Why does a wart hurt and what to do?

The presence of warts on the human body is not only unaesthetic, but often and uncomfortable. It happens that the wart hurts, itches, rubs against clothes, and even bleeds. Can these symptoms be attributed to a benign growth? Or is it worth sounding the alarm and running to the doctor? Let's try together to understand this issue.

Can a wart hurt?

What exactly is a warty formation? This is a benign growth caused by the proliferation of the epidermis, which, in turn, occurs as a result of exposure to an active viral infection (namely, the papillomavirus). You can become infected with a virus using the contact-household method, since the microorganism easily penetrates mucous and skin tissues.

A wart is able to "settle" in any area of the human body, and its appearance does not depend on the age and sex of the patient. The shape, size and color shade of the growth can also be different: from small flat light warts to multiple dark growths (for example, on the genitals).

Wart hurts is not always. The appearance of pain depends on many factors. For example, if the formation grows deep into the tissues, it can damage the nerve endings, which leads to pain. No less painful and such warts, which are located on areas of the body that are constantly exposed to mechanical stress: for example, often warts hurt on the plantar surface of the foot, in places of friction of clothing, etc. Also, periodic pain may be associated with regular injury to growths.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Causes of the wart pain

Wart hurts for various reasons and under the influence of various factors. Such factors can be dangerous and not very, but all doctors insist that any discomfort from such formations is a reason for their removal.

If the wart hurts when pressed, this is not always a dangerous symptom. As a rule, this happens during deep germination of the formation, when it affects the nervous structures in the underlying layers of the skin. Such a wart is preferable to remove to prevent further deepening of the process.

If the wart hurts after cauterization, this may be due to improper compliance, or non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations for caring for a wound. For example, after the procedure with the use of liquid nitrogen, a small amount of clear liquid can be released from the wound. If this fluid is constantly wiped off, touching the damaged tissue, pain may occur. The wound should be treated with light blotting, using a weak solution of potassium permanganate or 2% salicylic alcohol. As a rule, within a week the pain in the wart goes away.

If the wart hurts on the leg, arm, finger, then we can assume that it is mechanically damaged, because it is in these places that there is the greatest chance of injury to the growth. As a result of injury, an inflammatory process can begin, which leads to the appearance of pain. For example, a wart on a hand may ache after contact with aggressive detergents and cleansers.

If the plantar wart hurts, you should not immediately sound the alarm. The pain in such a neoplasm is not uncommon, as it experiences constant pressure from walking and even standing on its feet. Adds discomfort and friction growth on the shoes. In this situation, you will need the help of a doctor who will remove the painful wart.

When a wart in the head region hurts a lot, remember: maybe you injured her when combing or washing your hair? The wart is very difficult to notice under the scalp, so it is often subjected to mechanical stress. This can cause not only pain, but also the accession of an infection, so it is better to get rid of such a problem by removal.

When the wart grows and hurts, it can be a rather dangerous symptom indicating an excessive activity of the papillomavirus, or a malignant transformation of the neoplasm. If there is a rapid growth of the wart, then you should immediately contact the doctor. It would be ideal to remove such growth, even if after the diagnosis it turns out to be absolutely safe.

When the wart is swollen and sore, you should think: this happens with constant friction of education about the elements of clothing. This is a particularly frequent reason if clothing is worn predominantly synthetic, tight, not allowing the body to breathe. No less often this happens when excessive sweating or constant wearing of dirty laundry. If there are no contraindications, then any disturbing wart should be removed.

When a wart is inflamed and hurts, it means that an infection from outside has fallen into its tissue, for example, after an injury. Dust, sweat, dirt can get into the microcracks on the wart, leading to redness, swelling and pain. To ensure the development of this particular complication, it is necessary to undergo a preliminary diagnosis, after which the doctor will be able to give recommendations on the removal of the neoplasm.

If the wart is blackened and sore after the application of cauterizing agents - then this is one of the standard variants, indicating the formation of a scab (crust) on the neoplasm. However, if such blackening began by itself, then the visit of a specialist cannot be postponed. Any discoloration, the appearance of dots or spots on the wart against the background of pain is a dangerous sign that can speak about the development of a malignant process.

[5], [6], [7], [8]

Diagnostics of the wart pain

Standard diagnostics can only identify the warts and make sure that there is no inflammatory process.

