Warts are small growths on the skin of the body or face.Their formation is related to the activity of the human papillomavirus (HPV).There are about a hundred strains of this virus, each of which causes different types of warts.
What is a wart?
Even on the most well-groomed and healthy skin, warts can appear - small round lumps that are benign tumors.
A wart is a benign tumor on the skin of the body that is related to the activity of the HPV virus.About 70% of the world's population is infected with this virus.As a result of its effect, the pathological process of epidermal cell division starts, as a result of which a small skin growth or wart appears.
There are different types of warts caused by different strains of the virus.Not all warts are viral;they separately identify senile growths that appear due to changes in the body's metabolic processes.
To get rid of the growth, you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence.The following reminder about the types of warts on the body, their characteristics and methods of overcoming them will help you with this.
Vulgar warts
Simple or vulgar warts are small, round growths that do not differ in color from the skin tone.They are caused by the human papillomavirus.Favorite localization areas are areas with increased sweating.Vulgar warts are most often found on the hands, feet, back and sides.
From the moment of viral infection to the appearance of such growths, about several months pass.If a person's immunity is strong, the body itself defeats the virus, and warts do not appear on the skin.The activation of the pathological process and the development of aesthetic growths occur against the background of a decrease in general and local immunity.Due to the peculiarities of the location of vulgar warts, this process is often caused by a decrease in local immunity, for example, if the skin is damaged or due to excessive sweating of the feet and palms.
Vulgar warts are considered harmless growths.They almost never degenerate into malignant tumors.
Vulgar warts can appear on anyone.Children, adolescents and adults alike often encounter them.There are several ways to remove them:
- cryodestruction;
- laser;
- surgical method;
- preparations containing alkalis;
- folk remedies.
Large vulgar warts are recommended to be removed in a dermatologist's office, as self-treatment can lead to scarring.
Vulgar warts are the most common type.
Flat warts
The types of warts are quite easy to recognize from a photo.One rare type is the flat wart.They account for up to 4% of skin growth cases.
Characteristics of flat warts:
- its diameter does not exceed 5 mm;
- slight elevation above the skin;
- irregular shape;
- clear boundaries;
- smooth surface;
- slight pigmentation.
These warts are slightly different in color from healthy skin - a bit more pink or brown, which makes them easier to spot.The second name for flat warts is juvenile.They appear more often in children and adolescents.Classic sites are the skin of the feet, hands, and face.
Juvenile warts are viral in nature and are caused by HPV.They do not tend to degenerate into malignant tumors, so they are relatively safe.
Such growths do not pose a threat to health and do not cause discomfort other than aesthetic ones.If there are many of them or they are located in open areas of the body, removing the growth will not be difficult.In order to avoid the formation of scars, cryodestruction, electrocoagulation or laser removal is recommended.
Condylomas
For women's health, condylomas and papillomas pose a much more serious threat than for men.
Condylomas are small growths with a papillary structure that affect the external genitalia of women and men.These growths are viral in nature;the HPV strain that causes such warts is transmitted sexually.
Characteristics of condylomas:
- presence of small size and thin legs;
- the color does not differ from the shade of the skin or mucous membrane;
- can merge into large neoplasms;
- they are easily damaged.
Condylomas are a type of wart that can be easily recognized from photographs.They are most often located on the external genitalia in women, around the glans penis and on the shaft of the penis in men.Condylomas affect the perineum, the area around the anus, and in rare cases can also be found in the mouth.
Some strains of the HPV virus can cause the development of condylomas in women on the cervix.This type of growth is very dangerous and causes cervical cancer.Common condylomas on the labia minora or penis are usually not considered to be oncogenic.
Liquid nitrogen is most often used to remove them.This remedy allows you to get rid of the growth without scarring.Removal of condylomas on the labia can be done with a radio knife.
Tumors on the mucous membrane cannot be removed at home, as the epithelial layer of the genital organs may be damaged.
