Warts are small growths on the skin of the body or face.Their formation is associated with the activity of the human papilloma virus (HPV).There are around 100 strains of this virus, each causing different types of warts to form.
What is a wart?
Even on the most well-groomed and healthy skin, warts can appear - small round nodules that are benign neoplasms.
A wart is a benign tumor on the skin of the body associated with the activity of the HPV virus.Around 70% of the world's population is infected with this virus.Thanks to its action, a pathological process of epidermal cell division begins, which leads to the appearance of a small skin growth, or wart.
There are different types of warts, caused by different strains of the virus.Not all warts are viral in nature;Senile growths that appear due to changes in metabolic processes in the body are identified separately.
To get rid of the growth, you need to understand the reasons for its appearance.The following reminder about the types of warts on the body, their characteristics and methods of combating them will help you with this.
Common warts
Simple or common warts are small round growths that do not differ in color from the skin.They occur due to the action of the human papilloma virus.Preferred location zones are areas of increased sweating.Common warts are most often found on the hands, feet, back and sides.
It takes about several months from the moment of infection with the virus until such growths appear.If a person's immunity is strong, the body itself will defeat the virus and warts will not appear on the skin.Activation of the pathological process and the formation of unsightly growths occur against the background of a decrease in general and local immunity.Due to the peculiarities of localization of common warts, this process is often provoked by a decrease in local immunity, for example, when the skin is damaged, or by excessive sweating of the feet and palms.
Common warts are considered harmless growths.They almost never degenerate into malignant tumors.
Common warts can appear on anyone.They are encountered as often by children, adolescents as adults.You can remove them in several ways:
- cryodestruction;
- laser;
- surgical method;
- preparations containing alkalis;
- folk remedies.
It is recommended to remove large common warts in a dermatologist's office, as self-treatment can lead to scarring.
Common warts are the most common type.
Flat warts
It is quite easy to recognize the types of warts yourself from a photo.One of the rare types is flat warts.They do not represent more than 4% of cases of skin growths.
Characteristics of flat warts:
- diameter not more than 5 mm;
- slight elevation above the skin;
- irregular shape;
- clear boundaries;
- smooth surface;
- slight pigmentation.
The color of these warts differs slightly from that of healthy skin: they are slightly more pink or brown, which makes them easy to visualize.The second name for flat warts is juvenile.They appear more often in children and adolescents.The classic locations are the skin of the legs, hands and face.
Juvenile warts are viral in nature and are caused by HPV.They are not prone to degeneration into malignant neoplasm and therefore are relatively safe.
Such growths do not pose a danger to health and do not cause discomfort other than aesthetic ones.If there are many of them or they are located on open areas of the body, it will not be difficult to eliminate the growth.To prevent scarring, it is recommended to use cryodestruction, electrocoagulation or laser ablation.
Condyloma
For women's health, condylomas and papillomas pose a much more serious threat than for men.
Condylomas are small growths with a papillary structure that affect the external genitalia in women and men.These growths are viral in nature;The strain of HPV that causes such warts is transmitted sexually.
Characteristics of condyloma:
- small stature and the presence of a thin leg;
- the color does not differ from the shade of the skin or mucous membranes;
- can merge into large neoplasms;
- are easily injured.
Condyloma are types of warts that are easily recognizable in photographs.Most often, they are located on the external genitalia in women, around the glans and on the shaft of the penis in men.Condylomas affect the perineum, the area around the anus, and in rare cases are found in the mouth.
Certain strains of the HPV virus can cause women to develop warts on the cervix.This type of growth is very dangerous and causes cervical cancer.As a rule, ordinary warts located on the labia minora or penis are not classified as oncogenic.
Liquid nitrogen is most often used to eliminate them.This remedy allows you to get rid of the growth without leaving scars.Removal of condyloma on the lips can be carried out using a radio knife.
At home, mucosal tumors cannot be removed, since the epithelium of the genitals may be damaged.
