The appearance of warts can disrupt the normal course of a person’s life, especially if the formations are located in inconvenient places and are large in size. To eliminate warts, various means can be used, the action of which is aimed at eliminating infected cells and removing unpleasant growths.
When deciding to use a cream for warts, you should consult with specialists and undergo the necessary type of examination. Such actions are carried out to reduce the likelihood of relapse after wart removal.
The effectiveness of local treatment for warts on the legs
Medicine for warts for local use allows you to get rid of clinical manifestations (pain, discomfort, itching in the area of the formation), improve the quality of life, but do not completely eliminate the cause. It is important to monitor changes in warts on the leg from the use of topical medications; if the following signs appear, you should consult a doctor:
- increase in size;
- the appearance of atypical discharge (blood, pus);
- change in color and shape of the growth.
The use of local medicines helps to get rid of external manifestations, but without a comprehensive effect on the papillomavirus (correction of the immune system using medications, removal of deep roots using surgical hardware methods), the risk of relapse remains.
Cauterizing agents can cause burns and injury; you should use caution and only after consulting a doctor to remove plantar growths on your own.
Where do warts come from?
The appearance of growths on the skin, which are called warts, occurs as a result of infection of the body with the papilloma virus. Many people are carriers of this virus, although they do not have any formations on their body; the progression of the virus begins after a failure in the protective function of the immune system.
Human papillomavirus
You can also become infected with warts after contact with an infected person or object. Infection occurs when there are small lesions on the skin through which the virus penetrates and a growth of various sizes is formed.
It is impossible to remove such growths on your own, as malignant formations may occur, however, the use of externally applied products can fight the virus and prevent further progression.
Warts can be of several types:
- Ordinary formations - most often appear in the arm area. They tend to disappear on their own, are most often damaged, and therefore require treatment.
- Plantar warts - appear as a result of prolonged contact with shoes. Most often they take the form of skin thickening, which when pressed causes unpleasant symptoms.
- Youthful - can manifest themselves in absolutely any part of the body. Externally, they look like a small formation that practically does not stand out above the skin level. They can be light or dark in color, most often formed in groups.
- Genital warts - have an appearance in the form of flesh-colored or pink nodules and are most often formed in the groin area.
- Thread-like formations - look like a small nodule on a stalk, most often appear in the neck, groin and armpits;
- Senile - formed in old age on absolutely any part of the body.
Only a specialist can correctly determine the type of formation after conducting the necessary type of examination.
The effectiveness of treating warts with cream
Various hardware methods for removing warts can be used, however, these types of procedures are expensive and most often leave a mark on the skin after the procedure. Therefore, many patients use more affordable drugs, such as creams for external application.
The effect of such products is the presence of active components that eliminate the papilloma virus and increase the protective properties of the immune system, as a result of which the formation disappears on its own.
The action of wart creams is aimed at achieving the following results:
- neutralization of the virus;
- activation of regenerative processes in the skin;
- elimination of inflammatory processes;
- cauterization of damaged cells;
- strengthening the immune system;
- transporting essential vitamins into cells;
- elimination of further development of papilloma virus.
You need to choose a cream depending on the type of wart and only on the recommendation of a medical specialist. The cream is applied only to the damaged area, avoiding contact with healthy epidermis.
Review of effective ointments and creams for warts
Need advice from an experienced doctor?
Get a doctor's consultation online. Ask your question right now.
Ask a free question
To effectively combat external formations on the legs, various antiviral, immunocorrective, and keratolytic agents are used. Effective forms are cream and ointment for warts on the legs; the preparations have a dense consistency, composition of combined pharmacological, natural substances, act in the affected area, and do not have a systemic effect on the body.
Approved for use in children due to high efficiency and safety.
Types of medicinal products according to action
Before you buy a remedy for warts on your hands at the pharmacy, you need to understand how it works. All drugs can be combined into several groups:
- keratolytics;
- necrotizing;
- immunostimulating and antiviral;
- cryopreparations.
Many of these medications can be used independently at home. But it is better to use them comprehensively. It makes no sense to just remove the growths - they will grow again. It is important to strengthen the patient’s immunity and help the body cope with the infection. It is better to ask your doctors which remedy is suitable in a particular situation, because, for example, many medications are not recommended for pregnant women.
Products are available in several types:
- aqueous or alcohol solutions;
- creams or ointments;
- plasters;
- gels;
- oils and other preparations.
