Warts are flat, keratinized, benign growths caused by the human papillomavirus.This relatively common disease most often occurs in children and adolescents and is an epidermal tumor with a diameter of several millimeters to several centimeters.
Warts can affect the skin of the hands, feet and face, as well as the mucous membranes and genitals.The disease is highly contagious: it spreads quickly and is transmitted from one person to another.When injured, warts become painful and may change color and shape.In addition, such a neoplasm creates certain psychological discomfort and is a cosmetic defect.Improper treatment can lead to the formation of scars and rough scars.In some cases, warts can develop into malignant tumors.
Causes of warts and pathogenesis
Warts are caused by a virus that can be filtered.It cannot be examined under a microscope or "caught" by a bacterial filter.These viruses include the human papillomavirus (HPV).Anyone can get infected, but some people are more at risk of getting infected than others.To date, more than 120 human papillomaviruses have been studied.It is known that the cause of warts is virus type 2 and 4. This type of virus is mainly associated with the appearance of warts on the hands.
Continued use of saunas, swimming pools, public beaches or gyms can cause HPV infection.In addition, if a person's professional activity involves regular contact with fresh meat or fish, then he cannot feel safe.
You can become infected through contact with a virus carrier, and through household means by sharing household items with an infected person.Warts spread especially quickly in children's groups (kindergartens, schools, sports departments, etc.).Predisposing factors are considered to be maceration (natural swelling of the epidermis, which occurs in people in certain professions) or minor skin injuries.The incubation period can last from 5-6 to 16 weeks.As a rule, infection with human papillomavirus is asymptomatic and often goes unnoticed by the patient.
But what are the common causes of warts appearing on fingers?Undoubtedly, human fingers are the most traumatized area of the body, where the virus is quickly and easily transmitted, which causes the appearance of warts.Contact with a carrier of the virus (basically the cause of warts) occurs through shaking hands or touching handrails or fences in public places.An interesting fact is that a person infected with such a virus may not be aware of its presence.He knows it when the warts appear.In addition, the cause of warts often reduces human immunity.As practice shows, even if a person manages to strengthen his immunity, warts do not disappear anywhere, because the virus continues to live in the blood, causing the reappearance of warts.
Types of warts
In dermatology, it is customary to distinguish between common, plantar, senile and flat (juvenile) warts.Each type of wart has its own characteristics.
Normal type
A common wart externally looks like a non-inflammatory nodule with a small size and solid consistency.Common warts are flat or hemispherical in shape and may be slightly darker or normal skin color.Often, such warts are localized on the hands, palms, face and other skin areas.In most cases, these tumors are painless.The exception is warts located in the nail area.They will be quite painful and difficult to treat.Usually, the appearance of such warts occurs in childhood.
Common causes of warts
What are the reasons for the appearance of common warts in children?It's simple: the cause of warts can be ordinary scratches or abrasions, through which the human papillomavirus (HPV) enters the skin.After penetrating the body, the virus begins to actively multiply, concentrating mainly on the basal layer of the skin, which causes the first warts to appear after a month or two.It is important to note that the appearance of warts may not be a mandatory symptom of the development of this virus in the child's body.If the child has a strong immune system, then he may not be able to reach a very severe form of the disease, where warts appear one after another.The virus will only live inside the body, without showing itself externally.
If we have known the reasons for the appearance of common warts, we should now talk about the characteristics of the symptoms.As you know, such warts usually appear on the back of the hands or feet.Common warts have a round shape, their size does not exceed 10 mm.An important feature of this type of wart is its multiple nature: the occurrence of one can affect the formation of a second wart, and in the future their number will only increase.
Another interesting fact is that the cause of the appearance of vulgar warts is the wart itself.This means that next to one vulgar wart a second one often appears.The latter is popularly called "kissing" warts.
Plantar type
Plantar warts can appear in adults and children.Because plantar warts are not detected immediately, they are difficult to treat.Such neoplasms are localized in the area of greatest pressure.They interfere with a person's walking, are quite painful and can grow up to the size of a chicken egg.Sometimes patients mistake keratinized plantar warts for calluses or skin abrasions.Warts differ from calluses by the presence of papillary growth.
