Warts are flat, keratinized, benign growths caused by the human papillomavirus.This fairly 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 mucous membranes and genitals.This disease is highly contagious: it spreads quickly and is transmitted from one person to another.When injured, warts become painful and can change color and shape.In addition, such neoplasms create a certain psychological discomfort and represent a cosmetic defect.Improper treatment can lead to the formation of rough scars and scars.In some cases, warts can develop into malignant tumors.
Warts cause and pathogenesis
Warts are caused by a filterable virus.It cannot be examined under a microscope or "caught" by bacterial filters.These viruses include human papillomavirus (HPV).Anyone can contract it, but there are people who are more at risk of infection than others.To date, more than 120 human papillomaviruses have been studied.It is known that warts are caused by viruses type 2 and 4. These types of viruses are especially associated with the appearance of warts on the hands.
Constant use of a sauna, swimming pool, public beach or gym can cause HPV infection.In addition, if a person's professional activity includes periodic contact with fresh meat or fish, then he cannot feel safe.
You can become infected both through contact with a carrier of the virus, and through household means by sharing household items with an infected person.Warts spread especially quickly in children's groups (kindergartens, schools, sports sections, etc.).Maceration (natural swelling of the epidermis, which occurs in people of certain professions) or minor skin injuries are considered predisposing factors.The incubation period can last from 5-6 to 16 weeks.As a rule, human papillomavirus infection is asymptomatic and often goes unnoticed by the patient.
But what is the common cause of toe warts?Without a doubt, human fingers are the most traumatized area of the body, through which the virus is so quickly and easily transmitted, causing the appearance of warts.Contact with the carrier of the virus (essentially the cause of warts) occurs by shaking hands or touching handrails or fences in public places.It is an interesting fact that a person infected with such a virus may not even be aware of its presence.He finds out about it when a wart appears.In addition, the cause of warts is often reduced human immunity.As practice shows, even if a person manages to strengthen his immunity, the 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 ordinary, plantar, senile and flat (juvenile) warts.Each type of wart has its own characteristic features.
A regular guy
Common warts from the outside look like non-inflamed nodules of small size and thick consistency.Common warts are flattened or hemispherical in shape and may be slightly dark or the color of normal skin.Most often, such warts are localized on the hands, palms, face and other parts of the skin.In most cases, these tumors are painless.Exceptions are warts located in the nail area.They will be quite painful and difficult to treat.Typically, the appearance of such warts occurs in childhood.
Causes of common warts
What are the reasons for the appearance of common warts in children?It's simple: the cause of a wart can be a simple scratch or scratch, through which the human papilloma virus (HPV) enters the skin.After penetrating the body, the virus begins to multiply actively, concentrating mainly in the basal layer of the skin, which causes the appearance of the first warts after a month or two.It is important to note that the appearance of a wart 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 get an extremely severe form of the disease, in which warts appear one after another.The virus will simply live in the body without showing itself in any way.
If we have discovered the reasons for the appearance of ordinary warts, now we should talk about the symptomatic features.As you know, such warts usually appear on the back of the hand or foot.An ordinary wart has a round shape, the size of which does not exceed 10 mm.An important feature of this type of wart is its multiple nature: the appearance of one can affect the appearance of another wart, and in the future their number will only increase.
Another interesting fact is that the causes of the appearance of warts of the vulgar type are the warts themselves.This means that next to one vulgar wart another often appears.The latter is popularly called the "kissable" nipple.
Plantar type
Plantar warts can occur in both adults and children.Because plantar warts are not immediately detected, they are difficult to treat.Such neoplasms are localized in areas of greatest pressure.They interfere with a person's walking, are quite painful and can grow to the size of a hen's egg.Sometimes patients mistake keratinized plantar warts for calluses or scratches on the skin.A wart differs from a callus by the presence of papillary growths.
A type of flat nipples
Flat juvenile warts are small epidermal tumors of small size, yellowish or pale pink in color.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 papillomas, localized on mucous membranes
A type of senile warts
Senile warts affect patients of both sexes over the age of 40.The localization of the pathological process occurs in closed areas of the skin: abdomen, back and chest.Senile warts are flat in shape and covered with characteristic scales.If the scales are removed, papillary growths become visible.
Diagnosis of warts
Diagnosing warts is not particularly 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, papillary basal cell carcinoma, polyps, calluses, skin cancer and other dermatological diseases.
In order to definitively confirm the differential diagnosis, the patient may be prescribed additional blood tests for the human papillomavirus (HPV).This study is conducted using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Treatment of warts
Before starting therapy, you should definitely consult 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 a wart is not just a cosmetic defect, but a very serious disease.
The treatment of various warts is aimed at their removal.The method of destroying warts is selected individually, taking into account the location and nature of the pathological process.Warts are often multiple in nature, 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 proved ineffective are subject to destruction.
Basic methods of destroying warts
There are a number of 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 discarded.When exposed to extremely low temperatures, the virus completely dies and the wart is destroyed.This method is painless, and postoperative scars are 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 should not be removed under any circumstances.After 4-5 weeks it will wean itself.If the wart was 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 places and can be used to remove warts on mucous membranes.Disadvantages include a relatively large list of contraindications: violation of the general somatic condition, individual intolerance to anesthetics, inflammatory skin diseases, etc.
- Laser destruction of warts.This is the most progressive method of wart removal of any kind.The duration of the operation is only a few minutes.The postoperative wound heals quickly and does not require special care.After the operation, no traces of the wart remain.There are no age restrictions;this method can also be used to treat warts in young children.
- Surgical excision of nipples.It is used less and less, only to remove particularly large warts.The method is quite painful, accompanied by profuse bleeding, and the postoperative wound often does not heal, leaving a scar.
- X-ray radiation.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 a number of local drugs that can destroy the structure of the warts, which is suitable for local treatment.Often, the treatment of warts is possible with the help of a special ointment, which will quickly and painlessly remove the warts.
The treatment of warts is, first of all, the destruction of growths formed 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.
- Medicines that can strengthen immunity.
Treatment of warts using the above drugs may not give an immediate effect.Repeated use of medication may be required to remove warts.However, in a number of other cases, the treatment of warts is not necessary at all - after a while, they go away on their own.
According to statistics, self-healing occurs no later than 2 months after the appearance of the first wart (about 20-22% of all cases) or 3 months (30% of cases).If we are talking about an older wart, then self-healing will most likely occur after 2 years (which is 50% of cases).Adults are least likely to respond to self-medication.Treatment of warts in adults is facilitated by medication or surgery.
Treating warts can be complicated due to their unpredictable behavior.The reason for such complicated treatment can be a late visit to the doctor, when the wart has swollen, changed its shape or color.Usually, another wart soon appears near one wart, and then their number increases, which also complicates treatment.
If the therapy of warts is carried out correctly, it will lead either to the complete disappearance of warts, or to their gradual disappearance.At the same time, you don't have to fear a new wart that appears.