They can be used for treatment strictly in accordance with the instructions.
Folk remedies for warts on the feet
Home recipes and folk remedies for warts are successfully used in the complex treatment of human papillomavirus.
The most common methods of therapy:
- Application of patches based on salicylic acid (Salipod, Mediplast). Before use, the skin of the feet is pre-steamed in a bath with horse chestnut, mustard, soda with laundry soap 72%, hay dust. Then a patch is glued to the area of the pathological focus for 12-24 hours, after which the patch with the growth is removed.
- Compresses using grated garlic and potatoes mixed with vegetable oil are applied to a cotton-gauze bandage and tightly fixed overnight. The course of therapy is 14-21 days.
- Preparing lotions from vinegar (table or apple) with wheat flour, the mixture is brought to a pulp state, applied to the surface of the formation, sealing it with a plaster on a woven base. Duration of exposure is 7-9 hours. Afterwards apply moisturizer.
- Compresses made from grated beets are used to remove the root of a wart for up to 10 days.
- A compress made from Kalanchoe pulp is used once a day, before bed, for no more than 15 days in a row.
Before using traditional recipes, you should consult a specialist doctor to clarify the indications for the use of specific components on the area of plantar warts.
Alternative remedies
Medicine is constantly moving forward. Premium instant-acting products have appeared that are difficult to buy at the pharmacy. These new effective drugs are sold on the websites of manufacturers on the Internet.
Papilight
This is a natural product made only from natural ingredients. It contains extracts and extracts of caragana, Jerusalem artichoke, rhododendron, garlic, red pepper, as well as propolis. This is a safe remedy that can be taken by both pregnant women and children. It helps strengthen the immune system and prevents the proliferation of viruses. It can be consumed orally, and can also be used to treat growths.
Papilok plus
Balm, which is also made from natural ingredients, namely castor and perlite oil, tea tree oil, with the addition of carbolic acid, sodium and potassium hydroxide. The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks. The package contains two bottles, one of which is intended for removing growth, and the second for tissue regeneration.
What medications from the pharmacy will get rid of the problem?
To completely cure the external manifestations of HPV (warts, papillomas) on the legs, you need to use the following treatment regimen:
- restoration of immunity (prevention of relapse and inhibition of papillomavirus activity) - drug correction with immunostimulants, antiviral tablets (Isoprinosine, Panavir, Lykopid, Groprinosine);
- removal of external manifestations (to prevent injury and provoke malignant degeneration of formations, in order to eliminate the patient’s discomfort when walking) with local drugs and substances (Supeschistotel, Verrukacid, patches, ointments and creams), using cryodestruction devices at home (Cryo-pharma, Cryopod);
- normalize sleep and rest patterns, enrich nutrition with vitamins and minerals.
Medicines for removing papillomas in a clinic
This category of drugs contains aggressive active ingredients that remove papilloma in one procedure. Due to the increased danger, the procedure is performed only in a clinic, and is performed by a doctor. This is an effective way to remove papillomas from the body, arms and legs. Due to the risk of burns, it is prohibited to use potent substances to remove papillomas from the mucous membranes, face and neck.
Verrucacid
The main active ingredient of the drug is phenol. Its action is corrected thanks to metacresol. In combination, these components kill the cells of the treated tissues.
During the procedure, you need to ensure that the product does not touch healthy skin. The doctor treats the papilloma several times at intervals of 5-7 minutes. After the destruction of the formation, a crust remains in its place, which itself disappears 5-7 days after the procedure. This is the best remedy for removing plantar papillomas.
Feresol
This remedy is more aggressive than Verrukacid, due to the replacement of metacresol with tricresol. The drug should not be used to treat papillomas in children under seven years of age. The acid solution is applied exactly over the area of the growth. To remove a large papilloma, 4-7 repetitions with an interval of 5 minutes will be required.
The modern range of remedies for papillomas allows us to treat neoplasms of any complexity and location. The main thing is to contact a specialized specialist who will select individual therapy, quickly get rid of papillomas and prevent relapses of the disease. Additionally, lifestyle changes may be required to boost the body's overall immunity and give it the strength to fight the virus.
Treatment prognosis and precautions
It is impossible to completely get rid of HPV with the help of medications, but normalizing immune processes and maintaining the optimal state of the body can allow the virus to be completely eliminated from the patient.
