Warts are small growths on the skin of the body or face.Their formation is associated with the activity of the human papilloma virus (HPV).There are about a hundred strains of this virus, each of which causes the formation of different types of warts.
What is a wart?
Even on the best-maintained and healthy skin, warts can appear - small round nodules that are benign neoplasms.
A wart is a benign growth on the skin of the body associated with the activity of the HPV virus.About 70% of the world's population is infected with this virus.Thanks to its action, a pathological process of division of epidermal cells begins, which leads to the appearance of a small skin growth or wart.
There are different types of warts that are caused by different strains of the virus.Not all warts are viral in nature;senile growths that appear due to changes in metabolic processes in the body are separately identified.
To get rid of the growth, you need to understand the reasons for its appearance.The following reminder of the types of warts on the body, their characteristics and methods of combating them will help with this.
Vulgar warts
Simple or vulgar warts are small round growths that do not differ in color from the skin tone.They arise due to the action of the human papillomavirus.Preferred areas of localization are areas with increased sweating.Vulgar warts are most often found on the arms, legs, back and sides.
From the moment of infection with the virus to the appearance of such growths, about several months pass.If a person's immunity is strong, the body will only defeat the virus and warts will not appear on the skin.The activation of the pathological process and the formation of unaesthetic growths occurs 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, when the skin is damaged or due to excessive sweating of the feet and palms.
Vulgar warts are considered harmless formations.They almost never degenerate into a malignant neoplasm.
Vulgar warts can appear on anyone.They occur equally often in children, adolescents and adults.You can remove them in several ways:
- cryodestruction;
- laser;
- surgical method;
- Alkali-containing preparations;
- public funds.
Large vulgar warts are recommended to be removed in a dermatologist's office, as self-medication can lead to scarring.
Vulgar warts are the most common type.
Flat warts
It is quite easy to recognize the types of warts yourself from a photo.One of the rare types are flat warts.They represent no more than 4% of cases of skin growths.
Features of flat warts:
- diameter not more than 5 mm;
- slight elevation above the skin;
- irregular shape;
- clear boundaries;
- smooth surface;
- light pigmentation.
These warts are slightly different in color from healthy skin – they are slightly more pink or brown, making them easy to visualize.The second name of flat warts is juvenile.They occur more often in children and adolescents.Classic localizations are the skin of the legs, hands, face.
Juvenile warts are viral in nature and are caused by HPV.They are not prone to degeneration into a malignant neoplasm, which is why they are relatively safe.
Such growths do not pose a health hazard and do not cause discomfort, except for aesthetics.If there are many of them or they are located on exposed parts of the body, removing the growth will not be difficult.To avoid the formation of scars, the use of 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 formations with a papillary structure that affect the external genital organs in women and men.These entities are viral in nature;the strain of HPV that causes such warts is sexually transmitted.
Characteristics of condylomas:
- small size and the presence of a thin leg;
- the color does not differ from the shade of the skin or mucous membrane;
- can merge into large neoplasms;
- are easily vulnerable.
Condylomas are types of warts that are easily recognized from photographs.They are most often located on the external genitalia in women, around the head of the penis and on the shaft of the penis in men.Condylomas affect the perineum, the area around the anus, and in rare cases are also found in the mouth.
Some strains of the HPV virus can cause the development of warts in women on the cervix.This type of growth is very dangerous and causes cervical cancer.Common condylomas located on the labia minora or the penis, as a rule, are not classified as oncogenic.
Liquid nitrogen is most often used to remove them.This medicine allows you to get rid of the growth without scarring.The removal of condylomas on the labia can be done with a radio knife.
At home, mucosal tumors cannot be removed, as the epithelium of the genital organs can 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 one of the types of papillomas.These growths can appear on any part of the body, including mucous membranes.They are a soft ball with a uniform structure, rising above the skin thanks to a small handle.Papillomas are caused by the HPV virus;depending on the strain, they can affect both the epidermis and mucous membranes.The most dangerous places where growths are localized:
- the urethra;
- the larynx;
- anus;
- armpits;
- inguinal folds;
- the soles of the feet.
Papillomas in the urethra cause physical discomfort because the body perceives them as a potentially dangerous object.They can grow and cause a narrowing of the urethra in men, so they must be removed.
Growths in the larynx can cause persistent throat irritation and voice changes.Papillomas in the anus are easily injured and can become inflamed.Growths located in the folds of the skin 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 papillomas located in inconvenient places, which can be accidentally touched by nails or rubbed by clothes, must be removed.
Papillomas can appear in people of any age and gender.To remove them, methods used in the treatment of vulgar warts are used.
Keratomas
Common sites for senile keratoma are the back of the hands, face, and neck area;less often they can be located on the torso.
A keratoma is a growth of the stratum corneum of the skin.It is a brown spot that rises above the skin.The structure of the spot is quite dense, which is due to keratinization (keratinization) of the upper layer of the epidermis.
The main reasons for the development of keratomas are the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin and age-related changes in the epidermis.Such neoplasms are not a consequence of HPV and belong to age-related dermatological diseases.Keratomas only occur in people over 50 years of age.
They are considered safe neoplasms, the degree of oncogenicity is very low.Such growths can be located on any exposed parts of the body.
The neoplasm itself is a clear cosmetic defect, so it can be removed.Keratomas must be removed by professional methods - cryodestruction, laser removal, electrocoagulation.Especially large tumors are removed by surgical excision.
Filiform papillomas
There are several types of warts on the body;Filamentous papillomas are one of the most common types of warts.They appear in people over 40 years old.Most often, women encounter such neoplasms, since their skin is thinner than that of men.Localization of filiform papillomas:
- door;
- armpits;
- face;
- eyelids;
- 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.
Filamentous growths do not pose a health hazard, as they almost never degenerate into malignant neoplasms.The only exceptions are cases of severe growth damage and secondary infection.
It is impossible to remove filiform papillomas with the help of folk or pharmaceutical means.Due to its small size, aggressive exposure to bases and acids can lead to the formation of a deep wound, at the site of which a large scar will remain.To remove these small growths, it is better to give preference to laser, electrocoagulation or liquid nitrogen.
Threaded papillomas often affect the neck and armpits.
Plantar warts
Another manifestation of the HPV virus is plantar warts or spikes.These growths are a flat plaque similar in appearance to a callus that appears on the leg.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 a healthy epidermis.
Plantar warts grow deep into the skin and hurt when pressed.Both children and adults can face them.The spine must be removed using a laser, cryodestruction, or surgical method.Home remedies are effective only for removing small spikes, the size of which does not exceed 2-3 mm in diameter.
The spikes cause great discomfort, but are safe as they do not turn into cancer.
A plantar wart is not dangerous, but it causes discomfort when walking.
Diagnosis - which doctor should I contact?
To diagnose and remove warts on the skin of the body and face, you should consult a dermatologist.To make a diagnosis, a visual examination is performed.Examination with a dermatoscope will help determine the exact type of growth.
If growths appear on the genitals, you should contact a gynecologist (for women), a urologist (for men) or a venereologist.To determine the strain of the virus, PCR analysis of the urogenital smear is required.Based on the results of the examination, the doctor makes a decision about the acceptable methods of removing the tumor.