There are very few people who will not face a problem such as warts on the body. These results can occur in the body in adolescents, adults and the elderly. Usually, warts are just a cosmetic problem, damaging a person's appearance. And only in rare cases, these formations pose a real threat to health.
What is a wart?
Our skin has a smooth surface. However, in some cases, prominent skin growths may appear. They are called warts. Usually these are permanent formations that do not change for many years.
The mechanism of appearance of warts is the growth of the upper layer of the skin. Formation sizes range from 1 mm to several centimeters. This parameter depends on the type of formation and its location on the skin. Melting of some warts is often observed. The color of skin growths is usually fleshy, but they can take on other shades, for example, pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign neoplasms. They do not grow and do not penetrate into the surrounding tissues.
In the International Classification of Diseases, the following codes are assigned to warts:
- B07 - viral speed,
- A63. 0 - lez veneriane,
- L82 Seborrheic keratoma
Most types of warts are viral, sexually transmitted warts are venereal, and seborrheic keratomas are senile warts that are not of a non-infectious nature.
The following skin lesions should be distinguished from warts:
- nevi (mole),
- call,
- malignant tumors,
- basal cell carcinoma,
- extensive warts resulting from syphilis.
Some of these formations can be life threatening. Therefore, if any suspicious formation appears on the body, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Why do warts occur?
Usually, a viral infection is the cause of the warts. The process of appearance of warts occurs as follows. The human papilloma virus enters the skin cells and causes them to divide rapidly. As a result, a growth or papilloma develops on the skin. However, there are types of warts with which the virus has nothing to do.
Strictly speaking, papilloma does not always occur on the skin. Often these formations are found in the mucous membranes, inside the bladder, in the larynx, in the cervix, etc. However, it is customary for warts to be called only papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be placed on any part of the body. However, some species have their favorite places. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus; chords prefer folds of skin on the upper body.
Human papillomavirus does not multiply outside the body. However, it can persist for a long time in warm and humid places. This is why people can often get infected with it when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools. But the virus does not live long in the open air - it is neutralized by the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
According to studies, approximately 80% of the world's population is infected with some type of human papillomavirus. There are a total of two hundred types of these viruses. Some viruses are relatively harmless, others lead to papillomas and others can even cause malignant tumors. Some types can be passed from person to person. Consequently, certain types of warts can be contagious. But transmission of the disease by frogs and toads, as well as by other representatives of the fauna, contrary to popular belief, is impossible. This is explained by the fact that animal papillomaviruses do not multiply in the human body.
You can become infected with a new type of virus through personal contact, handshakes, sharing household items (for example, towels), when visiting public places (swimming pools, baths, saunas, transport), through minor injuries and sexually.
The papilloma virus that has penetrated the body does not always cause the onset of the disease. Usually, disease-related factors are stress, decreased immunity (for example, due to infectious diseases). At the same time, the virus can remain in the body for several years and wait in the wings.
Varieties of warts
Doctors distinguish several types of warts:
- common (vulgar),
- youth (flat),
- apex (condyloma),
- senile,
- si fije
Birthmarks (nevi) should be separated from these types of warts. Usually, birthmarks do not come off the surface of the skin and are dark in color, although there are exceptions.
Vulgar warts
This type of wart occurs in 70% of cases. It is caused by the papilloma virus. Outwardly, vulgar (common) papillomas appear as small semicircular formations on the surface of the skin. They are usually completely painless. The size of the formations is from a few mm to 1 cm. Their surface is usually uneven, bumpy, often resembling the surface of a cauliflower. Color - flesh-colored, gray, yellow-brown. Frequent localizations - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. Mucous membranes are rarely affected.
Often, common papillomas can go away on their own. The peculiarity of this type of papillomas is that they often grow not only, but in groups. You can often find a large papilloma around which pups grow. If you remove the larger (native) papilloma, then usually the smaller ones disappear.
Common papillomas can occur at any age. They often occur in school-age children.
Teenage warts
This type of papilloma usually occurs in children and adolescents. But in mature people, they can also appear. These papillomas are also often referred to as flat papillomas. They make up only 4% of all warts.
They can often be found nearby. They can also be seen on the feet and face, near the nails, between the toes, on the feet and on the neck. They are often associated with hormonal changes in the body. Like common papillomas, they do not pose a significant risk and may go away on their own. They usually do not cause physical discomfort, but can make the appearance worse.
Flat papillomas are usually flesh-colored and protrude only slightly above the skin surface (about 1-2 mm). They can reach a diameter of 5 mm, but they are usually smaller than vulgar ones. Flattened papillomas can occur near wounds and incisions. Juvenile papillomas usually have a smooth surface and uneven, albeit well-defined, borders. Due to the lack of a corneal layer on the surface, they may look shiny.
Plantar warts
This is an extremely uncomfortable type of skin growth that occurs on the feet. Sometimes they are wrong about corn. However, plantar papillomas have a feature that distinguishes them from corns. If a plantar wart is damaged, it will usually bleed. For maize, this phenomenon is not typical. Although from the outside, the papillomas on the legs may look like calluses - they are usually strong and keratinized. Their color is usually dirty gray, dark yellow or dirty with a brown tinge. Blackheads may appear on their surface.
Most often, a plantar wart is found on the foot. But they can also meet in groups as well as grow together. Plantar papillomas grow not only outside the skin but also deeper.
Outwardly, warts of this type may look like ordinary ones. They usually have a semicircular shape. However, if a person constantly develops such a skin formation, then it can take on a flattened shape.
The appearance of papillomas on the heel has little to do with age; they can occur in both young and old. These formations can also be observed in children.
