and have the shape of rounded and dense nodules. Diameter from 0.3 cm to 1 cm. May have different colors (pinkish, brownish, yellowish). Such warts are not smooth, rough. The virus progresses through many new growths. At this moment, the maternal “individual”, which has the largest size, is determined, and smaller ones appear around. When the main one is deleted, the rest, as a rule, self-destruct on their own.
Flat (another name for juvenile) warts are a rare phenomenon and occur in only 4% of cases, affecting the face, mucous membranes, hands and fingers. Typically, young people from 10 to 30 years old suffer from this type of round and even formations. The size does not exceed 3 mm, and their shade can be either yellowish or flesh-colored.
Despite the descriptions of the types of warts, if they appear, you should see a dermatologist. The next step should be the treatment and removal of these “guests”.
The appearance of various formations should not be ignored, as this is evidence of malfunctions in the immune system . The neoplasms themselves are not considered dangerous and are completely painless, but they must be removed, because the existence of even one wart increases the risk of similar ones appearing on other healthy areas of the skin. Injury or tearing of the formation can lead to secondary infection on the skin or increase the spread of papillomavirus. In addition, people who come into contact with an infected person are at risk of contracting the virus.
In some cases, a wart on the finger may disappear on its own without treatment . The period of self-destruction of such warts can range from six months to three years. At the same time, removing warts without waiting for regression does not guarantee that they will not reappear. After all, as noted above, they are of a viral nature. All this will depend on the person’s immunity.
Reasons for appearance
The only cause of wart growths on the skin is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This disease is localized in the body and the main sign of its presence is the development of various neoplasms throughout the body.
Currently, scientists know more than 110 types of the HPV virus. Of these, only two affect the skin on the hands: types 2 and 4. The reason why the infection manifests itself in the area of hands and fingers is direct contact with an infected person.
Also, the routes of infection with these types of papillomavirus are:
- using other people's hygiene items (washcloths, towels);
- wearing someone else's jewelry (watches, bracelets, rings);
- touching railings, handrails in public transport and door handles.
The first symptoms of the disease may not be felt for a very long period of time, and their manifestation can be provoked by a weakened immune system. In this case, the virus can only be detected by laboratory diagnostics, which will confirm the presence of HPV and determine its type.
Important!
Even if a person does not have external symptoms of papillomavirus, and the latent form of the disease does not bring any discomfort to the patient, he still remains a spreader of the disease. Therefore, it is very important to detect the virus at an early stage and prevent infection of other people.
How to get rid of warts on fingers
Nowadays, there are various methods for removing warts and these include:
- Surgical (rarely used today). In this case, local anesthesia and a scalpel are used for removal to scrape out the growth tissue.
- Physiotherapeutic (modern, fast and convenient method of removal). This method includes laser removal with nitrogen, as well as electrocoagulation.
- Chemical method (use of acids and alkalis).
- Folk remedies.
Medical methods for removing warts
There are many ways to remove unwanted growths from the human body. Today medicine is ready to offer the following:
- laser removal;
- use of liquid nitrogen;
- exposure to radio waves;
- the use of electrocoagulation;
- using a special pencil.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is necessary to look at them in more detail.
Advice! It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later. This statement also applies to warts. To reduce the likelihood of their occurrence, it is recommended, first of all, to observe the rules of personal hygiene.
Using a laser
Today, laser is considered the most effective method of getting rid of benign formations on human skin. When using it, the patient feels minimal discomfort from the procedure.
In addition, the area of the body from which the wart was removed does not require special care. The laser leaves virtually no scars, and the crust disappears on its own after a few days.
Due to the fact that when using this method, microscopic vessels are blocked in a certain area of the skin, the procedure is performed as bloodlessly as possible.
The likelihood of a wart reappearing, as well as the risk of relapse, is reduced to zero. The removed tissue can remain viable for some time, so if necessary, it can be sent for histological analysis.
Application of liquid nitrogen
This method of getting rid of such formations on the skin has its own peculiarity. It lies in the fact that it will not be possible to remove it in one procedure, especially if the growth is large, is stable on a stalk and has a deep root. In this case, at least two cauterizations will be required.
The advantage of this method is that the procedure is painless. In addition, there is no smell of scorched skin, as is the case with using a laser. The procedure is performed as follows:
- The doctor determines the area of the body where the unwanted formation is located.
- The patient is given local anesthesia.
- The doctor dips the stick in a container of liquid nitrogen and applies it to the wart.