Papillomas
Papillomas are a type of skin wart;there are several types of them on the skin.In fact, a vulgar wart is a type of papilloma.These growths can appear anywhere on the body, including the mucous membranes.A soft ball with a uniform structure, which rises above the skin thanks to a small stem.Papillomas are caused by the HPV virus;depending on the strain, they can affect both the epidermis and the mucous membrane.The most dangerous places where the growth is localized:
- urethra;
- larynx;
- anus;
- armpit;
- inguinal folds;
- soles.
Papillomas in the urethra cause physical discomfort, as the body perceives them as potentially dangerous objects.They can grow and lead to urethral stricture in men, so they need to be removed.
Larynx growth can cause persistent throat irritation and voice changes.Papillomas in the anus are easily damaged and can become inflamed.The growths in the skin folds rub strongly when walking.This can lead to irritation and infection.
Papillomas are potentially dangerous skin tumors.Only a doctor can accurately determine the risk of oncogenicity.
Injuries and damage to such growths can lead to the development of a malignant process, so it is necessary to remove papillomas located in inconvenient places, which can be accidentally touched by nails or rubbed by clothing.
Papillomas can appear in people of any age and gender.The methods used in the treatment of vulgar warts are used to remove them.
Keratomas
Common sites for senile keratoma are the back of the hand, face, and neck;less often they can be located on the trunk.
A keratoma is an increase in the stratum corneum of the skin.This is a brown spot that rises above the skin.The structure of the spot is quite dense, which is due to the keratinization (keratinization) of the upper layer of the epidermis.
The main causes of the formation of keratomas are the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin and age-related changes in the epidermis.Such neoplasms are not the result of HPV and belong to age-related dermatological disorders.Keratomas only occur in people over 50 years of age.
They can be considered safe neoplasms, the level of oncogenicity is very low.Such growths can be located in any open area of the body.
The neoplasm itself is a clear aesthetic defect, so it can be removed.Keratomas must be removed by professional methods - cryodestruction, laser removal, electrocoagulation.Particularly large tumors are removed by surgical excision.
Filiform papillomas
There are several types of warty growths on the body;Filamentous papillomas are one of the most common types of warts.They appear in people over 40 years of age.Most often, women encounter such tumors, since their skin is thinner than that of men.Localization of filamentous papillomas:
- neck;
- armpit;
- face;
- eyelids;
- the area under the mammary glands;
- inguinal folds.
This type of growth is a small, elongated papilla that rises above the skin.The size of the papillae is very small - no more than 1 mm in diameter and a few mm in length.
Thread-like growths do not pose a threat to health, as they almost never degenerate into malignant tumors.The only exceptions are severe growth damage and secondary infection.
It is impossible to remove filamentous papillomas with folk or medicinal remedies.Due to their small size, aggressive exposure to alkalis and acidic substances can lead to the formation of a deep wound, leaving a large scar in its place.To remove these small growths, it is better to give preference to laser, electrocoagulation or liquid nitrogen.
Thread papillomas often affect the neck and armpits.
Plantar warts
Another manifestation of the HPV virus is plantar warts or spinules.These growths are flat plaques, similar in appearance to calluses, and appear on the feet.The peculiarity of such a wart is that it goes deep under the skin, while the upper part of the growth is flat and practically does not stand out against the background of the healthy epidermis.
Plantar warts grow deep into the skin and are painful when pressed.Both children and adults can meet them.The spine must be removed by laser, cryodestruction, or surgical methods.Home remedies are only effective for removing small pimples that are no more than 2-3 mm in diameter.
The spines cause severe discomfort, but are safe as they do not turn into cancer.
Plantar warts are not dangerous, but they cause discomfort when walking.
Diagnosis - which doctor should I see?
For the diagnosis and removal of warts on the skin of the body and face, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist.A visual examination is performed to establish the diagnosis.A dermatoscopic examination helps to accurately determine the type of growth.
If growths appear on the genitals, consult a gynecologist (for women), a urologist (for men) or a venereologist.PCR analysis of the urogenital smear is required to determine the virus strain.Based on the results of the examination, the doctor makes a decision on the acceptable methods of removing the tumor.