Foot papillomas can cause discomfort and even severe pain while walking. When you violate such a result, it seems as if you are violating a small pebble. Outside, warts can sometimes resemble thorns. Therefore, people call this type of back papilloma.
In a calm state, these formations can cause itching. Like other types of papillomas, plantar warts develop under the influence of the papilloma virus. The virus often enters the skin of the feet from the environment. For example, it is not uncommon to catch this virus by visiting a pool without rubber boots. Uncomfortable shoes also contribute to the appearance of skin lesions, as they often occur in places where shoes rub against the feet. Heavy sweating and inadequate foot hygiene are also contributing factors.
It is not recommended to touch the papillomas on the bottom with your hands, as this way you can transfer the virus to other areas of the skin.
Treatment of plantar warts
Sometimes papillomas of this type can disappear on their own. This happens in about half of the cases. But sometimes it takes a long time to wait for this moment, and not everyone can afford it, especially if education makes itself felt by painful sensations. If a result on the foot causes a sharp pain, does not allow walking, then it should be removed. Also, education more than 1 cm should be removed. The removal operation can only be performed in the doctor's office.
If there is any suspicion that the foot formation belongs to any type of papilloma, the doctor may perform a number of diagnostic procedures. These include scratches and stratum corneum assays, PCR analysis for the presence of the papilloma virus genome. An ultrasound scan is performed to determine the shape and size of the formation. Warts on the feet require differential diagnosis from syphilis warts. However, usually, extensive diagnostic measures are not performed, as it is not difficult to diagnose foot papilloma.
Sometimes medications can be tried to remove a foot growth. For the removal of warts, preparations with salicylic acid, necrotizing agents, freezing aerosols and special plaster are suitable. However, drug withdrawal is usually not a quick procedure. You can quickly remove a wart in the sole only with the help of tools available in medical institutions. These can be methods:
- laser,
- surgical,
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- radio waves.
Each type of procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. The surgical method, for example, is mainly used for large skin protrusions, as it severely damages the skin.
Genital warts
This is a special type of wart. They are usually found in the genital area. Their shape is also unusual, as they look like papillae (hence their name). However, warts can also have an irregular shape, resembling cauliflower or cauliflower. The viruses that cause this type of wart are usually sexually transmitted. Also, warts can be seen on the mucous membranes, in the anus. Therefore, such warts are often called anogenital or venereal. Rarely, warts are found in the armpits, in women under the mammary glands. The warts are flesh-colored in pink. Sometimes several genital warts can grow together. Also, warts of this species can grow to large sizes. Warts can cause painful sensations during intercourse, defecation. If they are injured, they may bleed. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Filiform warts
This type of wart is extremely common. Filiform warts, or chords, often grow in large groups. Prefer chords for areas with thin skin. This is the area of the armpits, neck, shoulders, eyelids, wings of the nose. It can occur in the groin area, under the mammary glands in women. They usually do not bother a person and do not hurt, but can itch.
Externally, filamentous warts resemble long strands. However, chords are often found to have a thin filiform stalk, to which a thick body, usually spherical or hemispherical, is attached. They are also filiform. Such warts are called pendulous.
Most warts of this type range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm. There are also chords larger than 1 cm. Sometimes several filamentous warts grow together.
Chords are rare in children. They are typical for people over 35 years old. And over the years, their numbers usually increase. Among people over 70 years old, this type of warts is observed in 100%. The tendency to have a large number of chords in the body can also be inherited. Chords are often associated with overweight. In women, they can occur during pregnancy.
Filament warts have an unpleasant feature. If a filamentous wart is torn, a young one will soon grow in its place. Chords rarely cross on their own. Their appearance is promoted by increased sweating, reduced immunity.
Senile warts
This type of lesion has another name - seborrheic keratoma. It usually occurs in people over 60 years old. Unlike other types of warts, senile keratomas are not caused by the human papilloma virus. The exact reasons for their occurrence have not been proven. Keratomas are more likely to be associated with age-related changes in the body. They develop from the basal layer of the epidermis, hence they are often called basal cell papillomas. Although this is not a fairly accurate name because real papillomas are only caused by viruses. Heredity plays an important role in the appearance of these neoplasms. Senile keratomas can often resemble melanoma. Therefore, if they occur, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can diagnose. However, senile keratomas usually do not require treatment and do not turn into malignant tumors.
Outwardly, keratomas look like pink or yellow papules 1-2 mm thick. Their size varies from 2 mm to 3 cm. Occasionally, warts of this type reach a size of 4-6 cm. Keratomas have a fatty, easily removable crust. Their surface is uneven, like corrugated. Growing up, keratomas often become like a mushroom cap, and their color changes to black or dark brown. Their surface becomes hard, they can crack.
Most often, keratomas are located on the neck and chest. Can be observed in groups. They appear less frequently on the hands and face. They do not exist in the mucosa. Usually, there are no more than 20 keratomas in the body. If a person has a lot of senile warts, then this is often due to inherited factors.
Senile keratomas do not go away on their own. People with excessive amounts of seborrheic keratomas in the body are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent new growths. You should also avoid exposure to direct sunlight, overheating, hypothermia, stress.
treatment
Most papillomas do not pose a serious threat. However, after injury, they can hurt, bleed. After that, there is a risk of developing malignant tumors. Although in papillomas and keratomas, the risk of malignant transformation is much lower than in moles.
Papillomas are usually treated with resection (surgical, with the help of cold electric current, high frequency or laser). Therapeutic treatments are usually less effective.
Indications for removal are the soreness of the skin formation, its large size, bleeding, change of shape, location in an uncomfortable place (for example, on the tip of the toe, on the heel, in the genital area), aesthetic considerations. Warts are also subject to removal.