Surely almost every person has heard the word "wart" and, most likely, is frowned upon in disgust at the same time, thinking how unpleasant, and perhaps dangerous, it is an infectious disease. Some remember from childhood: you should never touch frogs - there will be warts. Someone declares with authority that "it will pass by itself" and in general, it is like the mole and it is not scary at all, while others are terribly afraid of being caught. There is a lot of speculation about the disease for the fact that not everyone knows the exact cause of the pathology.
Forewarned is forearmed. Therefore, it is important to understand why people grow 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 human papillomavirus (HPV), which lives and multiplies only in the epithelium and mucosa. Under certain conditions, the virus begins to appear on the surface of the epithelium in the form of growths. Neoplasms can be of different sizes - small and quite large, and colors - from pink to dark brown.
HPV has a large number of strains and this is what causes different types of warts.
flat warts (juveniles)
Such neoplasms look like irregularly rounded spots on the outside. They occur in adolescents entering puberty. Their appearance is closely related to the hormonal restructuring of the new organism. They give a lot of unpleasant sensations - from psychological distress to itchy skin. Flat warts are usually itchy, for other species this is not characteristic. Most often, skin inflammations of this type occur on the face, neck, arms and legs. They usually go away on their own and do not require serious intervention.
Vulgar warts (common)
They are dense growths that resemble nodes. This type is the most common. The fact is that they appear on the hands and fingers, in the palms of the hands, enabling HPV to be easily transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one. The virus enters the body through skin damage when touched or while 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 the basic rules of hygiene.
One of the common types of warts is plantar warts. They touch the bottom of the feet: feet, heels, toes. Such hikes 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 even longer.
Filiform warts
Neoplasms of this type are soft and rounded. Most often, such warts appear in the elderly, in women with problematic pregnancies and during menopause, as their appearance is accompanied by hormonal imbalance. First of all, the delicate skin areas are affected: face, neck, inguinal area, armpits. The presence of wrinkles on the body and excessive sweating also contribute to the spread of epithelial growths.
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, anus or much less commonly the mouth. They are foot growths that have an ice shape. With the development of the disease they grow, becoming like a cauliflower.
Warts often develop 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 every carrier is aware of this. For a long time, HPV is able to not show up, maintaining vital activity. Warts or warts appear at the moment when the conditions for their development become favorable, ie with a decrease in the protective functions of the human body. In fact, weak immunity is the main cause of the appearance of genital warts and warts in different parts of the body.
Provocative factors:
- hormonal failure in the body (puberty, pregnancy, menopause);
- metabolic diseases;
- unprotected relationship;
- non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- dry skin of hands or, conversely, heavy sweating;
- circulatory disorders;
- the presence of micro damage to the epithelium.
By the way, as practice shows, the appearance of warts is not about frogs, so we can say with certainty that this is just a hoax.
Diagnosing
Each type of wart is characterized by a unique 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 sufficient for the dermatologist to distinguish a wart from other skin diseases (lichen planus, cutaneous 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, do PCR and biopsy research. Also, a Digene HPV test is performed to determine the strain of the virus and its level of concentration. Thanks to him, a prognosis is built for the development of a neoplasia, methods of therapy are determined.
When skin growths appear, patients do not rush to consult doctors and treat them, as warts have no acute symptoms. Sometimes neoplasms can itch. In most cases, these increases do not bother their owners, other than their unaesthetic appearance.
There are a number of indications for contacting a specialist. First of all, it is:
- rapid wart growth (size more than 2 cm is an indication for surgery);
- itching, tingling, burning, increased pain;
- sharp blackening of the neoplasm;
- stimulation of the inflammatory process (suffocation, appearance of blood);
- the emergence of new formations around an increase;
- change in shape and structure.
With genital warts, additional studies are mandatory.
Effective treatments
You can get rid of warts quickly, 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 hurt. The most used for treatment are:
- Pharmacy funds. The method of drug warfare also includes immunotherapy, local topical application of drugs containing acid, retinoic acid, the use of hormonal ointments. Necessary medications are prescribed by the doctor.
- Folk remedies. We are talking about the use of different types of herbs and medicinal fruits. For example, such popular methods are considered effective:
- Compresses from a raw onion soaked in vinegar. The vegetables are tied to the wart for several nights in a row. In order not to burn the skin around the formation, it is recommended to cover it with adhesive tape. Rubbing the warts with the halves of the chopped fresh potato helps to remove them.
- The most well-known and proven method is cauterizing warts with celandine juice. The procedure should be performed twice a day, using freshly cut grass. The juice of this plant can burn the skin, so the procedure is performed strictly locally.
- Another effective remedy is a mixture of dandelion juices, milk, rowan berries, sour apples, onions, garlic and lemon. There are no specific dimensions - the amount of each ingredient is determined by the eye. The resulting mixture is applied to the wart three times a day.
- They get rid of strong growths on the hands with the help of vinegar, dripping it into the problem area. For a brighter effect, a mixture of vinegar and flour is also used - the paste-like mass should be applied to the warts, wait for it to dry and then bandage overnight.
- For cauterization, a mixture of finely chopped 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 ground, mixed with salt and applied to the growth.
- operation and other methods. Do not neglect the traditional ways to get rid of warts, which are practiced in medical institutions. First of all, this
- Cutting the wart without damaging the adjacent tissue using a radio wave scalpel under local anesthesia. Now this procedure is used less frequently, as there is a high probability of teething in places where warts are removed. However, if the size of the growths exceeds 2 cm, the operation is performed without fail. The method allows you to completely remove the wart.
- Cryotherapy - the formation rises with liquid nitrogen, which deprives its cells of vital activity, after the event will no longer grow.
- Electrocoagulation - cauterization of growths. Such a relief from the problem is considered quick and effective.
Aesthetic medicine clinics also offer services for laser skin removal or phototherapy.
Remember: when warts of any kind appear, it is best to consult a doctor! Most often, HPV-induced neoplasms are benign and do not require serious intervention. However, to be sure, it is better to pass the necessary tests.
prevention
Of course, the safest way to protect yourself from the onset of an unpleasant skin disease is to have strong immunity. Unfortunately, few people can boast of this. Therefore, to reduce the risk of infection with warts and condyloma, it is important to follow the rules of hygiene, namely:
- wash your hands thoroughly, take a shower or bath regularly, and teach your child to do the same, as children catch the disease more often than adults;
- do not use other people's hygiene items;
- when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools, get replaceable personal shoes, do not rely on bare body parts in living areas, shower walls and steam rooms;
- timely treat scratches, cuts, small wounds with disinfectant;
- exclude unprotected sex, using obstructive contraception;
- to vaccinate against the most dangerous types of HPV.