For example, clinical blood tests will indicate not only the presence of inflammation, but also help determine anemia. Urine for wart non-informative. However, if the wart hurts, then for the doctor the main task becomes not just the identification of the tumor, but the search for the cause of the pain. To determine this cause, instrumental diagnostics are used:

• Dermatoscopy helps to assess the boundaries of the wart, the depth and speed of growth over time without damaging the wart.
• Computer epiluminescent dermatoscopy and video dermatoscopy allows you to carefully consider the structure of the tumor, as well as to conclude about the degree of probability of its malignant transformation.
• Histological examination helps to make the final diagnosis and determine the subsequent treatment tactics. A doctor with a microscope assesses the ownership of growth cells, determines the degree of their maturity, the depth of germination.

[9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Differential diagnosis

If the wart hurts, then the differential diagnosis is carried out primarily on the process of malignancy. In this case, video dermatoscopy, as well as histological examination, becomes an advanced diagnostic method.

[16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23]

Treatment of the wart pain

When a wart hurts, only a doctor should deal with its treatment. A common therapeutic scheme for warts does not exist, because each case must be considered separately. In this case, most often, in the absence of contraindications, the wart is simply removed.

Additional treatment may be prescribed:

• if there are many warts, or they often appear;
• if the patient has an increased papillomavirus activity;
• if the patient is diagnosed with an immunodeficiency condition.

As we have already indicated, the main focus of treatment in most cases is considered to be the complete surgical removal of the problem formation. It is possible to influence a wart and various medicines. So, the doctor may recommend the use of cautery and keratolytic agents, which we describe in more detail in the following table.

Medicines

	Dosage and administration	Adverse events	special instructions
Solder emerge	A drop of solution is applied locally on the wart. After 4-5 minutes, the application site should change color to gray or yellow. If staining has not occurred, the procedure is repeated.	Sometimes - the formation of scar, burn.	After the procedure, a scab gradually forms at the site of the wart, which eventually disappears on its own. Do not peel off or damage the scab.
Kondylin (Podophyllotoxin)	A drop of solution is applied to the wart, avoiding contact with healthy tissue. The application is repeated in the morning and evening, for three days. Next, take a break for 4 days, after which (if necessary) repeat the treatment.	In contact with healthy tissue - redness, pain, ulceration, swelling.	You can handle several warts on the body, but not more than five dozen at a time.
Oxolinic ointment	3% ointment smear the wart three times a day for 14-60 days in a row.	Transient burning sensation.	Treatment with ointment of healthy skin is allowed.
Panavir gel	Apply directly to the wart five times a day: easily, without intensive rubbing. The treatment period is up to one month.	Rarely - allergic reactions.	The gel can be used if the wart hurts on the mucous genital organs, as well as in any other part of the body.
5-Fluorouracil ointment (Flonida 5%)	The ointment is applied to the area of warts once every three days, for 2-6 weeks.	Dry skin, itching, burning.	When using the ointment in open areas of the body, avoid sunlight.
Wartocid Cream	Applied to the wart once a day before bedtime, daily, until the complete disappearance of the growth (but not more than 4 months).	Itching, redness at the site of application.	Used to locate warts on the mucous membrane of the genitals.
Bonafton ointment 0.5%	Apply to the affected areas 2-4 times a day for 2 weeks.	Temporary signs of skin irritation.	For the treatment of children apply 0.25% ointment.

Physical destruction of growths is carried out using liquid nitrogen, electrocoagulation, etc. Chemical destruction can be carried out by Feresol, acids (salicylic, trichloroacetic, etc.), sodium hydroxide solution, and sodium silver.

Among other things, drugs are prescribed to support the immune system (echinacea preparations, multivitamin preparations), anti-inflammatory medicines (category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Alternative treatment

Alternative recipes have always been very popular for any diseases. But in some cases, such treatment should be carried out with caution. For example, when the wart hurts, you must first make sure that the malignant transformation of the process did not occur, and only then proceed to treatment.

The most popular among patients are the following recipes:

• Treat the wart with a clove of garlic daily twice a day.
• A cube of frozen melt water is wrapped in a napkin and applied to the wart, which hurts. Hold onto the body while it is possible to endure. The procedure is carried out daily.
• An onion lobule is soaked in vinegar during the day, and applied to the wart at night by fixing it with a plaster. Repeat the procedure until the state is fully normalized.
• Mix 50 g of crushed garlic and 50 g of melted butter. Lubricate the mass of the wart, which hurts, 2-3 times a day.
• Treat affected areas with fresh potato juice, many times a day.
• Mix a spoonful of honey with 4 spoons of hemp oil. Treat the wart mixture up to 3 times a day.

