Surely almost every person has heard the word "wart" and, most likely, at the same time frowned in disgust, thinking about how unpleasant and potentially dangerous an infectious disease is. Some remember from childhood: you should never touch frogs - there are warts. Someone authoritatively declares that "it will pass by itself" and in general it is like a mole and not at all scary, while others are terribly afraid of catching them. There is a lot of speculation about the disease, since not everyone knows the exact cause of the pathology.
Forewarned is armed. So it's important to understand why people grow warts, what they are, why they're dangerous, and if they're related to frogs.
types of warts
Warts are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which lives and multiplies only in the epithelium and mucous membranes. 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 - both 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 (youth)
Such neoplasms resemble outwardly rounded spots of irregular shape. They appear in adolescents during puberty. Their appearance is closely related to the hormonal restructuring of the young organism. They deliver a lot of unpleasant sensations - from mental discomfort to skin itching. It is usually flat warts that itch, but this is uncharacteristic for other species. Skin infections of this kind occur most frequently on the face, neck, arms and legs. They usually pass on their own and do not require any serious intervention.
Vulgar warts (common)
They are dense growths that resemble nodules. This type is the most common. The fact is that they appear on the hands and fingers and palms and allow HPV to easily move from a sick person to a healthy one. The virus enters the body through skin damage when touched or when using household items. The main reasons for the appearance of warts on the hands lie precisely in the easy transmission of the disease and non-compliance with basic hygiene rules.
One of the subtypes of common warts 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 go away completely within six months to a year, but in some cases, they may not go away even longer.
Filiform warts
New growths of this type are soft and rounded. Most often, such warts appear in the elderly, in women with problematic pregnancies and during the menopause, since their appearance is associated with hormonal imbalance. First of all, areas with sensitive skin are affected: face, neck, groin, armpits. The presence of folds on the body and excessive sweating also contribute to the spread of epithelial overgrowth.
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 do 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 often the mouth. They are growths on the leg and have an icicle shape. With the development of the disease, they grow and become 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 human papillomavirus, but not every carrier is aware of it. HPV can not manifest itself for a long time while maintaining vital activity. Warts or condylomas appear at the moment when conditions become favorable for their development, that is, with a decrease in the protective functions of the human body. In fact, weak 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 of 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.
diagnosis
Each type of wart is characterized by a special structure and a number of features inherent in it. This allows for quick diagnosis and prescription of the correct treatment.
An external examination of the neoplasm is quite enough for a dermatologist to distinguish a wart from other skin diseases (lichen planus, wart tuberculosis of the skin, etc. ). In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the growths are of good quality and determine the degree of their oncogenicity. To do this, conduct research by PCR and biopsy. A Digene HPV test is also performed to determine the strain of the virus and its concentration. Thanks to him, a prognosis for the development of a neoplasm is made, methods of therapy are established.
When skin growths appear, the sick are in no hurry to visit doctors and treat them, since warts do not have acute symptoms. Sometimes neoplasms can itch. In most cases, these growths do not bother their owners, apart from their unaesthetic appearance.
There are a number of indications for contacting a specialist. First of all it is:
- the rapid growth of the wart (a size of more than 2 cm is an indication for surgery);
- itching, tingling, burning, pain during growth;
- sharp blackening of the neoplasm;
- triggering the inflammatory process (suppuration, appearance of blood);
- the emergence of new formations around a growth;
- change 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 who deprive a person of psychological comfort, cause pain or are in places where they can easily be injured. The most commonly used for treatment are:
- pharmacy fund. The drug-based method of struggle also includes immunotherapy, local topical application of acidic drugs, retinoic acid, and the use of hormonal ointments. Necessary medicines are prescribed by a doctor.
- home remedies. We are talking about the use of different types of medicinal plants and fruits. For example, such folk methods are considered effective:
- Compresses made from a raw onion soaked in vinegar. The vegetable is tied 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 tape. Rubbing warts with freshly chopped potato halves will help remove them.
- The most popular and proven method is cauterizing 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 strictly local.
- Another effective remedy is a mixture of dandelion juices, milkweed, rowan 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 remove hard growths on hands with the help of vinegar, dripping it on the problem area. For a brighter effect, a mixture of vinegar and flour is also used - the pasty mass must be applied to the wart, wait for it to dry, and then bandage overnight.
- A mixture of finely grated garlic, lemon juice, and flour is often used for cauterizing. It must also be applied at night for some time.
- Horseradish juice also has a caustic effect. Its root is grated, mixed with salt and applied to the growth.
- operation and other methods. Do not neglect the traditional methods of wart removal practiced in medical institutions. First of all this
- Excision of a wart without damaging the adjacent tissue with a radio wave scalpel under local anesthesia. Now this procedure is used less often, since there is a high probability of scarring in places where warts were removed. However, if the size of the growths exceeds 2 cm, then the operation is performed 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 the event it stops growing.
- Electrocoagulation - cauterization of growths. Such elimination of the problem is considered quick and effective.
Aesthetic medicine clinics also offer services to remove skin formations with a laser or phototherapy.
Do not forget: If warts of any kind appear, it is best to consult a doctor! More 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 surest way to protect yourself from the appearance of an unpleasant skin disease is strong immunity. Unfortunately, few people can boast of this. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of infection with warts and condylomas, it is important to follow the rules of hygiene, namely:
- wash hands thoroughly, shower or bathe regularly and teach the child to do the same, since children are more likely to get the disease than adults;
- Do not use other people's toiletries.
- when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools, wear a pair of personal shoes, do not lean on seating, walls of showers and steam baths with bare parts of the body;
- Treat abrasions, cuts, small wounds with disinfectants in a timely manner;
- exclude unprotected sex, use barrier contraception;
- vaccinate against the most dangerous types of HPV.