There are very few people who would not face such a problem as warts on the body. These growths can appear on the body in adolescents, the elderly and the elderly. Usually, warts are just a cosmetic problem that worsens a person's appearance. And only in rare cases do these formations pose a real threat to health.
What is a wart?
Our skin has a smooth surface. In some cases, however, 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 appearance of warts is the growth of the upper layer of the skin. The dimensions of the formations vary 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 skin growths is usually fleshy, but they can acquire other shades, such as pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign neoplasms. They do not grow and do not penetrate the surrounding tissues.
The following codes are assigned to the International Classification of Diseases of Warts:
- B07 - viral wart,
- A63. 0 - venereal wart,
- L82 Seborrheic keratoma
Most types of warts are viral, sexually transmitted warts are venereal, and seborrheic keratomas are senile warts that are non-infectious in nature.
The following skin lesions should be distinguished from warts:
- nevi (moles),
- corns,
- malignant tumors,
- basal cell carcinoma,
- wide warts as a result of 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 appear?
A viral infection is usually the cause of warts. The process of appearance of warts proceeds as follows. The human papillomavirus enters 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 that the virus has nothing to do with.
Strictly speaking, papilloma does not always appear on the skin. Often these formations are located on the mucous membranes, inside the bladder, in the larynx, on the cervix, etc. However, it is customary to call warts only papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be located on any part of the body. However, some species have their favorite places. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus; acrochords prefer folds of skin in the upper body.
The human papillomavirus does not multiply outside the body. However, it can last a long time in warm and humid places. That is why people can often become infected with it when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools. But the virus does not live long in the open - it is neutralized by ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Studies show that approximately 80% of the world's population is infected with some form of human papillomavirus. There are a total of two hundred strains of these viruses. Some viruses are relatively harmless, others cause papillomas, and still others can cause malignancies. Some strains can be transmitted from person to person. Therefore, some types of warts can be contagious. But the transmission of the disease by frogs and toads, as well as by other members 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 be infected with a new type of virus through personal contact, shaking hands, sharing household items (such as towels), visiting public places (swimming pools, baths, saunas, transportation), through small wounds and sexually.
The papilloma virus that has entered the body does not always cause the disease. Usually the factors associated with the disease are stress, reduced 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:
- ordinary (vulgar),
- youth (flat),
- acute (warts),
- senile,
- filamentous.
Birthmarks (nevi) should be separated from this type of wart. Birthmarks usually 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 (ordinary) papillomas look like 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, uneven, often resembling the surface of cauliflower. Color - fleshy, grayish, yellowish-brown. Common localizations - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. The mucous membranes are rarely affected.
Often, ordinary papillomas can go away on their own. The peculiarity of this type of papillomas is that they often grow not individually but in groups. 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.
Frequent papillomas can occur at any age. They are common in school-age children.
Teenage warts
This type of papilloma is common in children and adolescents. But in adults, they can also occur. These papillomas are also often called flat papillomas. They represent only 4% of all warts.
They can often be found on hand. They can also be seen on the feet and face, near the nails, between the toes and on the neck. They are often associated with hormonal changes in the body. Like ordinary papillomas, they do not pose a significant danger and can disappear on their own. They do not usually cause physical discomfort, but can worsen the appearance.
Flat papillomas are usually flesh-colored and protrude just above the surface of the skin (about 1-2 mm). They can reach a diameter of 5 mm, but are usually smaller than vulgar. Flat papillomas can appear near wounds and cuts. Usually young papillomas have a smooth surface and uneven, although well-defined borders. Due to the lack of a horny layer on the surface, they can look shiny.
Plantar warts
This is an extremely unpleasant type of skin growth that occurs on the feet. Sometimes they are confused with corns. However, plantar papillomas have a feature that distinguishes them from corns. If the plantar wart is damaged, it usually bleeds. For corns this phenomenon is not typical. Externally, papillomas of the legs may look like calluses - 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.
A plantar wart is most often found on the leg. But they can also be found in groups and grow together. Plantar papillomas grow not only outside the skin, but also deeper.
Externally, warts of this type may look ordinary. They usually have a semicircular shape. However, if a person constantly develops such a skin formation, it 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 older people. These formations can also be observed in children.
Plantar papillomas can cause discomfort and even severe pain when walking. When you step on such a growth, it looks like you are stepping on a small stone. Externally, warts can sometimes look like thorns. That is why people call this type of papilloma thorns.
