There are very few people who would not face such a problem as warts on the body. These growths can occur on the body in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Usually warts are just a cosmetic problem that affects a person’s appearance. And only in rare cases do these formations pose a real threat to health.
What are warts?
Our skin has a smooth surface. However, in some cases, protruding skin growths may appear on it. They are called warts. These are usually permanent formations that do not change for many years.
The mechanism of wart formation 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. Fusion of several warts is often observed. The color of the skin growths is usually the flesh, but they can take on other shades such as pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign tumors. They do not grow and do not penetrate the surrounding tissues.
In the International Classification of Diseases, warts are assigned the following codes:
- B07 - viral wart,
- A63. 0 - venereal wart,
- L82 seborrheic keratoma
Most wart species are viral, sexually transmitted warts are venereal, and seborrheic keratomas are senile warts that are not infectious in nature.
The following skin lesions should be distinguished from warts:
- nevi (moles),
- scabs,
- malignancies,
- basal cell carcinoma,
- broad warts caused by syphilis.
Some of these structures can be life-threatening. Therefore, if suspicious formations appear on the body, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Why do warts occur?
The cause of warts is usually a viral infection. The process of warts occurs as follows. The human papillomavirus enters skin cells and causes them to divide rapidly. As a result, regrowth or papilloma develops on the skin. However, there are wart species with which the virus has nothing to do.
Strictly speaking, papilloma does not always appear on the skin. Often these formations are on the mucous membranes, inside the bladder, larynx, on the cervix, and so on. However, it is common to call warts only papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be anywhere on the body. But some species have their favorite places. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus; acrochords prefer skin wrinkles in the upper body.
The human papillomavirus does not multiply outside the body. However, it can stay in warm and humid places for a long time. That is why people can often get it by visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools. But in the open air, the virus does not live for long - it is neutralized by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
According to research, about 80% of the world's population is infected with some type of human papillomavirus. There are a total of two hundred strains of these viruses. Some viruses are fairly harmless, others cause papillomas, and others can even cause malignancies. Some strains can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, certain species of warts can be contagious. But diseases transmitted from frogs and toads, as well as other members of the fauna, contrary to what is thought, are impossible. This is explained by the fact that animal papillomaviruses do not multiply in humans.
You can become infected with a new type of virus by communicating in person, shaking hands, sharing household items (such as towels), visiting public places (swimming pools, saunas, saunas, transport), small wounds, and sexually.
The papillomavirus that has penetrated the body does not always cause the appearance of the disease. Typically, disease-related factors include stress, decreased immunity (e. g. , due to infectious diseases). At the same time, the virus can remain in the body for several years and wait in the wings.
Wart varieties
Doctors distinguish several types of warts:
- simple (vulgar),
- youthful (flat),
- spikes (warts),
- old age
- threads.
Birthmarks (nevi) should be distinguished from these types of warts. Usually, moles do not protrude from 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. Externally, vulgar (simple) papillomas appear on the surface of the skin as small semicircular formations. They are usually completely painless. Formations range in size from a few mm to 1 cm, and their surface is usually uneven, uneven, often similar to the surface of cauliflower. Color - body color, gray, yellowish brown. Common localizations - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. Rarely damaged mucous membranes.
Often, simple papillomas can go away on their own. The peculiarity of this type of papilloma is that it often grows in groups rather than individually. You can often find a large papilloma around which small ones grow. If you remove the largest (maternal) papilloma, then usually the small ones disappear.
Simple papillomas can occur at any age. They are common in school-age children.
Adolescent warts
This type of papilloma is most common in children and adolescents. But for mature people, they can also show up. These papillomas are also often referred to as flat papillomas. They make up only 4% of all warts.
They can often be found at hand. They can also be seen on the legs and face, near the nails, between the toes, on the legs and on the neck. They are often associated with hormonal changes in the body. Like simple papillomas, they are not at high risk and may go away on their own. They usually do not cause physical discomfort, but can worsen the appearance.
Flat papillomas are usually body-colored and protrude only slightly above the surface of the skin (about 1-2 mm). They can reach 5 mm in diameter, but are usually smaller than vulgar. Flattened papillomas can occur at wounds and incisions. In general, the surface of juvenile papillomas is smooth and uneven, albeit clearly defined, boundaries. Due to the lack of a stratum corneum on the surface, they may appear shiny.
Plantar warts
This is an extremely unpleasant type of skin growth that occurs on the feet. Sometimes they are wrong about corn. However, plantar papillomas have a property that distinguishes them from corn. If the plantar warts are damaged, it usually bleeds. This phenomenon is not typical of maize. Although externally, leg papillomas may look like scabs - they are usually hard and keratinized. Their color is usually dirty gray, dark or dirty yellow with a brown tinge. Black dots may appear on their surface.
One plantar wart is usually found on the foot. However, they can also meet in groups as well as grow together. Plantar papillomas grow not only outside the skin but also deeper.
Externally, these types of warts may look as simple. They are usually semicircular in shape. However, if a person is constantly developing such a skin derivative, then he can take on a flattened shape.
The appearance of papillomas on the soles has little to do with age, they can occur in both young and elderly people. These derivatives can also be seen in children.