- The stick is held for a certain time, after which an ordinary patch is applied.
Exposure to radio waves
This method began to be used recently, but it has already established itself as an effective method of combating warts. To get rid of skin formations, in this case, special tools are used, which are based on the emission of radio waves with a frequency of 3.8-4 MHz.
Under the influence of tiny steam bubbles, the tissue of the wart, as well as its root, is destroyed. Removing skin lesions using radio waves is completely safe. During the procedure, the patient does not feel pain. After use, no scars remain on the skin.
Removal of warts by electrocoagulation
This method is based on cauterization of the wart with an electrode, which is heated by exposure to high frequency current. After such a procedure, a dry crust remains on the damaged area of the skin.
It disappears on its own after a few days. Thanks to the use of local anesthesia, removal is painless. In addition, the likelihood of scars is completely excluded.
Using a special pencil
To get rid of benign skin formations, a special pencil based on silver nitrate was created. It has long been used in medicine and has a cauterizing effect.
The product is considered less effective than the methods described above. According to research data, a wart removal pencil helps achieve the desired result in only 43% of people. In addition, it should be used very carefully to avoid serious burns.
Advice! Each method is selected individually after consultation with a dermatologist.
He will be able to offer the best option, as well as exclude a malignant neoplasm, which can be confused with a wart.
Warts on hands and fingers, can I get rid of them at home?
And now, finally, we move on to the very core of our article. To remove the formation at home, use celandine juice, onion and even acetic acid. Super celandine is available in any pharmacy at a very affordable price. By the way, this is just an alkaline solution, or more specifically potassium and sodium hydroxide, and it has nothing to do with the medicinal plant. The rating of celandine is high and consumers who use it to eliminate warts at home are satisfied with the result. But it can only be used on hands and if the skin is insensitive. You can also purchase the following products at the pharmacy:
- Verrucacid;
- Salicylic acid;
- Vitamin A oil solution.
Verrucacid
This solution is not recommended for use in children under 7 years of age, pregnant or lactating women . The product is used locally, lubricating the affected area several times, depending on the size of the tumor. If the wart has a dense keratinized surface, you need to remove the stratum corneum from the surface. To do this, apply keratolytic ointment under an occlusive dressing for 2-3 hours (you can use a patch).
After this, the bandage or adhesive plaster is peeled off, and the skin is steamed for about 15 minutes, adding soap and sodium bicarbonate. Afterwards, you can remove the softened stratum corneum with nail scissors. And now the product is applied to the dried skin with an applicator (cotton swab). As soon as the product dries, the drug is applied again. This should be done several times a day.
Salicylic acid
A 5–10% solution is suitable for eliminating all types of warts. Before applying salicylic acid, it is advisable to steam the skin. It is better to carry out the procedure before going to bed and wash it off in the morning. After applying the product, you need to bandage it or cover it with a band-aid.
Oral drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis virus
You can diagnose the appearance of warts yourself (usually they can be palpated) if they are clearly visible on the skin, but only a dermatologist can make an accurate diagnosis. Official medicine suggests that the patient first take medications that will primarily boost immunity, have a calming effect on the nervous system, and naturally take a course of vitamins.
To begin with, you can take vitamins that increase the body's resistance to the IF virus, such as:
- vitamin A
, which is taken for a minimum of 2-3 months, and a maximum of six. For example, it could be retinol from 100 to 300 rubles (or from 5 to 50 UAH). No more than 1 mg is consumed per day; - vitamin E
or tocopherol, which prevents aging and protects cells from decay, strengthens the nail plates, skin and hair, and also increases stimulation of the immune system. It is important to remember that the daily dose should not exceed 15 mg. The price varies from 2 to 47 rubles (from 11 to 34 UAH); - vitamin C
or the well-known ascorbic acid, which helps strengthen the immune system and fight viruses. Consumption per day on average is only 75 mg. The price of the drug varies from 150 to 340 rubles. (8 to 28 UAH).
Antiviral medications include those that will also suppress the virus and help strengthen the body and stimulate the immune system:
- Groprinosin is both an immune stimulant and eliminates HPV (from 586 rubles or from 92 UAH)
- Anaferon is used in complex therapy for bacterial and viral infections (from 64 UAH and in Russia from 201 RUB)
- immunal, made on the basis of echinacea and can be used for prevention (price starts from 186 rubles or from 103 UAH)
There are both medical (hardware and chemical (pharmaceutical) means) and folk (more gentle) methods of removing warts.
