There are very few people who would not face such a problem as warts on the body. These excesses can appear on the body of adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Usually, warts are just a cosmetic problem that affects 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. However, in some cases, protruding skin growths may appear on it. They are called warts. As a rule, these are permanent formations that do not change over many years.
The mechanism of the appearance of warts is the growth of the top layer of the skin. The sizes of the formations range from 1 mm to several centimeters. This parameter depends on the type of formation and its location on the skin. A merger of several warts is often observed. The skin tags are usually fleshy in color, but they can take on other shades, such as pink or brown.
Medicine classifies warts as benign neoplasms. They do not grow or penetrate the surrounding tissue.
In the international classification of diseases, warts are assigned the following codes:
- B07 - viral wart,
- A63. 0 - genital wart,
- L82 Seborrheic Keratoma
Most types of warts are viral, sexually transmitted warts are venereal, and seborrheic keratomas are senile warts that are inherently non-infectious.
The following skin changes should be distinguished from warts:
- Nevi (moles),
- Calluses,
- malignant tumors,
- Basal cell carcinoma,
- wide warts from syphilis.
Some of these formations can be life threatening. Therefore, if a suspicious formation appears on the body, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Why do warts appear?
Usually a viral infection is the cause of warts. The process of appearance of warts goes as follows. The human papillomavirus invades skin cells and causes them to divide quickly. 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.
In fact, papillomas don't always appear on the skin. Often these formations are found on the mucous membranes, in the bladder, in the larynx, on the cervix, etc. However, it is customary to refer to warts only as papillomas that appear on the skin.
Warts can be localized on any part of the body. However, some species have their favorite spots. For example, warts usually form in the groin and anus, while acrochords prefer skin folds on the upper body.
The human papillomavirus does not multiply outside of the body. However, it can persist for a long time in warm and humid places. That is why people can often become infected with it when they visit baths, saunas and swimming pools. But the virus doesn't live long outdoors - it is neutralized by the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
According to studies, around 80% of the world's population is infected with some type of human papillomavirus. There are two hundred strains of these viruses in total. Some viruses are relatively harmless, others lead to papillomas and still others can even cause malignant tumors. Some tribes can be passed on from person to person. As a result, certain types of warts can be contagious. But the transmission of the disease from frogs and toads, as well as from other representatives of the fauna, is impossible, contrary to popular belief. This is explained by the fact that animal papilloma viruses do not multiply in the human body.
You can contact each other through personal contact, shaking hands, sharing household items (e.
The papillomavirus that has entered the body does not always cause the appearance of the disease. Usually the factors associated with the disease are stress, decreased 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 starting blocks.
Varieties of warts
Doctors differentiate between different types of warts:
- common (vulgar),
- youthful (flat),
- pointed (condyloma),
- senile,
- thread-like.
Birthmarks (nevi) should be separated from these types of warts. Usually, birthmarks do not protrude from the surface of the skin and are dark in color, although there are exceptions.
Vulgar warts
This type of warts occurs 70% of the time. It is caused by the papillomavirus. Outwardly, vulgar (ordinary) papillomas look like small semicircular structures on the surface of the skin. They are usually completely painless. The size of the formations is several mm to 1 cm, their surface is usually uneven, bumpy, and often resembles the surface of a cauliflower. Color - flesh-colored, gray, yellowish-brown. Common locations - hands, face, fingers, lips, knees, elbows. Mucous membranes are rarely affected.
Often times, common papillomas can go away on their own. The peculiarity of this type of papillomas is that they often do not grow individually, but in groups. Often one finds a large papilloma with small ones growing around it. When you remove the largest (maternal) papilloma, the small ones usually go away.
Common papillomas can appear at any age. They often occur in school-age children.
Teenage warts
This type of papilloma usually occurs in children and adolescents. But they can also occur in people of mature age. These papillomas are also often referred to as flat papillomas. They only make up 4% of all warts.
They are often close at hand. They can also be seen on the feet and face, near the nails, between the toes, on the legs, and on the neck. They are often associated with hormonal changes in the body. Like ordinary papillomas, they pose no significant threat and can go away on their own. They usually don't cause physical discomfort, but they can make the appearance worse.
Flat papillomas are usually flesh-colored and protrude only slightly above the skin surface (approx. 1–2 mm). They can reach a diameter of 5 mm, but are usually smaller than vulgar ones. Flattened papillomas can appear near wounds and cuts. Usually juvenile papillomas have a smooth surface and uneven, albeit well-defined, edges. Due to the lack of a horny layer on the surface, they can appear shiny.
Plantar warts
This is an extremely uncomfortable type of skin growth that occurs on the feet. Sometimes they are mistaken for corns. However, plantar papillomas have one feature that sets them apart from corns. When a plantar wart is damaged, it usually bleeds. This phenomenon is not typical for corns. Although papillomas on the legs may look like calluses on the outside, they are usually hard and keratinized. Their color is usually dirty gray, dark, or dirty yellow with a tinge of brown. Black spots may appear on their surface.
The most common is a plantar wart on the leg. But they can also meet in groups and grow together. Plantar papillomas not only grow outside the skin, but also deeper.
Outwardly, warts of this type can look like ordinary ones. They are usually semicircular in 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 of the feet has little to do with age, they can appear in both young and elderly 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 an outgrowth, it will appear like you are stepping on a small pebble. Outwardly, warts can sometimes resemble thorns. Hence, people call this type of papilloma spines.
