What if the wart becomes inflamed, reddened or swollen?

Warts are an extremely aesthetically unpleasant problem. If such a growth begins to become inflamed and swollen, while causing physical discomfort, this causes even more fears and cannot be ignored. The causes of this phenomenon may be different, but in any case, if the wart has changed, you should consult a dermatologist. Only a specialist will be able to determine how dangerous a change in growth in each case is, and will help eliminate the problem without consequences.

What are warts?

Warts and papillomas are growths on the skin and mucous membranes. They can be soft papillary on a thin stalk or flat and covered with a hard crust. Their appearance provokes the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has many strains, and some of them can cause cancer.

Papillomovirus has a long incubation period – it may not appear at all throughout life. Growths appear in the presence of concomitant factors:

• Decreased immunity;
• Non-compliance with hygiene;
• Stress and depression;
• Frequent direct contact with other people's warts.

Most often, these growths are harmless. However, even if they do not cause particular inconvenience, it is advisable to consult a specialist and undergo treatment for HPV. The virus cannot be completely cured, but new formations and other possible consequences can be prevented.

Why changes occur in the wart

If the wart is swollen, redness is observed around it, the following factors may be the reason for this:

• Friction about clothes. The growth, located under the armpit, in the inguinal region, on the neck and in other "uncomfortable" places, is often subjected to constant pressure and irritation. Such formations are preferably removed before signs of inflammation appear. Or it is necessary to reduce this factor as much as possible – to wear more loose clothing and not to allow its close interaction with the wart.
• Mechanical damage. The growth may be accidentally damaged and swollen. This is especially true for formations on the arms, legs and hair. There is a very high risk of damage to the wart during combing, working with tools, kitchen appliances.
• Chemical burn. Like the human skin itself, growths on it do not tolerate interaction with various household chemicals and other aggressive substances.
• Folk removal methods. Self-treatment of wart formations can lead to various kinds of inflammation – not always available means can eliminate the problem. It is especially not recommended to remove growths, bandaging them with a thread, or by aggressive means.
• Sun exposure. Ultraviolet radiation can cause a change in wart growths and, as a result, inflammatory processes inside them.
• Reincarnation in Oncology. This is a fairly rare occurrence, but one must always remember this danger. If the wart turns red, or it is swollen, sore, changed shape, bleeds, black spots appeared on it, you need to urgently contact a specialized institution for examination. Especially dangerous is the condition when there are no visible reasons for inflammation.

What to do with an inflamed wart

If an inflammatory process is detected in the growth, in no case can you remove it yourself, as well as try to cauterize or cure. The only thing that can be done is to disinfect and try to remove the inflammation with special ointments. It is important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:

• Soreness;
• Increase in size;
• Bleeding
• Change in pigmentation (black coloring should especially alert);
• Itching, burning;
• Uneven contour.

If at least one of these signs is present, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist as soon as possible, as this indicates a serious pathological process.

If the damage to the wart is minor, and it occurred due to rubbing, the cause must be eliminated. If there is no improvement within a few days, you should also consult your doctor.

Treatment methods

The treatment in most cases is one – removal of the growth. However, when the formation is inflamed, doing it yourself is strictly not recommended. It happens that formations self-heal – they turn black and fall off. It is not worth waiting for this if the warts are swollen and reddened.

Therapy for warts (whether they are inflamed or not) should always be comprehensive. To reduce the activity of the virus, antiviral agents and immunomodulators are prescribed. It is advisable to remove even non-hazardous growths, since HPV cells are concentrated in them. You can get rid of warts medically or radically in a hospital setting.

Drug treatment

Remedies for warts are available in the form of ointments, creams, sprays and plasters. The most effective drugs based on salicylic acid and celandine. The use of medicines for 1 to 2 weeks leads to a complete burning out of the growth. It is important not to damage the healthy tissue around. However, if the wart becomes inflamed, such methods can be dangerous.

The possibility of using local funds can be determined by a doctor during a visual examination. Most often in such cases, they decide on the operational method. This option is most justified, since it significantly reduces the likelihood of spreading inflammation and worsening the situation.

Radical removal

Currently, any growths on the skin can be removed in several ways:

• Laser. A painless procedure, during which there is no direct contact with the skin. After it there are no scars and scars. With the correct actions of the doctor, the growth is completely removed, and recovery lasts 1 – 2 days.

• Radio waves. The method is similar to the laser one, only in this case the effect of radio waves is applied.
• Cryodestruction. This is cauterization of a wart with liquid nitrogen. The technology allows you to get rid of the growth in one or more sessions, depending on the size of the formation. The method is not new, and has proven itself by many years of experience.
• Electrocoagulation. The growth is removed under the influence of high temperatures using an electrode. This method does not burn out the wart, but kills its cells. After the procedure, the formation dries, blackens and disappears on its own.
• Surgical method. It has many negative aspects – although it is a small, but still an operation. There is a small risk of skin infection during the procedure, and healing takes place within 1 – 2 weeks. A cosmetic suture is applied to the wound.

Which of the methods will be applied is more dependent on financial capabilities. The more painless the procedure, the higher its cost.

Recovery period

After removing the wart in any way, you must follow the doctor's instructions. Typically, recommendations in the postoperative period are as follows:

• Smear the place of removal with hydrocortisone ointment – do not use other means not specified by the doctor;
• Prevent sunlight from entering the wound;
• Do not pick out the crust formed on the site of the wart – inflammation may begin or a scar will remain;
• It is advisable to seal the cleaned area with a band-aid so as not to accidentally damage it;
• Avoid prolonged contact with water – it is necessary that the wound is dried;

What to do if the wart has disappeared by itself

It happens that with a decrease in the activity of the papilloma virus, growths die and disappear. If this process is accompanied by redness around the formation, its bloating and soreness, it is possible that death has provoked some external factor.

If the formation has disappeared on its own or due to damage, it is necessary:

1. Anoint the resulting wound with hydrogen peroxide or another antiseptic;
2. Seal this place with a band-aid or tie it with a bandage;
3. Save the left part of the wart for histological analysis;
4. Consult a dermatologist for advice.

Prevention

If you follow a few simple rules, the likelihood of complications from HPV is minimized:

• Warts located in places of constant friction must be removed as soon as possible;
• In no case can you remove the growths yourself without first consulting a doctor;
• Prevent damage to warts and exposure to chemicals;
• Try to avoid stress;
• Maintain immunity, lead a healthy lifestyle;
• Observe personal hygiene;
• Avoid frequent contact with the infected surface of any warts – both their own and those of others;
• Use a separate towel, do not wear other people's shoes and clothes.

If it is not possible to remove the warts clinically, you must constantly monitor them, monitor changes in their color and shape. There is simultaneous infection with several strains of the papilloma virus. Therefore, if a blood test revealed a non-hazardous type, this does not mean that the growth can not degenerate into cancer – perhaps it is caused by a different species.

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