Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Postmeno3 on May 20, 2021, 09:09:23 PM
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Does anyone else get these? The lay term is right up there with "atrophy", isn't it?! Makes one shudder. I just read that these, too, may be (surprise, surprise!) hormone-related. I find them really embarrassing and am no longer comfortable exposing my upper chest/neck or back area because I have so many, some quite large. I do get them checked regularly, but the gp, who refused to freeze them off, just said "Embrace them. They're just to be embraced as all other aspects of ageing!" Hard to swallow when I feel like I'm covered in barnacles and still counting.....
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My husband has this. More appearing too. I was concerned as one "changed" and became very dark, he was referred and thankfully all fine 🙂. He's never thought of having them removed, at first when we didn't know what it was, I arranged for him to have a private appointment, if he wanted it removed it was £150, he never bothered.
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I have these too. I read up on home remedies a few years ago and the one that worked for me is apple cider vinegar. You soak a make up pad and then stick it on with a bit of sellotape! Does it work - well, yes but you smell like a chip shop and it does look worse before it then kind of just peels off. And it did feel a bit sore. It is a bit of a faff and I keep telling myself to get rid of a few more, but I don't seem to get round to it.
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Hi Gnatty. That's interesting. I've read about these sorts of home remedies for skin tags, but not the warts. Hmmm.....🤔!
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There was one man who said he was covered in them- he soaked an old shirt in ACV wore it I think for 24 hours, covered it in bin liners I guess to stop drying out and he said every single one of them was got rid of! But can you imagine doing it??
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Erm.....no! Are you sure these aren't tags? The warts are really rooted in under the surface. Hard to imagine ACV would help, but, hey, anything's worth a go!
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Dead sure! I have got rid of three myself this way. They seem to dissolve and then just scratch off.
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Wow, interesting. Trouble is, mine are in really awkward places, but I could experiment with some of those in easier ones. How long do you leave it on for and how long does it take to clear and heal? Anyone else with these? Do we add them to the long list of oestrogen deficiency outcomes? They only arrive in later years.....
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Hmmmm. I think it depends on how big and how long you have had them for. Probably if you google apple cider vinegar and sebor.... warts you will find more info. I think it took a couple of days, as I recall. It does sting a bit once been on a while. I think I used to redo morning and night. Let us know how it goes!
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My understanding is more just come up in a new place. This is why the gps mostly refuse to do them as it's deemed a bit counterproductive. It's a shame as they can be frozen off in seconds as would happen privately. Have yours come back or sprung up elsewhere? Hoping to hear others' experiences, too.
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I don't think the two are related. If you are prone to them, more just keep coming unfortunately. I can't see it would make sense for us to get rid of one and then our bodies think - aha I'll just grow another one, that'll teach you!
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Hi, my Gp diagnosed a large "senile wart" on my thigh which was about 7x5mm and starting to show a lump under my leggings.
I had tried to freeze it myself first with a Scholl wart remover, but it just seemed to get bigger and uglier, which is why I then contacted Gp who called me in straight away.
He explained what it was and that it wasn't dangerous but it would not respond to freezing nor would it just drop off on its own. The NHS will not remove them.
So I contacted a local skin clinic (just googled "wart removal near me") and 2 weeks later had it removed by a Sterex electrolysis machine. It was slightly uncomfortable for a bit but bearable. Took her about 15 mins to take it off because it was so big. I paid £130 to have it done.
She gave me a tube of Sterex witch hazel gel too and told me to treat it like any wound and just leave it uncovered where possible or wear loose trousers or skirts, to wipe gently with warm water if it bled (which it didn't) and apply the gel. I have not messed with it at all and 2 weeks on its is healing nicely. She told me to keep an eye out for any more and to have them removed before they get that big again. Fingers crossed I don't seem to have any more so far.
I also have skin tags and a few beige keratosis skin spots which I have been told is sun damage, but they are not bothersome or too big.
If I had gone private to my local BMI hospital dermatology clinic it would have been £240 just for a consultation (to tell me what I already knew??!! :o) and then an extra amount for the removal of it!
Hope you find a solution to yours. x
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Thanks so much!!!!!
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Hi,
I'm raising this again as mine are increasing/worsening since starting HRT. Is this yet another thing that gets ascribed to "old age" and "nobody really knows (cares?) what causes them" as if it doesn't matter because one is older? I'm convinced it's hormones! 🤔
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I think they always seem worse in the summer months as I think sun anywhere on your body darkens all these wretched age related lumps and bumps.
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I have developed a few of these over the last year. I had one on my back that was getting rubbed by my bra strap. I itched it and it bled a bit, scabbed over then fell off a few days later. I also have a couple of paler ones on my leg.
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Yeah, they tend to stick like glue. I have an awful lot of them, now in very noticeable areas all around my neckline and upper tummy. My back is covered in them. Bikini days are over! I'm very self-conscious of them now they're enlarging and darkening. Gp: "You're too old to be vain!" Gee, thanks! 🙄
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Hi all, I had one of this on my abdomen, had it for years but last year it got bigger and my jeans rubbing on it made it bleed . I contacted GP to check as history of melanoma in family and he told me it was one of these and not to worry but keep eye on it. But I don’t know where I saw it but I put a bit of vicks on it for a few weeks and hey presto it dropped off, no soreness or scar. Yay for Vicks! X
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Did you have to keep it covered with the Vicks on, or just as is?
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Hi Suzysheep. I covered it as it was always itching . I took the plaster off when on shower. I think it did not take long to come off. May work for others but I was fed up with it so was willing to try anything. X
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Hi Postmeno3!
Changes in estrogen level trigger SKs in some women. I developed a few during pregnancy. Starting hormone therapy and ending hormone therapy are also triggers. Have you spoken to a dermatologist about treatment options, such as cryosurgery or laser?
I'm aware of a couple of topical treatment options and there may be others. One is HP40 or Eskata, a 40 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. Another is Nitrizinc, a solution containing organic acids, nitric acid and zinc and copper salts. Nitrizinc seems like the less irritating option.
A novel Nitrizinc Complex solution for topical treatment of seborrhoeic keratosis: an interventional clinical study (Abstract only)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31106762/
In the UK, Nitrizinc is sold to clinicians as Verruptop.
https://www.verrutop.co.uk/
I don't know whether it's sold as an OTC wart remover in other countries, but it may be worth a search. The study mentioned above was conducted in Spain. Before and after photos from the study here:
https://www.jle.com/en/revues/ejd/e-docs/a_novel_nitrizinc_complex_solution_for_topical_treatment_of_seborrhoeic_keratosis_an_interventional_clinical_study_314500/article.phtml
Hope you've been well. Keep us posted on what you discover.
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Thanks Ana. Mine cropped up after starting and stopping HRT!