To prevent infection with papillomavirus and the proliferation of cutaneous warts on the legs, you should adhere to the following rules:
- use rubber shoes that are easy to wash when visiting public places (baths, swimming pools, saunas, beaches);
- if there are cracks, calluses or wounds on the feet, treat them promptly;
- maintain immunity by sanitizing chronic foci of infection, eat a balanced diet, and give up bad habits.
The article has been reviewed by the site editors
Cytotoxic drugs
To remove the growth at home, you can use cytotoxic drugs that block cell division. These medications include Vartek cream (podophyllotoxin) and 5-fluorouracil "Ebewe".
Vartek (podophyllotoxin)
Vartek is the drug of choice for the treatment of genital warts. The medicine is available in the form of a cream for external use. How to apply the cream:
- Wash with soap and dry the affected area.
- Apply the cream pointwise to the condyloma (for more convenient application, it is recommended to use a mirror).
You need to apply the cream 3 days a week, followed by a break of 4 days. The course of therapy lasts on average 4 weeks (a total of 12 days of active treatment).
It is contraindicated to use the cream if there is a violation of the integrity of the skin. Side effects may occur:
- erosive and ulcerative skin lesions;
- redness, swelling at the site of application of the cream;
- pain and bleeding;
- skin rashes;
- itchy skin.
If side effects occur, you should stop using the cream and consult a doctor.
Vartek cream is a drug with cytotoxic action.
Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil disrupts the synthesis of cellular and viral DNA. To treat the disease, a 5% cream is prescribed. There are 2 prescribing regimens:
- 1 time at night for 7 days.
- 1 time per week for 10 weeks.
The cream is applied in a thin layer to the affected area of the skin. The advantage of using Fluorouracil is its high efficiency - in 90% of cases this treatment allows you to get rid of the disease.
The main disadvantage of the drug is the risk of developing serious side effects. Weeping erosions often occur, up to severe contact dermatitis.
Human papillomaviruses
Scientists have already discovered more than 600 different types of papillomavirus that infect humans. About 40 of them are responsible for the appearance of various neoplasms on the skin. A few cause cancer, but most cause the growth of common, flat, or senile warts.
A person can become infected in the following ways:
- By everyday means. The virus is able to exist for some time outside the human body. Humidity and heat keep it viable for a longer period of time. Therefore, household infection most often occurs in swimming pools, gyms or saunas.
- Infection of newborns during childbirth.
- Self-infection during shaving and hair removal.
- Infection through sexual contact.
Once in the body, the virus infects the cells of the basal layer of the epithelium and begins to reproduce. A strong immune system will keep the virus from multiplying. Its cells will divide slowly, remaining within the basal layer. The virus will not reach the horny epithelium, so there will be no external manifestations. The pathology can proceed covertly for several years. During this time, simultaneous infection by several types of virus is possible.
Activation of the virus and its increased division will begin at the first favorable conditions for this. The pathology will quickly move into the phase of clinical manifestations. Unsightly growths will begin to appear on the arms, legs, body and even the face.
Warts and papillomas have a low risk of malignancy. But if the growth is often injured, its malignant degeneration is possible. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of such tumors in a timely manner, choosing the best remedy for warts and papillomas.
Patient reviews
Judging by the available responses, medications produced in tablet form demonstrate good results in the treatment of warts and papillomavirus at an early stage. Reviews of tablets for warts confirm the effectiveness of antiviral and immunostimulating agents when used after removal of skin growths.
Some patients report poor tolerability of these drugs. For many people, treatment was accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. It was especially difficult for patients to use Isoprinosine and its analogue (Groprinosin). If these drugs are severely tolerated, their use is suspended on the recommendation of the attending physician.
Varieties and symptoms
Warts in children can be localized in different parts of the body. In infants infected from the mother at birth, they usually appear on the lips or mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. Preschool children are characterized by papillomas on the knees, hands, fingers, and palms. In teenagers, they concentrate on the back and face. Formations can be single or multiple.
HPV modifies the cellular structure of skin tissues, mucous membranes, and growths form on the surface of the body. They vary in shape, size, color. Experts identify several types of papillomas. Let's take a closer look at the most common ones.
Ordinary
The most common type of growths are ordinary (or vulgar) formations. They look like small balls of grayish, yellow or flesh color. They rise above the surface of the skin by about 5 mm.
Vulgar growths are hard, dry, with a rough surface. Sometimes black dots are visible on the spines, which are considered to be the roots of formations. In fact, these are microthrombi of capillaries.
