Surely, almost everyone has heard the word "wart" and, most likely, frowned in disgust at the same time, thinking about how unpleasant and possibly dangerous an infectious disease is. Some remember from childhood: never touch frogs - there will be warts. Someone authoritatively declares that "it will pass on its own" and in general it is like a mole and it is not at all scary, while others are terribly afraid to catch them. There is a lot of speculation surrounding the disease due to the fact that not everyone knows the exact cause of the pathology.
Warned is warned. Therefore, it is important to understand why people develop warts, what they are, why they are dangerous, and whether they have anything to do with frogs.
Types of warts
Warts are skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which lives and multiplies only in the epithelium and mucous membranes. Under certain conditions, the virus begins to emerge on the surface of the epithelium in the form of growths. Neoplasms can be of different sizes - both small and rather large, and colors - from pink to dark brown.
HPV has a large number of strains and this is what causes various types of warts.
flat warts (juvenile)
These neoplasms look like outwardly rounded spots of irregular shape. They occur in adolescents entering puberty. Their appearance is closely linked to the hormonal restructuring of the young organism. They provide many unpleasant sensations - from psychological discomfort to itchy skin. It is usually flat warts that itch, for other species it is uncharacteristic. Most often, skin inflammations of this type occur on the face, neck, arms and legs. They usually pass on their own and do not require serious intervention.
Common warts (common)
These are dense nodule-like growths. This type is the most common. The fact is that they appear on the hands and fingers, palms, allowing HPV to easily pass from a sick to a healthy person. The virus enters the body through skin lesions when touched or when using household items. The main reasons for the appearance of warts on the hands lie precisely in the ease of transmission of the disease and non-compliance with basic rules of hygiene.
One of the common wart subspecies are plantar warts. They affect the lower part of the legs: feet, heels, toes. Such growths bring a lot of grief, because they are extremely painful, especially when walking.
Most often, common warts disappear completely within six months to a year, but in some cases they may not disappear for even longer.
Filiform warts
Neoplasms of this type are soft and rounded. Most often, these warts appear in the elderly, in women with problematic pregnancies and during menopause, since their appearance is associated with a hormonal imbalance. First, delicate skin areas are affected: face, neck, inguinal area, armpits. The presence of folds on the body and excessive sweating also contribute to the spread of growths of the epithelium.
Unlike the previous two types, this type of skin formation requires careful monitoring and treatment under the supervision of a specialist. It is important to know that they will not go away on their own and may need to be removed.
Genital warts
Another type of wart that affects the genitals, the anus or much less often the mouth. These are growths on the leg, in the form of an ice cube. With the development of the disease grow, becoming like a cauliflower.
Warts often turn into malignant tumors, so their appearance and growth should be monitored by a specialist.
causes
Almost half of the world's population is infected with the human papillomavirus, but not all carriers know it. For a long time, HPV is able not to manifest itself, while maintaining vital activity. Warts or condyloma appear at the time when the conditions for their development become favorable, that is, with a decrease in the protective functions of the human body. In fact, low immunity is the main reason for the appearance of genital warts and warts on different parts of the body.
Provoking factors:
- hormonal failure in the body (puberty, pregnancy, menopause);
- metabolic disease;
- unprotected sex;
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- dry skin on the hands or, conversely, profuse sweating;
- circulatory disorders;
- the presence of microdamage in the epithelium.
By the way, as practice shows, the appearance of warts has nothing to do with frogs, so we can safely say that this is just an illusion.
Diagnostic
Each type of wart is characterized by a particular structure and a set of characteristics inherent in it. This makes it possible to quickly diagnose and prescribe the right treatment.
An external examination of the neoplasm is quite enough for a dermatologist to distinguish a wart from other skin diseases (lichen planus, verrucous tuberculosis of the skin, etc. ). In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the growths are of good quality and to identify the degree of their oncogenicity. To do this, carry out research by PCR and biopsy. Additionally, to determine the strain of the virus and its level of concentration, a Digene HPV test is performed. Thanks to him, a prognosis for the development of a neoplasm is constructed, treatment methods are determined.