In a calm state, these formations can cause itching. Like other types of papillomas, plantar warts develop under the influence of the papillomavirus. The virus often gets onto the skin of the feet from the surrounding area. For example, it is not uncommon to contract this virus while visiting a pool without rubber shoes. Uncomfortable shoes also contribute to the appearance of skin lesions, as they often appear in places where shoes rub against the feet. Profuse sweating and inadequate foot hygiene also contribute to this.
It is not recommended to touch the papillomas on the sole with your hands as this can spread the virus to other areas of the skin.
Treatment of plantar warts
Sometimes this type of papilloma can go away on its own. This happens about half of the time. But sometimes this moment takes a long time to wait and not everyone can afford it, especially when education is manifested through painful sensations. If an outgrowth on the foot causes sharp pain, does not allow walking, it must be removed. Formations larger than 1 cm must also be removed. The removal operation can only be performed in the doctor's office.
If there is any doubt that the formation on the leg belongs to any type of papilloma, the doctor can perform a number of diagnostic procedures. This includes scraping and analysis of the stratum corneum, PCR analysis for the presence of the papillomavirus genome. To determine the shape and size of the formation, an ultrasound examination is carried out. Warts on the leg require a differential diagnosis from syphilis warts. However, as a rule, extensive diagnostic measures are not carried out, since diagnosing a papilloma on the leg is not difficult.
Medication can sometimes be tried to remove growth on the foot. Preparations with salicylic acid, necrotizing agents, freeze aerosols and special plasters are suitable for removing warts. However, removal with medication is usually not a quick process. You can only quickly remove a wart on the sole with the help of tools available in medical facilities. These can be methods:
- Laser,
- surgical,
- Electrocoagulation,
- Cryodestruction,
- Radio wave.
Each type of procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, the surgical method is mainly used for large skin protrusions, as it severely injures the skin.
Genital warts
This is a special type of wart. They are mostly found in the genital area. Their shape is also unusual, as they look like papillae (hence their name). However, warts can also be irregular in shape, reminiscent of cauliflower or cockscomb. The viruses that cause these types of warts are usually transmitted sexually. Condylomas can also be observed on the mucous membranes in the anus. Hence, such warts are often referred to as anogenital or venereal. More rarely, condylomas are found in the armpits, in women under the mammary glands. Warts are fleshy to pink in color. Sometimes multiple genital warts can grow together. Condylomas of this type can also grow to large sizes. Warts can cause painful sensations during sexual intercourse and when defecating. They can bleed if injured. Women with genital warts can also develop cervical cancer.
Thread warts
This type of wart is very common. Nematodes, or acrochords, often grow in large groups. Prefer acrochords for areas with thin skin. This is the area of the armpits, neck, shoulders, eyelids, and nostrils. Can occur in the groin area, under the mammary glands in women. They don't usually bother a person or harm, but they can be itchy.
Outwardly, thread warts resemble long threads. However, acrochords are often found that have a thin thread-like stem to which a thick body, usually spherical or hemispherical, is attached. They are also thread-like. Such warts are called pendulous.
Most warts of this type are 1mm to 5mm in size. There are also acrochords that are larger than 1 cm, sometimes several nematodes grow together.
Acrochords are rare in children. They are typical of people over 35 years old. And over the years, their number usually increases. 100% of these types of warts are observed in people over the age of 70. The propensity for a large number of acrochords on the body can also be inherited. Acrochords are often associated with being overweight. In women, they can occur during pregnancy.
Filamentous warts have an unpleasant quality. If a nipple is torn off, a new one will soon grow in its place. Acrochords rarely go on on their own. Your appearance is promoted by increased sweating and decreased immunity.
Age warts
This type of wart has another name - seborrheic keratoma. It usually occurs in people over the age of 60. Unlike other types of warts, senile keratomas are not caused by the human papillomavirus. The exact reasons for their occurrence are not clear. 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. While this is not quite the name, real papillomas are only caused by viruses. Inheritance plays an important role in the development of these neoplasms. Senile keratomas can often resemble melanomas. Therefore, when they do occur, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can make a diagnosis. However, aging keratomas usually do not require treatment and do not develop into malignant tumors.
Outwardly, keratomas look like pink or yellowish papules with a thickness of 1-2 mm. Their size ranges from 2 mm to 3 cm. Occasionally, warts of this type reach a size of 4-6 cm. Keratomas have a greasy, easily removable crust. Its surface is uneven, as if wavy. Often as they grow up, keratomas become like a mushroom cap and their color changes to black or dark brown. Their surface becomes hard and they can crack.
The most common keratomas are on the neck and chest. Can be observed in groups. They are less common on the hands and face. They do not exist on the mucous membranes. Usually there are no more than 20 keratomas on the body. When a person has a lot of age warts, it is often due to hereditary factors.
Senile keratomas do not go away on their own. People with excessive amounts of seborrheic keratomas in their bodies are advised to increase the amount of vitamin C in their diet to prevent new growth. You should also avoid direct sunlight, overheating, hypothermia, and stress.
treatment
Most papillomas are not a serious threat. However, if they are injured, they can hurt and bleed. After that, there is a risk of developing malignant tumors. Although with papillomas and keratomas the risk of malignant transformation is much lower than with moles.
Papillomas are usually treated by removal (surgically, with the help of cold, high-frequency electricity, or laser). Therapeutic treatments are usually less effective.
The indication for removal is the soreness of the skin formation, its size, bleeding, change in shape, location in an unpleasant place (e. g. on the tip of the toe, on the soles of the feet, in the genital area), aesthetic considerations. Warts are also removed.