Warts are benign, keratinized, flat growths caused by the human papillomavirus.This fairly common disease occurs most often 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.This disease is very 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, these neoplasms create a certain psychological discomfort and are a cosmetic defect.Incorrect treatment can lead to the formation of scars and rough scars.In some cases, warts can turn into malignant tumors.
Cause of warts and pathogenesis.
Warts are caused by a filterable virus.It cannot be examined under a microscope or “trap” bacterial filters.These viruses include the human papillomavirus (HPV).Anyone can become infected, but some people are more at risk of infection than others.To date, more than 120 human papillomaviruses have been studied.It is known that the cause of warts are 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 lead to HPV infection.In addition, if a person's professional activity involves 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 groups of children (kindergartens, schools, sports sections, etc.).Predisposing factors are considered to be maceration (natural swelling of the epidermis, which occurs in people in certain professions) or minor skin lesions.The incubation period can last from 5 to 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 warts appearing on the fingers?Without a doubt, human fingers are the most traumatized area of the body, through which the virus is transmitted so quickly and easily, causing the appearance of warts.Contact with a carrier of the virus (essentially the cause of warts) occurs by squeezing the hand or touching handrails or railings in public places.An interesting fact is that a person infected with such a virus may not even be aware of its presence.You find out when a wart appears.Also, the cause of warts is usually reduced human immunity.As practice shows, even if a person manages to strengthen his immunity, the warts do not disappear anywhere, since the virus continues to live in the blood, causing the warts to reappear.
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.
ordinary type
Common warts externally look like non-inflamed nodules, small in size and dense in consistency.Common warts are flattened or hemispherical in shape and may be slightly dark or the color of normal skin.Most often, these warts are located on the hands, palms, face and other areas of the skin.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.Normally, the appearance of this type of 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 an ordinary scratch or abrasion, through which the human papillomavirus (HPV) enters the skin.Having penetrated the body, the virus begins to actively multiply, concentrating mainly in the basal layer of the skin, which causes the appearance of the first warts after one or two months.It is important to note that the appearance of a wart may not be an obligatory symptom of the development of this virus in a child's body.If a child has a strong immune system, he may not be able to reach an extremely severe form of the disease, in which warts appear one after another.The virus will simply live in the body, without manifesting itself outside in any way.
If we have figured out the reasons for the appearance of common warts, now we should talk about the symptomatic features.As you know, these warts usually appear on the back of the hand or foot.A common 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 formation of a second wart, and in the future their number will only increase.
Another interesting fact is that the causes of the appearance of common warts are the warts themselves.This means that, along with a common wart, another one usually appears.The latter is popularly called the “kissing” wart.
plantar type
Plantar warts can appear in both adults and children.Because plantar warts are not detected immediately, they are difficult to treat.These neoplasms are located in areas of greater pressure.They interfere with a person's walking, are quite painful, and can grow to the size of a chicken egg.Sometimes patients mistake keratinized plantar warts for calluses or skin abrasions.A wart is differentiated from a callus by the presence of papillary growths.
Flat type of warts
Flat juvenile warts are small, yellowish or pale pink epidermal tumors.Most often, these 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, located on the mucous membranes.
Type of senile warts
Senile warts affect patients of both sexes over 40 years of age.The localization of the pathological process occurs in closed areas of the skin: abdomen, back and chest.Senile warts have a flat shape and are covered with characteristic scales.If the scales are removed, the papillary growths become visible.
Diagnosis of warts
Diagnosing warts is not particularly difficult for an experienced dermatologist.These tumors have characteristic external signs, making it difficult to confuse them with anything else.However, the common wart must be differentiated from keratoma, nevus, tuberculous skin lesions, verrucous basal cell carcinoma, polyps, calluses, skin cancer and other dermatological diseases.
To definitively confirm the differential diagnosis, the patient may be prescribed additional blood tests for human papillomavirus (HPV).This study is carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Warts treatment
Before starting therapy, you should definitely consult a doctor.Only a specialist can make the correct differential diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.There are many "grandmother's recipes" for warts, but trying them yourself is not only unwise, but also very dangerous for health, because a wart is not just a cosmetic defect, but a very serious disease.
The treatment of various warts aims to eliminate them.The method of destruction of warts is chosen individually, taking into account the location and nature of the pathological process.Often warts are multiple in nature, but it is usually enough to remove one "mother" tumor and then all the others disappear on their own over time.Warts whose treatment with conservative methods has proven ineffective are subject to destruction.
Basic methods of destroying warts
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 area of skin is frozen and then rejected.When exposed to extremely low temperatures, the virus is completely killed 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 under no circumstances should be removed.After 4-5 weeks it will be rejected on its own.If the wart was very large, after 3 to 4 weeks the affected area is treated again.
- Electrocoagulation.This method consists of burning the tumor with an electric current.Electrocoagulation is used in hard-to-reach areas and can be used to remove warts from the mucous membranes.The disadvantages include a relatively large list of contraindications: violation of the general somatic state, individual intolerance to anesthetics, inflammatory skin diseases, etc.
- Laser destruction of warts.This is the most progressive method for removing warts of any type.The duration of the operation is only a few minutes.The postoperative wound heals quickly and does not require special care.After the operation there are no traces of the wart.There are no age restrictions;This method can also be used to treat warts in young children.
- Surgical excision of warts.It is used less and less, only to remove especially large warts.The method is quite painful, it is accompanied by heavy bleeding, and the postoperative wound often does not heal well, leaving a scar.
- X-ray irradiation. This method is used to treat plantar warts.
However, the treatment of warts can be not only surgical, but also medicinal.Nowadays, for the treatment of various types of warts, there are several topical medications that can destroy the structure of the wart, thus corresponding to local treatment.Often, the treatment of warts is possible with the help of a special ointment, which will remove the wart quickly and painlessly.
The treatment of warts consists, first of all, in the destruction of the growth formed on the surface of the skin.Pharmacological treatment corresponds to drugs that can be classified into several groups:
- Necrotizing;
- Keratolytics (a series of medicines that help treat the wart by melting it).
- Components for cryotherapy.
- Various antiviral medications.
- Medications that can improve immunity.
Treating warts with the above remedies may not give an immediate effect.Repeated use of medications may be necessary to remove a wart.However, in other cases, wart treatment is not necessary at all: after a while they disappear 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 talk about an old wart, then self-healing will most likely 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 medications or surgical procedures.
Treating a wart can be complicated because of its unpredictable behavior.The reason for such a complicated treatment may be a late visit to the doctor, when the wart increased in size, changed shape or color.Usually a second one soon appears near one wart, and then their number increases, which also complicates treatment.
If wart treatment is carried out correctly, this will lead to the complete disappearance of the wart or a gradual disappearance.At the same time, there is no need to be afraid that a new wart will appear.