There are very few people who will not face problems like warts on the body. This development can occur on the body in adolescents, adults and the elderly. Usually, warts are just a cosmetic problem, ruining a person’s appearance. And only in rare cases, these formations pose a real threat to health.
What are warts?
Our skin has a smooth surface. However, in some cases, prominent skin growths may appear on it. They are called warts. Usually these are permanent formations that have not changed for years.
The mechanism of occurrence of warts is the growth of the upper layer of skin. The size of the formation ranges from 1 mm to several centimeters. These parameters depend on the type of formation and its location on the skin. Melting of some warts is often observed. The color of skin growth is usually flesh -colored, but it can use other colors, for example, pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign neoplasms. They do not grow and do not penetrate the surrounding tissue.
In the international classification of diseases, the following codes are assigned to warts:
- B07 - viral warts,
- A63. 0 - venereal warts,
- L82 Seborrheic Keratoma
Most types of warts are viral, sexually transmitted warts are genital, and seborrheic keratomas are non -infectious senile warts.
The following skin lesions should be distinguished from warts:
- nevi (mole),
- callus,
- malignant tumor,
- basal cell carcinoma,
- wide warts due to syphilis.
Some of these formations can be life threatening. Therefore, if there is a suspicious formation on the body, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Why do Warts Occur?
Usually, a viral infection is the cause of warts. The process of occurrence of warts occurs as follows. The human papillomavirus enters skin cells and causes them to rapidly divide. As a result, growths or papillomas develop on the skin. However, there are types of warts that have nothing to do with this virus.
Strictly speaking, papillomas do not always occur on the skin. Often these formations are found on the mucous membranes, in the bladder, in the larynx, in the cervix, etc. However, it is customary to call warts just papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be located on any part of the body. However, some species have their favorite spots. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus; acrochords prefer skin folds on the upper body.
Human papillomavirus does not multiply outside the body. However, it can last a long time in hot and humid places. That is why people are often infected with the disease when visiting the baths, saunas, swimming pools. But the virus does not live long in the open air - it is neutralized by ultraviolet radiation of the Sun.
According to studies, about 80% of the world’s population is infected with some type of human papillomavirus. There are two hundred types of this virus in total. Some viruses are relatively harmless, others cause papillomas, and others can even cause malignant tumors. Some tensions can be passed down from person to person. As a result, certain types of warts can be contagious. But transmission of the disease from frogs and toads, as well as from representatives of other fauna, contrary to popular belief, is impossible. This is explained by the fact that animal papillomaviruses do not reproduce in the human body.
You can be infected with a new type of virus through personal contact, shaking hands, sharing household items (e. g. , towels), when visiting public places (swimming pools, baths, saunas, transportation), through minor and sexual wounds.
The papilloma virus that has penetrated the body does not always cause the appearance of the disease. Usually, the factors associated with this disease are stress, decreased immunity (for example, due to infectious diseases). At the same time, the virus can stay in the body for several years and wait in the wings.
Varieties of warts
Doctors distinguish several types of warts:
- ordinary (porn),
- youthful (average),
- pointed (condyloma),
- dementia,
- like a thread.
Birthmarks (nevi) should be separated from this type of wart. Usually, birthmarks do not stand out from the surface of the skin and are dark in color, although there are exceptions.
Cheating warts
This type of wart occurs in 70% of cases. It is caused by the papilloma virus. Externally, a vulgar (common) papilloma looks like a small semicircular formation on the surface of the skin. They are usually not painful. The size of the formation is from a few mm to 1 cm. The surface is usually uneven, wavy, often resembling the surface of cauliflower. Color - flesh -colored, gray, yellowish brown. Frequent localization - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. The mucous membranes are rarely affected.
Often, a normal papilloma can go away on its own. The peculiarity of these types of papillomas is that they often grow not singly, but in groups. You can often find large papillomas, where small ones grow. If you remove the largest papilloma (mother), usually the small one disappears.
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 older people, they can also appear. This papilloma is also often referred to as a flat papilloma. They account for only 4% of all warts.
They are often found on the hands. 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 great danger and can disappear on their own. They usually do not cause physical discomfort, but can worsen the appearance.
Flat papillomas are usually flesh-colored and protrude only slightly above the surface of the skin (approximately 1-2 mm). They can reach a diameter of 5 mm, but are usually smaller than the vulgar ones. Flat papillomas can occur near cuts and wounds. Usually juvenile papillomas have a smooth surface and uneven, though clear, borders. Due to the lack of stratum corneum on the surface, they can look shiny.
Plantar warts
This is a very unpleasant type of skin growth that occurs on the feet. Sometimes they are mistaken for corn. However, plantar papilloma has properties that distinguish it from corns. If the plantar warts are damaged, they will usually bleed. For corn, this phenomenon is not uncommon. Even externally, papillomas on the legs look like calluses - they are usually hard and keratin. Their color is usually dirty gray, dark yellow or dirty with brown. Black dots may appear on the surface.
Often, a plantar wart is found on the foot. But they can also meet in groups, and even grow together. Plantar papillomas grow not only outside the skin, but also deeper.
Externally, this type of wart may look like normal. They usually have a semi -circular shape. However, if a person regularly experiences such skin formation, it can take a flat shape.
The appearance of papillomas on the soles of the feet has nothing to do with age; it can appear in young and old people. This formation can also be observed in children.
Plantar papillomas can cause discomfort and even severe pain when walking. When you’re driving incredible growth, it’s like you’re stepping on a small rock. Externally, warts sometimes resemble thorns. Therefore, people call this type of spines papilloma.