Papillomas
Papillomas are a type of skin wart;there are several types on the skin.In fact, a common wart is one of the types of papillomas.These growths can appear on any part of the body, including the mucous membranes.It is a soft ball of uniform structure, rising above the skin thanks to a small rod.Papillomas are caused by the HPV virus;depending on the strain, they can affect both the epidermis and the mucous membranes.The most dangerous places where the growths are located:
- urethra;
- larynx;
- anus;
- armpits;
- inguinal folds;
- soles of the feet.
Papillomas in the urethra cause physical discomfort, because the body perceives them as a potentially dangerous object.They can grow and cause urethral stenosis in men, so they must be removed.
Growths in the larynx can cause persistent throat irritation and voice changes.Papillomas of the anus are easily injured and can become inflamed.Growths located in the folds of the skin rub strongly when walking.This can lead to irritation and infection.
Papillomas are potentially dangerous skin tumors.Only a doctor can accurately determine the risk of oncogenicity.
Injury and damage to such growths can lead to the development of a malignant process, so papillomas located in inconvenient places, which can be accidentally touched by nails or rubbed by clothing, must be removed.
Papillomas can appear in people of any age and gender.To eliminate them, we use the methods used in the treatment of common warts.
Keratomas
Common locations for senile keratoma are the back of the hands, face, and neck;more rarely, they can be located on the torso.
Keratoma is a growth of the stratum corneum of the skin.It is a brown spot that rises above the skin.The structure of the spot is quite dense, which is due to keratinization (keratinization) of the upper layer of the epidermis.
The main reasons for the development of keratomas are the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin and age-related changes in the epidermis.These neoplasms are not a consequence of HPV and belong to age-related dermatological disorders.Keratomas only appear in people over 50 years old.
They are considered safe neoplasms and their degree of oncogenicity is very low.Such growths can be localized on any open area of the body.
The neoplasm itself is an obvious cosmetic defect, so it can be eliminated.Keratomas should be removed using professional methods - cryodestruction, laser removal, electrocoagulation.Particularly large tumors are removed by surgical excision.
Filiform papillomas
There are several types of warty growths on the body;Filamentous papillomas are one of the most common types of warts.They appear in people over 40 years old.Most often, women face such neoplasms, because their skin is thinner than men's.Location of filamentous papillomas:
- neck;
- armpits;
- confront; confront;
- eyelids;
- area under the mammary glands;
- inguinal folds.
This type of growth is a small oblong papilla that rises above the skin.The dimensions of the papillae are very small - no more than 1 mm in diameter and several mm in length.
Threadlike growths do not pose a danger to health, since they almost never degenerate into malignant neoplasms.The only exceptions are cases of severe damage to the growths and secondary infection.
It is impossible to eliminate filamentous papillomas using folk or pharmaceutical remedies.Due to their small size, aggressive exposure to alkalis and acidic agents can lead to the formation of a deep wound, in place of which a large scar will remain.To eliminate these small growths, it is better to use laser, electrocoagulation or liquid nitrogen.
Threaded papillomas often affect the neck and armpits.
Plantar warts
Another manifestation of the HPV virus is the plantar wart, or spinule.These growths are a flat, callus-like plaque that appears on the foot.The peculiarity of such a wart is that it penetrates deep under the skin, while the upper part of the growth is flat and practically does not stand out against the background of healthy epidermis.
Plantar warts grow deep in the skin and hurt when squeezed.Both children and adults can meet them.The spine must be removed using a laser, cryodestruction or surgical method.Home remedies are only effective in removing small thorns no larger than 2 to 3 mm in diameter.
The thorns cause severe discomfort, but are safe because they do not develop into cancer.
A plantar wart is not dangerous, but it causes discomfort when walking.
Diagnosis – which doctor should I contact?
To diagnose and remove warts on the skin of the body and face, you should consult a dermatologist.To make a diagnosis, a visual examination is carried out.Examination with a dermatoscope will help to accurately determine the type of growth.
If growths appear on the genitals, you should contact a gynecologist (for women), urologist (for men) or venereologist.PCR analysis of the urogenital smear is necessary to determine the strain of the virus.Based on the results of the examination, the doctor makes a decision on acceptable methods of removing the tumor.