There are very few people who would not face such a problem as warts on the body. These outgrowths can occur in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Warts are usually just a cosmetic problem, damaging a person’s appearance. And these formations only rarely pose a real threat to health.
What is a wart?
Our skin has a smooth surface. However, in some cases, protruding skin growths may appear on it. They are called warts. Usually these are permanent formations that do not change for many years.
The mechanism of occurrence of warts is the growth of the upper layer of the skin. The size of the formations ranges from 1 mm to several centimeters. This parameter depends on the type of formation and its location on the skin. Fusion of multiple warts is often observed. Skin growths are usually flesh in color, but can take on other shades, such as pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign tumors. They do not grow and penetrate the surrounding tissues.
In the international classification of diseases, the following codes are assigned to warts:
- B07 - viral wart,
- A63. 0 - genital warts,
- L82 Seborrheic Keratoma
Most types of warts are viral, sexually transmitted warts are genital, and seborrheic keratomas are senile warts that are non-infectious in nature.
The following skin lesions should be distinguished from warts:
- names (moles),
- calluses,
- malignancies,
- basal cell carcinoma,
- wide warts resulting from syphilis.
Some of these formations can be life-threatening. Therefore, if any suspicious formation appears on the body, a doctor should be consulted.
Why do warts occur?
Warts are usually caused by a viral infection. The process of warts occurs as follows. The human papillomavirus enters skin cells and causes rapid division. As a result, growth or papilloma develops on the skin. However, there are warts that the virus has nothing to do with.
Strictly speaking, papilloma does not always occur on the skin. Often these formations are found on the mucous membranes, inside the bladder, larynx, cervix, and so on. However, warts are usually only called papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be located on any part of the body. However, some species have favorite places. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus; acrochords prefer upper body skin wrinkles.
The human papillomavirus does not multiply outside the body. However, it can last a long time in hot and humid places. This is why people can often get infected with it when they visit spas, saunas, swimming pools. But the virus does not live outdoors for long - it is neutralized by the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
Studies show that 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 relatively harmless, others lead to papillomas, and others can cause malignancies. Some strains can be transmitted from person to person. Consequently, certain types of warts can be contagious. But transmission of the disease from frogs and toads, as well as other members of the fauna, is impossible, contrary to popular belief. This is explained by the fact that animal papillomaviruses do not multiply in the human body.
You can become infected with new types of viruses through personal contact, handshakes, sharing household items (such as towels), visiting public places (swimming pools, spas, saunas, traffic), small wounds, and sexually.
The papilloma virus that has invaded the body does not always cause the disease to appear. In general, the factors associated with the disease are stress, decreased immunity (for example, due to infectious diseases). However, the virus can stay in the body for several years and wait in wings.
Types of warts
Doctors distinguish several types of warts:
- common (vulgar),
- youthful (flat),
- pointed (condylomas),
- senile,
- yarn-like.
Birthmarks (nevi) should be separated 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. From the outside, vulgar (common) papillomas appear as small semicircular formations on the surface of the skin. They are usually completely painless. The formations range in size from several mm to 1 cm, their surface is usually uneven, lumpy, often resembling the surface of a cauliflower. Color - flesh-colored, greyish, yellowish-brown. Common localization - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. The mucous membranes are rarely touched.
Often, common papillomas can go away on their own. A special feature of this type of papilloma is that it often grows not in groups but in groups. You will often find a large papilloma around which small ones grow. If you remove the largest (maternal) papilloma, the small ones usually disappear.
Common papillomas can occur at any age. They are common 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 often referred to as flat papillomas. They make up only 4% of all warts.
They are often found at hand. They can also be observed on the legs and face, near the nails, between the toes, on the legs and 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 do not usually cause physical discomfort, but they can degrade the appearance.
Flat papillomas are usually flesh-colored and extend only slightly (about 1-2 mm) above the skin surface. They can reach a diameter of 5 mm, but are usually smaller than vulgar ones. Flattened papillomas can occur near wounds and cuts. Juvenile papillomas are usually smooth-surfaced and uneven, although well demarcated. Since there is no stratum corneum on the surface, they may appear shiny.
Plantar warts
This is an extremely unpleasant type of skin growth that occurs on the legs. Sometimes they are mistaken for corn. However, plantar papillomas have a property that distinguishes them from the corns. If the plantar wart is damaged, it usually bleeds. This phenomenon is not characteristic of the corns. Although, when viewed from the outside, the papillomas on the legs may appear to be calluses - usually hard and keratinized. Their color is usually dirty gray, dark or dirty yellow, brown hue. Black dots may appear on their surface.
Most often, a plantar wart is found on the foot. But they can also meet in groups and grow together. Plantar papillomas grow not only outside the skin but also deeper.
From the outside, these types of warts may look like ordinary ones. They are usually semicircular. However, if a person continues to develop such skin formation, it can take a flattened form.
The appearance of papillomas on the soles of the feet has little to do with age, they can appear in both young and old. These formations can also be observed in children.