Plantar papillomas can cause discomfort and even severe pain while walking. When you step on such a growth, it seems as if you are stepping on a small pebble. Externally, warts can sometimes resemble thorns. This is why people call this type of papilloma a needle.
At rest, these formations can cause itching. Like other types of papillomas, plantar warts develop when exposed to the papilloma virus. The virus often enters the skin of the feet from the environment. For example, this virus often catches when visiting a pool without rubber boots. Awkward shoes also contribute to skin damage as they are often where the shoes rub against the feet. Excessive sweating and poor foot hygiene are also factors.
It is not recommended to touch the papillomas on the sole with your hands, as this may transfer the virus to other parts 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 you have to wait a long time for this moment, and not everyone can afford it, especially if education is felt with painful sensations. If the regrowth of the foot causes sharp pain, does not allow walking, then it must be removed. It is also necessary to remove more than 1 cm of education. Removal surgery can only be performed in the doctor's office.
If there is any doubt that leg formation depends on any type of papilloma, your doctor can perform a number of diagnostic procedures. This includes scraping and analysis of the stratum corneum, PCR analysis for the absence of the papillomavirus genome. An ultrasound scan is performed to determine the shape and size of the formation. Warts on the leg require a differential diagnosis from syphilis warts. However, detailed diagnostic measures are usually not performed because it is not difficult to diagnose leg papilloma.
Sometimes medications can be tried to remove foot growth. Wax preparations include salicylic acid, necrotizing agents, freezing aerosols and special plasters. However, drug removal is usually not a quick procedure. You can quickly remove a wart on the sole only by using the tools available in medical facilities. These can be methods:
- laser,
- surgical,
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- radio wave.
Any type of procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the surgical method is most commonly used for large skin growths because it severely damages the skin.
Genital warts
This is a special type of wart. They are usually in the genital area. Their shape is also unusual because they look like papillomas (hence their name). However, warts can also be irregular in shape, similar to cauliflower or rooster shells. Viruses that cause this type of wart are usually spread through sex. Warts can also be seen on the mucous membranes of the anus. Therefore, such warts are often referred to as anogenital or venereal. Warts are less common in the armpits, in women under the mammary glands. The warts range from flesh to pink. Sometimes several genital warts can grow together. Also, these types of warts can grow to large sizes. Warts can cause painful sensations during intercourse during intercourse. If injured, they may bleed. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Philiform warts
Warts of this type are particularly common. Philiform warts or chords often grow in large groups. For places with thin skin, give preference to accordions. This is the area of the armpits, neck, shoulders, eyelids, nasal wings. May occur in the groin area, under the female mammary glands. They usually do not disturb the person and do not hurt, but may itch.
Externally, filamentous warts resemble long threads. However, accordions with a thin filiform stem to which a thick body, usually spherical or hemispherical, is often found are common. They are also filiform. Such warts are called pendants.
Most warts of this type range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm. There are also accordions larger than 1 cm. Sometimes several filamentous warts grow.
Accordions are rare in children. They are common in people over 35 years of age. Their number usually increases over the years. Among people over the age of 70, this type of wart is observed in 100 percent. It is also possible to inherit the tendency to have many chords on the body. Accordions are often associated with being overweight. In women, they can occur during pregnancy.
Filamentary warts have one unpleasant trait. If the filamentous wart is torn off, a new one will soon grow in its place. Acrochords rarely pass by themselves. Their appearance is promoted by increased sweating, decreased immunity.
Elderly warts
This type of wart has another name - seborrheic keratom. This usually affects people over 60 years of age. Unlike other types of warts, senile keratomas are not caused by the human papilloma virus. The exact reasons for their occurrence have not been determined. Keratomas are most likely associated with age-related changes in the body. They develop from the basal layer of the epidermis, which is why they are often referred to as basal cell papillomas. Although this is not quite the correct name, because real papillomas are caused only by viruses. Heredity plays a significant role in the onset of these neoplasms. Elderly keratomas can often be similar to 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 become malignancies.
From the outside, the keratomas look like pink or yellowish papules 1-2 mm thick. Their size ranges from 2 mm to 3 cm. Sometimes this type of warts reaches 4-6 cm. Keratomas have an oily, easily removable crust. Their surface is uneven, as if wavy. Ingrown keratomas often become like a mushroom hat and their color changes to black or dark brown. Their surface becomes hard, they can crack.
The most common keratomas are on the neck and chest. Can be watched in groups. They are less common on the hands and face. They are not on the mucosa. There are usually no more than 20 keratomas on the body. If a person has a lot of senile warts, it is often due to hereditary factors.
Elderly keratomas do not go away on their own. People with too much seborrheic keratome in their body are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent new growths. You should also avoid direct sunlight, overheating, hypothermia, stress.
Treatment
Most papillomas do not pose a serious threat. However, after injury, they can cause harm, bleeding. After that, there is a risk of developing malignancies. Although in the case of papillomas and keratomas, the risk of malignant transformation is much lower than that of moles.
Papillomas are usually treated by removal (surgically, using a cold, high-frequency electric current, or a laser). Therapeutic treatment is usually less effective.
The indication for removal is the pain of skin formation, its large size, bleeding, change of shape, location in an awkward place (for example, on the fingertip, on the soles, in the genital area), aesthetic aspects. . Warts must also be removed.