Such papillomas are usually painless. The problem is that such warts most often appear on children's hands; they are easily injured. Small children remove the spines on their own. This leads to the formation of wounds and even greater growth of colonies of growths. The virus spreads to facial tissue.
Flat
Flat warts in children often appear in adolescence, under the influence of hormonal changes in the body. They have a smooth surface of a yellow or pinkish tint. The main papilloma usually merges with “daughter” formations. A spot with blurred contours is formed. The flat spine rises above the skin by no more than a couple of millimeters.
Most often, such growths are localized in the area:
- nose;
- chin;
- hands;
- mouth;
- the front of the legs;
- lips
Herbal remedies
At home, you can use pharmaceutical herbal remedies. They act gently and rarely cause side effects. At the same time, their effectiveness is lower than that of the use of cytotoxic or keratolytic agents.
Local remedies based on celandine are often used. How to apply:
- Steam the skin, remove keratinized areas.
- Squeeze a small amount of ointment onto a cotton swab.
- Apply a thick layer to the wart.
- Cover the top with a gauze bandage.
- Leave for 4 hours.
The medicine should be used once a day for 5 days.
Ointment based on celandine can be used to get rid of skin growths
"Acyclovir"
This drug belongs to the category of the most inexpensive and effective antiviral agents. To achieve the desired effect in treatment, the drug is taken orally and used externally. The active substance of this medication is the component of the same name, acyclovir, which demonstrates maximum antiviral activity against herpes.
The principle of action of acyclovir is its ability to integrate into the viral DNA chain and interfere with biochemical synthesis.
This medicinal substance first became known in 1981. Scientists were able to establish that acyclovir successfully synthesizes defective DNA links, and this, in turn, prevents further reproduction of viral elements. In additional laboratory tests, acyclovir was also found to protect healthy cells from infection. For many years, Acyclovir has been successfully used to treat herpes, but the effectiveness of these wart tablets has not yet been officially confirmed.
For adult patients, the maximum dose of Acyclovir is no more than five tablets containing 200 mg of active substance per day. The dosage regimen is approved by the attending doctor. As a rule, the duration of therapy is 5-7 days. With longer use of the drug, the body becomes accustomed to it.
Adverse reactions of the body to acyclovir are considered very common. This substance can cause nausea, stool upset, and epigastric pain. The drug is not prescribed for chronic kidney disease.
"Isoprinosine"
This drug should be given special attention. The medicine is prescribed for influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, herpes virus types 1, 2, 3 and 4, cytomegalovirus infection, severe measles, HPV, including the type of infection that manifests itself as warts on the hands. Isoprinosine tablets are taken systemically, due to which the therapeutic effect is achieved in a relatively short time.
The dosage of the drug depends on the age and weight of the patient. Children are usually prescribed two pills per day, adults – 4-6 tablets. Isoprinosine is taken for warts for two weeks, after which the course can be repeated after a month's break. Judging by the reviews, this medication quickly produces the expected effect. For some patients, it not only stops the spread of skin growths throughout the body, but also helps reduce the size of existing warts.
Contraindications to the use of Inoprinosine include pregnancy and lactation, cardiovascular diseases, gout, renal failure, and urolithiasis. Children can be given this drug only from the age of three and only if their body weight reaches 20 kg.
What methods are good?
Many people are interested in how to get rid of regular and flat warts on the face.
Today, everyone is able to choose the most suitable remedy for warts. This is true. After all, it is necessary to remember that a wart is not a death sentence. Let's look at the main groups of drugs that will help cure the epithelium from neoplasms:
- different solutions;
- pharmaceutical ointments;
- prepared or purchased gels;
- purchased tablets;
- purchased patches;
- prepared oils;
- “cryo” type drugs.
The most convenient and relatively safe to use drugs that guarantee getting rid of tumors are folk ones.
"Arbidol"
This remedy is one of the most powerful medications, which, in addition to antiviral properties, also have an immunomodulatory effect. The drug is available in the form of tablets and capsules in the same dosage. "Arbidol" tablets for warts are often prescribed at an early age, since capsules are inconvenient for children to take.
The active ingredient of this drug is umifenovir. It does not interact with other compounds, so the medicine is prescribed as part of complex therapy for skin growths and papillomas. The optimal duration of use of Arbidol is two weeks. The dosage for children and adults is determined by the doctor.