Plantar papillomas can cause discomfort and even severe pain while walking. When you step on this outgrowth, it looks like you’re stepping on a tiny pebble. From the outside, warts can sometimes resemble thorns. This is why people call this type of papilloma a spine.
At rest, these formations can cause itching. Like other types of papillomas, plantar warts are caused by the papilloma virus. The virus often gets from the environment to the skin of the feet. For example, it is not uncommon for this virus to be acquired by visiting a pool without rubber boots. Uncomfortable shoes also contribute to the occurrence of skin lesions as they often occur in places where the shoes rub against the foot. Heavy sweating and poor hygiene also contribute to the factors.
It is not recommended to touch the papillomas of the sole with your hand, as this can transfer the virus to other areas of the skin.
Treatment of herbal warts
Sometimes these types of papillomas can go away on their own. This occurs 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 when education presents itself with painful feelings. If the outgrowth of the foot causes sharp pain and does not allow walking, it should be removed. In addition, training larger than 1 cm must be removed, the removal operation can only be performed in the doctor's office.
If there is any doubt that foot formation belongs to any type of papilloma, your doctor may perform a number of diagnostic procedures. These include scraping and analysis of the corneum, PCR analysis of the presence of the papilloma virus genome. An ultrasound examination is performed to determine the shape and size of the formation. Warts on the legs require a differential diagnosis of syphilis warts. However, comprehensive diagnostic procedures are not usually performed because diagnosing papilloma on the foot is not difficult.
Sometimes medication can try to remove the growth of the foot. Salicylic acid preparations, necrotizing agents, freezing aerosols and special patches can be used to remove warts. However, drug removal is usually not a quick procedure. You can only remove the wart on the soles with the help of tools available in medical institutions. These can be methods:
- laser,
- surgical,
- electrocoagulation,
- cryodestruction,
- Radio waves.
Any type of procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the surgical method is mainly used for large skin growths because 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 resemble papillas (hence their name). However, warts can also be irregular in shape, resembling cauliflower or rooster. The viruses that cause these types of warts are usually sexually transmitted. Condylomas can also be observed on the mucosa and anus. Therefore, such warts are often referred to as anogenital or genital organs. Rarely, condylomas are found in the armpit in women under the mammary glands. The warts are flesh-pink in color. Sometimes multiple genital warts can grow together. Condylomas of this species can also grow. Warts can cause painful feelings during intercourse and defecation. They may bleed if injured. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Filiform warts
This type of wart is extremely common. Filiform warts or acrochords often grow in large groups. In thin-skinned areas, give preference to acrochords. This is the area of the armpit, neck, shoulders, eyelids and nasal wing. It can occur in the lumbar region, under the mammary glands of women. They do not usually bother or hurt a person, but they can itch.
Externally, filamentous warts resemble long strands. However, acrochords are often found that have a thin filiform stem to which a thick body is attached, usually spherical or hemispherical. Filiformak is. Such warts are called addictive.
Most of these types of warts range from 1 mm to 5 mm. There are also acrochords larger than 1 cm, sometimes several fibrous warts grow together.
Chords are rare in children. Characteristic of people over 35 years of age. And over the years, their numbers tend to increase. Among people over the age of 70, this type of wart is 100% observable. There may also be an inherited tendency to have a large number of acrocords on the body. Chords are often associated with overweight. They can occur in women during pregnancy.
Filamentous warts have an unpleasant property. If a filamentous wart is torn off, a new woman will soon be out of place. Acrochords rarely pass on themselves. Their appearance is facilitated by increased sweating and 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 causes of their occurrence could not be determined. Keratomes are likely to be associated with age-related changes in the body. They develop from the basal layer of the epidermis and are therefore often referred to as basal cell papillomas. Although this is not quite a correct name because the real papillomas are only caused by viruses. Heredity plays a significant role in the appearance of these tumors. Senile keratomas can often resemble melanoma. Therefore, if they do occur, you should see a doctor to diagnose them. However, senile keratomas generally do not require treatment and do not become a malignancy.
From the outside, the keratoms resemble pink or yellowish papules 1-2 mm thick. Their size ranges from 2 mm to 3 cm. Occasionally, these types of warts are 4-6 cm in size. Keratoms have a greasy, easily removable crust. Their surface is uneven, as if it were wavy. Growing up, keratomes will often look like a mushroom cap, turning black or dark brown in color. Their surface will be hard, they may crack.
Most often, the keratomas are located on the neck and chest. It can be observed in groups. They appear less frequently on the hands and face. They do not exist on the mucosa. There are usually up to 20 keratomas in 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 who have excessive amounts of seborrheic keratoma in their bodies are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent new growths. You should avoid exposure to direct sunlight, overheating, hypothermia, stress.
Treatment
Most papillomas do not pose a serious risk. However, after the injury, they may hurt and bleed. Thereafter, there is a risk of developing malignancies. 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 a laser). Therapeutic treatments are generally less effective.
The indication for removal is the pain, large size, bleeding, deformity of the skin formation, its location in an uncomfortable place (e. g. on the tip of the toe, on the soles of the feet, in the genital area), aesthetic aspects. Warts are also being removed.