Wart removal

A wart — is a benign skin formation that most often arises due to the human papillomavirus (HPV). Usually, it looks like a small dense elevation above the skin with a rough surface, sometimes flesh-colored, grayish, or brown.

To explain simply what a wart is, it is a viral formation that can gradually increase or appear in several places. Most often, warts appear on the hands, feet, face, or in areas where the skin is injured or comes into contact with a moist environment.

Warts do not always require urgent removal, but if they interfere, hurt, are often injured, or new ones appear, it is better to consult a doctor. You can undergo an examination by a dermatologist and remove a wart in Kyiv at the «Oxford Medical» medical center. Our departments operate in different districts of the capital, as well as in Irpin — choose a location and schedule an appointment at a convenient time.

The main cause of warts — is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which penetrates the skin through microdamage.

If the virus is already in the body, formations may appear under the influence of factors that reduce the protective properties of the skin or contribute to its activation:

• microtraumas of the skin — scratches, cracks, abrasions;
• increased moisture — especially on the feet;
• decreased immunity — after illnesses, stress, or overwork;
• frequent skin contact with potentially infected surfaces;
• the habit of injuring or scratching the area.

Even in the presence of the virus, neoplasms do not always appear — this depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

Warts differ by external appearance, depth of lesion, and localization. The choice of treatment method and the number of procedures depend precisely on the type of formation.

Main types of warts:

• common (vulgar) — dense formations with a rough surface, more often appear on the fingers and hands;
• plantar — form on the feet, may grow deeper into the tissues and cause pain when walking;
• flat — small, almost do not rise above the surface of the skin, more often appear on the face, neck, or hands;
• filiform — thin elongated formations that may occur on the face, eyelids, or neck;
• periungual — are located near the nails, may complicate hand care and sometimes deform the nail plate.

Each type of wart has its own features of course. For example, plantar warts are more often painful due to pressure, and flat warts may appear in large numbers. That is why before treatment it is important to determine the type of formation in order to choose an effective and safe removal method.

First, the doctor conducts an examination and determines which warts can be removed immediately, and in which cases additional examination or another tactic is needed. If there is a need to remove a wart, you should not postpone the visit: during the consultation, the doctor will assess the formation and select a safe method depending on its type and localization. It is better not to try to remove a wart on your own, since this can lead to complications, but to consult a dermatologist.

Removal of a neoplasm is not always performed immediately. In some cases, it is advisable to postpone the procedure until the condition is stabilized or an additional examination is carried out.

Main contraindications:

• acute inflammation or skin infection in the intervention area;
• elevated temperature, acute viral or bacterial diseases;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• blood clotting disorder or taking medications that affect it;
• decompensated diabetes mellitus;
• pregnancy or lactation period, if the procedure is planned;
• doubtful appearance of the formation, when it is necessary to clarify the diagnosis.

In most cases, these are not absolute prohibitions, but temporary restrictions. After eliminating risk factors or clarifying the diagnosis, the doctor selects a safe time and removal method.

Before removal, the doctor conducts an examination and, if necessary, dermatoscopy to clarify the structure of the formation and make sure it is benign. After this, the removal method is selected taking into account the type of neoplasm, its depth, and localization.

Main methods of wart removal:

1. Laser removal — is used for point removal of a neoplasm with minimal impact on the surrounding tissues. The laser coagulates small vessels, so the procedure usually takes place with minimal bleeding, and after healing the mark often remains barely noticeable.
2. Radio wave removal — is used for careful removal of individual formations. The radio wave acts pointwise, allows control of the depth of impact, and reduces injury to the surrounding skin.
3. Electrocoagulation — involves removal of a neoplasm using high-frequency current. During the procedure, the tissues are coagulated, which helps reduce bleeding and is suitable for individual superficial formations.
4. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen — is a method of freezing the neoplasm. Liquid nitrogen destroys the affected cells, after which the formation is gradually rejected. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, cryotherapy is used for the treatment of different types of neoplasms.
5. Surgical removal — is used less often, mainly for large, deep, or atypical formations, when it is necessary to completely remove tissues or conduct an additional examination.

The choice of method depends not only on the type, but also on localization. Warts on the body are usually removed by laser or radio wave method — this allows working pointwise and minimizing the mark. A wart on the hands also responds well to these methods. If there is a wart on the foot, cryotherapy or combined treatment is more often used, since such formations may be deeper and painful due to constant pressure.

The doctors of «Oxford Medical» recommend not ignoring such formations, especially if they change, increase, or interfere in everyday life, but to seek an examination for assessment and selection of the optimal treatment tactics.

Proper care after the procedure helps prevent infection, speed up healing, and reduce the risk of a mark appearing. Recommendations may differ depending on the removal method, so it is important to follow exactly the instructions given by the doctor.

Below are the main care rules and what must not be done after wart removal:

• do not tear off the crust or blister if it formed after the procedure;
• do not rub the area with a towel, washcloth, or clothing;
• do not treat the wound with alcohol, iodine, acids, or cosmetic products without prescription;
• use only those antiseptics or healing agents that the doctor recommended;
• temporarily do not visit a swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse;
• protect the area from the sun after healing;
• consult a doctor if pain, swelling, discharge appears, or redness intensifies.

The doctors of «Oxford Medical» recommend keeping the area clean and dry in the first days after removal. It is not necessary to constantly seal the wound with a plaster if there is no risk of friction or contamination — under a closed dressing, the skin may heal longer. If the area comes into contact with clothing or footwear, it should be temporarily protected. The crust or blister must not be punctured or torn off in order to avoid infection and prolongation of healing.

The price of wart removal depends on its type, size, and localization. The cost may also differ depending on whether it is a single neoplasm or multiple elements. In addition, the method of wart removal matters — the price for cryotherapy, laser, radio wave, or surgical removal is different.

You can preliminarily familiarize yourself with the prices for doctors’ consultations and other medical services here. During the consultation, the doctor will conduct an examination and explain which method will be appropriate in your case. To schedule an appointment with a doctor, contact the contact center or use the online appointment form on the website.

The information is for informational purposes and does not replace a doctor’s consultation.

Sources:

• NCBI Bookshelf
• American Academy of Dermatology Association
• DermNet NZ