Truths and myths about warts

Of course, we do not believe the children's horror story that touching a toad is fraught with the appearance of a wart. However, these "things" that appear on the body look unattractive and annoy us, especially since there are a lot of assumptions about their appearance, therefore, it is quite natural that  we try our best to get rid of them.

How dangerous are papillomas and warts really? Is it possible to remove them at home? Why do they arise and why do they disappear? Can you get infected by shaking hands? Together with estet-portal.com, we offer to understand the nature of these skin formations, learn about advanced methods of treating warts and effective methods of prevention.

Warts — purely aesthetic problem: myth 1

That's what a lot of people think. But is it really so? Despite the differences in external manifestations, various warts (common, plantar, flat, senile and pointed), being mostly benign formations, are of a viral nature.

The appearance of papillomas and warts is caused by the defeat of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is very widespread and "dozes" in the body of many people, without showing itself in any way.

The factors that provoke the appearance of warts are:

• chronic stress;
• decreased immunity;
• fatigue caused by chronic sleep deprivation;
• malnutrition;
• hormonal imbalance.

Despite the fact that the warts themselves do not pose a threat to life, it should be remembered that papillomas and genital warts close to them can, under certain conditions, undergo degeneration into a malignant neoplasm.

Warts and papillomas: the difference is only in the name: myth 2

Despite the common pathogen, papillomas and warts are far from the same thing. You can tell them apart:

• in appearance. All types of warts look like a slightly raised growth on the skin. And papilloma must have a "leg". In addition, if you remove the top layer of the wart, you can see black dots. These are blood clots that clog the exit of capillaries;
• by location. Papillomas "settle" on the face or in skin folds (neck, armpits, mammary glands), warts often occur on the palms, back of the hands, soles of the feet.

In addition, warts are unpredictable, since our immunity is quite capable of overcoming this problem on its own. An example is juvenile warts, which often disappear without any treatment. But the papilloma itself will not go away, qualified medical assistance is required to remove it.

Do you know, "What is the difference between moles and papillomas and warts?"

Papillomas can cause cancer: myth 3

This statement is somewhat closer to the truth. However, it should be noted that genital warts are the greatest danger. These formations are localized on the mucous membranes. Infection occurs through sexual contact. Such a neoplasm has no root.

It is the appearance of genital warts in women that may precede the development of cervical cancer. Therefore, if such a problem is found, it is necessary to consult a doctor of the appropriate specialty.

Usually, a dermatologist-venereologist deals with the treatment of such neoplasms, but it is quite possible that you will need to consult an oncologist and an immunologist.

You will be interested: "What papillomas look like, why they occur and how to get rid of themI"

Warts are easily transmitted by shaking hands: Myth 4

This statement is only partly true. The papillomavirus can indeed enter the body if you shake the hand of a person with warts. However, this only happens if the integrity of the skin is broken on your hand: there are unhealed scratches or abrasions. Intact skin is a completely reliable barrier to papillomavirus.

The conclusion is quite obvious: try to have at least a couple of sterile wipes and a package of a bactericidal patch with you, be sure to disinfect even small abrasions and scratches on your hands with an antiseptic and isolate from the external environment - this way you can protect yourself from the appearance of warts on your hands.

Warts can be dealt with at home: Myth 5

While warts can go away without any treatment, they can be annoying for years. At the same time, in some cases, such a "harmless" decoration ceases to be an exclusively aesthetic problem. Warts that appear on the hands interfere with physical labor, playing musical instruments, or engaging in sports training. And the warts that appear on the feet — a real torment for their "master".

Of course, there is not always time to visit a specialist, sometimes it seems to us not at all necessary, because in any stall now it is quite possible to purchase an inexpensive remedy, which, as the instructions promise us, will save us forever from such trouble. But is it worth the risk?

Even if you are lucky and buy a really effective drug, there is no guarantee that the slightest deviation from the instructions will not lead to a chemical burn or simply the absence of any result in the treatment of papillomas and warts.

Therefore, if a papilloma or a wart is found, it is still worth visiting a specialist who can adequately assess not only the type of neoplasm, but also the way to solve the problem. Only a dermatologist will be able to take into account all possible contraindications and offer the most optimal removal method in your case:

• surgical excision used in exceptional cases;
• laser destruction, during which the wart is "dry" under the action of radiation;
• cryotherapy, in which the wart is "frozen out" by exposure to liquid nitrogen;
• electrocoagulation based on the action of high frequency currents.

Preventive measures: preventing the development of warts

First of all, we note that it is not so easy to avoid getting HPV into the body, a huge number of people are carriers of it, but there are no warts or papillomas on their body.

The immune defense, when it is not weakened due to illness, stress, hypovitaminosis or other causes, copes well with a viral infection, preventing it from developing.

However, if the immune system fails, warts and papillomas may well remind of themselves. So, first of all, we will pay attention to strengthening the immune system.

What is required for this? Nothing fancy, just:

• balanced diet containing enough vitamins;
• healthy lifestyle, including adequate sleep at night;
• the ability to relax and get rid of the negative effects of stress.

However, hygiene should not be ignored either. For this you need:

• Wash your hands thoroughly when returning home, as HPV can get on your hands from doorknobs, vehicle handrails, and similar public places;
• disinfect and isolate from the external environment even small skin lesions;
• use individual footwear in swimming pools, baths and saunas;
• wear comfortable shoes (preferably made from natural materials), fight sweaty feet — it is wet skin that is more often affected by warts;
• use a condom when having sex, this reduces the chance of genital warts.

And of course, it should be firmly understood that before starting treatment, it is worth consulting with a doctor who can supplement the treatment with antiviral drugs or immunomodulators. About their application, as well as other useful articles on how to maintain health for many years, read on the website estet-portal.com.