Flat wart type
Juvenile flat warts are small, yellowish or pale pink epidermal tumors.Most often, such warts appear on the patient's forehead, chin or cheeks, as well as on the neck and hands (usually on the back).There are two types of juvenile warts - filiform and flat papilloma, localized on the mucous membrane
A type of senile wart
Senile warts affect patients of both sexes who are over 40 years old.Localization of the pathological process occurs in areas covered by the skin: abdomen, back and chest.Senile warts are flat and covered with characteristic scales.If the scale is removed, papillary growth becomes visible.
Diagnosis of warts
Diagnosing warts is not that difficult for an experienced dermatologist.Such tumors have characteristic external signs, so it is difficult to confuse them with something else.However, common warts must be distinguished from keratoma, nevus, tuberculous skin lesions, warty basal cell carcinoma, polyps, calluses, skin cancer and other dermatological diseases.
To definitively confirm the differential diagnosis, the patient may be given an additional blood test for human papillomavirus (HPV).This study was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Wart treatment
Before starting therapy, you definitely need to see a doctor.Only a specialist can make a correct differential diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.There are many "grandmother's recipes" for warts, but trying them on yourself is not only unwise, but also very dangerous for your health, because warts are not just a cosmetic defect, but a very serious disease.
Treatment of various warts is aimed at getting rid of them.The method of wart destruction is selected individually, taking into account the location and nature of the pathological process.Often warts are multi-natured, but it is often enough to remove one "mother" tumor and then all the others disappear by themselves over time.Warts whose treatment with conservative methods has proven ineffective are subject to destruction.
The basic method of wart destruction
There are several progressive methods used to destroy warts.The most effective among them are the following:
- Cryodestruction.This method is based on applying liquid nitrogen or dry ice directly to the wart.The damaged skin area is frozen, after which it is rejected.When exposed to very low temperatures, the virus is completely killed and the warts are destroyed.This method is painless, and the scar after surgery is almost invisible.If the wart is large or the patient has a very high sensitivity threshold, then the doctor may decide to use local anesthesia.After the operation, a black crust forms at the site of the wart, which cannot be removed under any circumstances.After 4-5 weeks it will be rejected by itself.If the wart is very large, then after 3-4 weeks the affected area is treated again.
- Electrocoagulation.This method involves burning the tumor with an electric current.Electrocoagulation is used in hard-to-reach areas and can be used to remove warts on mucous membranes.Disadvantages include a fairly large list of contraindications: violations of the general somatic condition, individual intolerance to anesthetics, inflammatory skin diseases, etc.
- Laser removal of warts.This is the most progressive method to get rid of warts of any kind.The duration of the operation is only a few minutes.Wounds after surgery heal quickly and do not require special care.After surgery, no traces of warts remain.There is no age restriction;this method can also be used to treat warts in small children.
- Wart removal surgery.It is used less and less, only to remove large warts.This method is quite painful, accompanied by a lot of bleeding, and postoperative wounds often do not heal well, leaving scars.
- X-ray irradiation.This method is used to treat plantar warts.
However, the treatment of warts can be not only surgical, but also medical.Today, for the treatment of various types of warts, there are several topical drugs that can destroy the structure of the wart, thus matching the local treatment.Often, the treatment of warts is possible with the help of special ointments, which will quickly and painlessly remove warts.
The treatment of warts is, first of all, the destruction of growths that form on the surface of the skin.Drug treatment corresponds to drugs that can be classified into several groups:
- Necrotizing;
- Keratolytics (a number of drugs that help treat warts by dissolving them).
- Components for cryotherapy.
- Various antiviral drugs.
- Drugs that can increase immunity.
Treatment of warts using the above drugs may not have an immediate effect.Repeated use of medication may be necessary to eliminate warts.However, in some other cases, treatment of warts is not necessary at all - after a while they disappear by themselves.
According to statistics, self-healing occurs no later than 2 months after the first wart appears (about 20-22% of all cases) or 3 months (30% of cases).If we are talking about older warts, then it is most likely that self-healing will occur after 2 years (and this is 50% of cases).Adults are less likely to respond to self-treatment.Treatment of warts in adults is facilitated by drugs or surgical procedures.
Treating warts can be complicated by their unpredictable behavior.The reason for such complicated treatment may be a late visit to the doctor, when the wart swells in size, it changes shape or color.Usually, the second one soon appears near one wart, and then their number increases, which also complicates treatment.
If the wart therapy is carried out correctly, this will lead to either the wart disappearing completely, or disappearing gradually.At the same time, you don't have to be afraid of new warts that appear.