[24], [25], [26], [27]

Herbal medicine

If the wart hurts, then many people often turn to medicinal plants for help. Indeed, many herbs have antiviral properties and can help in solving the problem. Usually, this herbal treatment lasts 7-14 days, subject to the necessary daily procedures.

• Apply to the wart, which hurts, frayed petals from the flower of wild rose, three times a day.
• They burn the stalks of quinoa, and with ashes rub a disturbing wart.
• Apply fresh mashed leaves of Kalanchoe, daily, under the bandage.
• Three tablespoons of wormwood pour 500 ml of boiling water, infused for two hours. Used for daily compresses, until the problem disappears.
• Treat the wart, which hurts, with the juice of celandine, at least twice a day. The duration of treatment is from seven days or more, depending on the condition.

Homeopathy

If the wart hurts, and not just spoils the appearance of the skin, then it is imperative to diagnose and find out the causes of the discomfort. For pain associated with damage to the nerve endings during growth of the neoplasm, homeopathic remedies can be used: they are devoid of side effects, safe and effective.

• Antimonium krudum is prescribed for painful hard keratinized warts.
• Arsenicum Album can be used for seborrheic senile warts.
• Kalkareya Carbonica is used if the wart hurts, itches, gets wet, burns. Especially recommended for flat juvenile warts.
• Causticum is prescribed for frequent injuries of warts, and especially if they hurt, bleed, or become inflamed.
• Natrium carbonicum is suitable for the treatment of large, bleeding and painful warts.
• Sepia is used for senile warts that hurt, itch, change color.

The dosage of homeopathic medicines is strictly individual. Prescribing such a drug in absentia will not work: the doctor determines the dose and frequency of the medication only during a personal meeting with the patient.

Surgery

When a wart hurts, the best way to get rid of the problem is to remove it altogether. Removal can be done in several ways — for example, simply burning the build-up with acid (lactic or salicylic acid is used). This method can be called relatively safe, because the doctor can not clearly predict the depth of penetration of the drug into the tissue. In order not to damage healthy tissue, translational removal is often used when the acid is applied a little over several times. Frequent consequences of such treatment are swelling, the formation of scars.

Surgical methods are considered more accurate methods of removal, in particular:

• Electrocoagulation - involves the use of high-frequency current, which neutralizes the virus and destroys the neoplasm. If the wart hurts, then additionally apply local anesthesia. Removal is quick, but a small scar may remain afterwards.
• Cryodestruction is a method of freezing a wart using liquid nitrogen or dry ice. It is worth noting that such a procedure is not considered painless.
• Surgical removal involves the use of a scalpel and local anesthesia. This method is used mainly not only when the wart hurts, but when it has a fairly significant size. After removal, the surgeon stitches, and after healing, a small scar is formed.
• Laser removal - today it is the most optimal way to get rid of anxious warts. The procedure is painless, effective and safe, as there is no damage to healthy tissues and closely located vessels.

Prevention

So that the wart does not hurt, you can try to prevent its further development and growth. To do this, just remember the following recommendations:

• avoid rubbing clothing or accessories against the surface of the tumor;
• avoid damage, injury to the wart;
• to establish a healthy diet that helps strengthen the immune defenses;
• avoid exposure to active solar radiation on the body area affected by warts;
• if we are talking about plantar wart, then it is necessary to choose the right shoes, use orthopedic inserts, foot correctors, to reduce the load on the damaged area;
• with excessive dryness of the skin, with a tendency to the appearance of microcracks, it is necessary to carefully care for it, apply moisturizing and nourishing agents.

All of these tips are very important, but all doctors are of the same opinion: if the wart hurts, or delivers any other discomfort, then it should be removed.

[28], [29], [30], [31]

Forecast

Most patients have a favorable prognosis. But, given the viral origin of warts, it is impossible to guarantee 100% that the tumor will not grow or will not reappear, even after its complete removal. Such growths are prone to reappearance - on the same or on any other part of the body.

If the wart hurts, it is impossible to accurately predict the likelihood of adverse effects, not knowing the causes of pain. With any succession of events such a painful growth is better to remove.

[32], [33], [34]