In a calm state, this formation can cause itching. Like other types of papilloma, plantar warts develop under the influence of the papilloma virus. The virus often attacks the skin of the feet from the environment. For example, it is not uncommon to be infected with this virus by visiting a pool without rubber shoes. Uncomfortable shoes also contribute to the occurrence of skin lesions, as they often occur in places where shoes rub the feet. Heavy sweating and inadequate foot hygiene are also contributing factors.
It is not recommended to touch the papilloma on the soles of the feet with your hands, because in this way you can transfer the virus to other areas of the skin.
Treatment of plantar warts
Sometimes this type of papilloma can go away on its own. This happens in about half of the cases. But sometimes it takes a long time to wait for the present, and not everyone can afford it, especially if education makes itself felt by a painful sensation. If the growth in the foot causes sharp pain, does not allow walking, then it must be removed. In addition, education more than 1 cm must be removed. Removal surgery can only be performed in a doctor’s office.
If there is any doubt that the formation on the foot belongs to any type of papilloma, the doctor can perform some diagnostic procedures. These include scraping and analyzing the stratum corneum, PCR analysis for the presence of the papilloma virus genome. To determine the shape and size of the formation, ultrasound scans were performed. Warts on the feet require a differential diagnosis of syphilis warts. However, usually, extensive diagnostic measures are not performed, as it is not difficult to diagnose papilloma on the foot.
Sometimes medications can be tried to get rid of the growth on the feet. To get rid of warts, preparations with salicylic acid, necrotic agents, coagulation aerosols, and special plasters are suitable. However, removal with medication is usually not a quick procedure. You can get rid of warts quickly only with the help of tools available in medical institutions. This can be a method:
- laser,
- surgery,
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- radio waves.
Any type of procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. Surgical methods, for example, are used primarily for large skin growths, because the lesions on the skin are very severe.
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 the name). However, warts can also have an irregular shape, resembling cauliflower or a chicken cage. The virus that causes this type of warts is usually sexually transmitted. Also, condylomas can be seen on the mucous membranes, in the anus. Therefore, such warts are often referred to as anogenital or venereal. More rarely, condylomas are found in the armpits, in women under the mammary glands. Warts are fleshy to pink in color. Sometimes several genital warts can grow together. Also, condyloma of this species can grow to a large size. Warts can cause a painful sensation during intercourse, defecation. If injured, they may bleed. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Filiform warts
This type of warts is very common. Filiform warts, or acrochords, often grow in large groups. Prefer acrochords for areas with thin skin. These are the armpits, neck, shoulders, eyelids, nasal wings. Can occur in the groin area, below the mammary glands in women. They usually don’t bother a person and aren’t painful, but they can be itchy.
Externally, filamentous warts resemble long threads. However, acrochords are often found that have a thin warnorm stem, to which a thick body is attached, usually round or hemispherical in shape. They are also warnorm. Such warts are called warts.
A large number of warts of this type range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm. There are also acrocords larger than 1 cm. Sometimes several filamentous warts grow together.
Acrochords are rare in children. They are typical for people over 35 years old. And over the years, their numbers usually increase. Among people over the age of 70, warts of this type are observed in 100%. The tendency to have a large number of acrocords on the body can also be inherited. Acrochords are often associated with being overweight. In women, they can occur during pregnancy.
Filament warts have one unpleasant feature. If the filament wart is torn, a new one will grow in its place. Acrochords rarely occur on their own. Their appearance is promoted by increased sweating, reduced immunity.
Senile warts
This type of wart has another name - seborrheic keratoma. It usually occurs in people over the age of 60. Unlike other types of warts, dementia keratomas are not caused by the human papillomavirus. The exact cause of the incident has not been determined. Keratomas are most likely related to age -related changes in the body. They develop from the basal layer of the epidermis, which is why they are often called basal cell papillomas. Although this is not the correct name, because the actual papilloma is only caused by a virus. Heredity plays an important role in the emergence of these neoplasms. Pale keratomas often resemble melanoma. Therefore, if it happens, it is necessary to see a doctor so that he can diagnose. However, dementia keratomas usually do not require treatment and do not turn into malignant tumors.
Externally, the keratoma looks like a pink or yellowish papule with a thickness of 1-2 mm. The size ranges from 2 mm to 3 cm. Sometimes, this type of wart reaches a size of 4-6 cm. Keratomas have a fatty crust and are easily removed. Their surface is uneven, as if undulating. As it grows into adulthood, keratomas often become like mushroom caps, and their color changes to black or dark brown. Their surface becomes hard, they can crack.
Most often, keratomas are located in the neck and chest. Can be observed in groups. It appears more rarely on the hands and face. They do not exist on the mucous membranes. Usually, there are no more than 20 keratomas on the body. If a person has a lot of senile warts, then this is often due to hereditary factors.
Dementia keratomas do not go away on their own. People with excessive seborrheic keratoma on the body are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent new growth. You should also avoid direct sunlight exposure, overheating, hypothermia, stress.
Treatment
A large number of papillomas do not pose a serious threat. However, after being injured, they can get sick, bleed. After that, there is a risk of malignant tumors. Even in papillomas and keratomas, the risk of malignant transformation is much lower than in moles.
Papillomas are usually treated with removal (surgery, with the help of electric currents or cold lasers, high frequency). Therapeutic treatments are usually less effective.
Indications for elimination are pain of skin formation, its large size, bleeding, deformation, location in uncomfortable places (for example, on the tips of the toes, on the soles of the feet, in the genital area), aesthetic considerations. Warts can also be removed.