At rest, these formations can cause itching. Like other types of papillomas, plantar warts develop under the influence of the papilloma virus. The virus often gets on the skin of the feet from the environment. For example, it is not uncommon to catch this virus by visiting a pool without rubber shoes. Uncomfortable shoes also contribute to the appearance of skin lesions, as they often appear in places where the shoes rub the feet. Heavy sweating and inadequate foot hygiene are also contributing factors.
It is not recommended to touch the papillomas of the sole with your hands, as this can spread the virus to other areas of the skin.
Treatment of plantar warts
Sometimes papillomas of this type can go away 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 is felt by painful sensations. If the growth of the foot causes sharp pain, does not allow walking, then it must be removed. Education above 1 cm must also be removed. The removal operation can only be performed in the doctor's office.
If there is any suspicion that the formation of the leg belongs to some type of papilloma, the doctor can perform a number of diagnostic procedures. These include scraping and stratum corneum analysis, PCR analysis for the presence of the papilloma virus genome. An ultrasound scan is performed to determine the shape and size of the formation. Leg warts require a differential diagnosis of syphilis warts. However, extensive diagnostic measures are not usually performed, as it is not difficult to diagnose papilloma of the foot.
Sometimes you can try a drug to remove the growth of the foot. Salicylic acid preparations, necrotizing agents, freezing aerosols and special plasters are suitable for removing warts. However, removal with medication is usually not a quick procedure. You can quickly remove a wart on the sole only with the help of tools available in medical institutions. These can be methods:
- laser,
- surgically,
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- radio wave.
Each type of procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. The surgical method, for example, is mainly used for large skin growths, 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 a cauliflower or a rooster. 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. Condyloma is less common in the armpits, in women under the mammary glands. The warts are flesh to pink in color. Sometimes several genital warts can grow together. Also, warts of this type can grow to large sizes. Warts can cause painful sensations during intercourse, defecation. If injured, they may bleed. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Philiform warts
This type of wart is extremely common. Filiform warts or acrochords often grow in large groups. Prefer acrochords for areas with thin skin. This is the area of the armpits, neck, shoulders, eyelids, wings of the nose. It can appear in the groin, under the mammary glands in women. They usually do not bother a person and do not hurt, but they can itch.
Externally, filamentous warts resemble long strands. However, there are often acrochords that have a thin filamentous stem to which a thick body is attached, usually spherical or hemispherical. They are also filamentous. Such warts are called hanging.
Most warts of this type are 1 mm to 5 mm in size. There are also acrochords larger than 1 cm. Sometimes several filamentous warts grow together.
Acrochords are rare in children. They are typical for people over 35 years. And over the years, their number usually increases. Among people over 70, this type of wart is observed at 100%. The tendency to have a large number of accords on the body can also be inherited. Acrochords are often associated with being overweight. In women, they can occur during pregnancy.
Filamentous warts have one unpleasant feature. If a filamentous wart is torn off, a new one will soon grow in its place. Acrochords rarely cross on their own. Their appearance is encouraged by increased sweating, decreased immunity.
Senile warts
This type of wart has another name - seborrheic keratoma. It usually occurs in people over 60 years of age. Unlike other types of warts, senile keratomas are not caused by the human papillomavirus. The exact reasons for their occurrence have not been established. 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 called basal cell papillomas. Although this is not quite the right name, because real papillomas are only caused by viruses. Heredity plays a significant 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 develop into malignant tumors.
Externally, keratomas look like pink or yellowish papules 1-2 mm thick. Their size varies from 2 mm to 3 cm. Sometimes warts of this type reach a size of 4-6 cm. Keratomas have an oily, easily removable crust. Their surface is uneven, as if corrugated. As they grow, keratomas often become like a mushroom cap and change color to black or dark brown. Their surface becomes hard, they can crack.
Most often, keratomas are found on the neck and chest. It can be observed in groups. They appear less often on the hands and face. They do not exist on the mucous membranes. There are usually no more than 20 keratomas on the body. If a person has many senile warts, it is often due to hereditary factors.
Senile keratomas do not go away on their own. People with excessive seborrheic keratomas on the body are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent tumors. You should also avoid exposure to direct sunlight, overheating, hypothermia, stress.
Treatment
Most papillomas do not pose a serious threat. After an injury, however, they can injure, bleed. Then 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 by removal (surgically, using a cold, high-frequency electric current, or laser). Therapeutic treatments are usually less effective.
The indication for removal is the soreness of the skin formation, its large size, bleeding, change in shape, location in an awkward place (for example, on the fingertips, soles, in the genital area), aesthetic considerations. Warts can also be removed.