When skin growths appear, sufferers are in no hurry to consult a doctor and treat them, since warts do not have acute symptoms. Sometimes neoplasms can itch. In most cases, these growths do not bother their owners, except for their unsightly appearance.
There are a number of indications for contacting a specialist. It's before all :
- the rapid growth of the wart (a size of more than 2 cm is an indication for surgery);
- itching, tingling, burning, pain in growth;
- sharp blackening of the neoplasm;
- trigger the inflammatory process (suppuration, appearance of blood);
- the emergence of new formations around a cru;
- change in shape and structure.
With genital warts, further studies are mandatory.
Effective treatments
You can quickly get rid of warts, provided the growth is of good quality. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate those that deprive a person of psychological comfort, cause pain or are located in places where they are easy to injure. The most commonly used for treatment are:
- Pharmacy fund. The drug method of struggle also includes immunotherapy, local topical application of drugs containing acid, retinoic acid, the use of hormonal ointments. The necessary drugs are prescribed by a doctor.
- Folk remedies. We are talking about the use of different types of medicinal plants and fruits. For example, such folk methods are considered effective:
- Compresses from a raw onion soaked in vinegar. The vegetable is linked to the wart for several nights in a row. In order not to burn the skin around the formation, it is recommended to seal it with adhesive tape. Rubbing warts with freshly chopped potato halves helps remove them.
- The most popular and proven method is the cauterization of warts with celandine juice. The procedure should be carried out twice a day, using freshly picked grass. The juice of this plant can burn the skin, so the procedure is carried out strictly locally.
- Another effective remedy is a mixture of dandelion juice, milkweed, mountain ash berries, sour apples, onions, garlic and lemon. There are no specific proportions - the amount of each ingredient is determined by eye. The resulting mixture is applied to the wart three times a day.
- They get rid of hard growths on the hands with the help of vinegar, dripping it over the problem area. For a brighter effect, a mixture of vinegar and flour is also used - the pasty mass should be applied to the wart, wait until it dries and then bandage it overnight.
- For cauterization, a mixture of finely grated garlic, lemon juice and flour is often used. It should also be applied at night for some time.
- Horseradish juice also has a cauterizing effect. Its root is grated, mixed with salt and applied to the growth.
- operation and other methods. Do not neglect the folk ways to get rid of warts, which are practiced in medical institutions. First of all, this
- Cut out a wart without damaging adjacent tissue using a radio wave scalpel under local anesthesia. Now this procedure is used less frequently, since there is a high probability of scarring in places where warts are removed. However, if the size of the growths exceeds 2 cm, the operation is carried out without fail. The method allows you to completely remove the wart.
- Cryotherapy - the formation is frozen with liquid nitrogen, which deprives its cells of vital activity, after which it will no longer grow.
- Electrocoagulation - cauterization of growths. Such problem solving is considered quick and effective.
Aesthetic medicine clinics also offer services for the removal of skin formations with a laser or phototherapy.
Remember: when warts of any kind appear, it is best to consult a doctor! Most often, HPV-induced neoplasms are mild and do not require serious intervention. However, to be sure, it is better to pass the necessary tests.
Prevention
Of course, the surest way to protect yourself from the appearance of an unpleasant skin disease is to have strong immunity. Unfortunately, few people can boast about it. Therefore, to reduce the risk of infection with warts and condyloma, it is important to follow the rules of hygiene, namely:
- wash hands thoroughly, take a shower or bath regularly and teach the child to do the same, because children get the disease more often than adults;
- do not use other people's hygiene items;
- when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools, take personal replaceable shoes, do not lean bare body parts against seats, walls of showers and steam rooms;
- timely treat abrasions, cuts, small wounds with disinfectants;
- excluding unprotected sex, using barrier contraception;
- vaccinate against the most dangerous types of HPV.