Warts are small growths on the skin of the body or face.Their formation is associated with the activity of the human papillomavirus (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 most well-groomed 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.Due to its action, a pathological process of epidermal cell division begins, which results in the appearance of a small skin growth, or wart.
There are different types of warts, which 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 occurrence.The following reminder on 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.Favorite localization areas are areas with increased sweating.Vulgar warts are most often located on the hands, feet, back, and sides.
It takes about several months from the moment of infection with the virus until such growths appear.If a person’s immunity is strong, the body itself will defeat the virus, and warts will not appear on the skin.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 growths.They almost never degenerate into a malignant neoplasm.
Vulgar warts can appear in anyone.They are encountered equally often by children, adolescents and adults.You can remove them in several ways:
- 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
It is quite easy to recognize the types of warts from a photo yourself.One of the rare types is flat warts.They account for no more than 4% of cases of skin growths.
Features of flat warts:
- diameter no more than 5 mm;
- slight elevation above the skin;
- irregular shape;
- clear boundaries;
- smooth surface;
- slight pigmentation.
These warts differ slightly in color from healthy skin - they are slightly more pink or brown, which makes them easy to visualize.The second name for flat warts is juvenile.They appear more often in children and adolescents.Classic locations 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, therefore they are relatively safe.
Such growths do not pose a health hazard and do not cause discomfort other than aesthetic ones.If there are many of them or they are located on open areas of the body, removing the growth will not be difficult.To avoid the formation of scars, it is recommended to use cryodestruction, electrocoagulation or laser removal.
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 in women and men.These growths are viral in nature; the strain of HPV that causes the appearance of such warts is sexually transmitted.
Features 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 injured.
Condylomas are types of warts that are easily recognizable from photographs.Most often they are localized 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 are 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.Ordinary condylomas located on the labia minora or penis, as a rule, are not classified as 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 carried out using a radio knife.
At home, tumors on the mucous membranes 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 of uniform structure, rising above the skin thanks to a small stalk.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:
- urethra;
- larynx;
- anus;
- armpits;
- inguinal folds;
- soles of feet.
Papillomas in the urethra cause physical discomfort, as the body perceives them as a potentially dangerous object.They can grow and lead to urethral stricture 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.The growths located in the folds of the skin rub heavily 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 clothing, 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 locations for senile keratoma are the back of the hands, face and neck area; less commonly, they can be located on the torso.
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 disorders.Keratomas appear only 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 open areas of the body.
The neoplasm itself is a clear cosmetic defect, so it can be removed.Keratomas should be removed using 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 neoplasms, since their skin is thinner than that of men.Localization of filamentous papillomas:
- neck;
- armpits;
- face;
- eyelids;
- area under the mammary glands;
- inguinal folds.
This type of growth is a small oblong papilla that rises above the skin.The dimensions of the papillae are very small - no more than 1 mm in diameter and several mm in length.
Thread-like growths do not pose a health hazard, since they almost never degenerate into malignant neoplasms.The only exceptions are cases of severe damage to growths and secondary infection.
It is impossible to remove filamentous papillomas using folk or pharmaceutical remedies.Due to their small size, aggressive exposure to alkalis and acidic agents can lead to the formation of a deep wound, in place 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 spinules.These growths are a flat plaque, similar in appearance to a callus, that appears on the foot.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 encounter them.The spine should be removed using a laser, cryodestruction or surgical method.Home remedies are effective only for removing small spines, the size of which does not exceed 2-3 mm in diameter.
The spines cause severe discomfort, but are safe as they do not degenerate 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 to accurately determine the type of growth.
If growths appear on the genitals, you should contact a gynecologist (for women), a urologist (for men) or a venereologist.A PCR analysis of the urogenital smear is required to determine the strain of the virus.Based on the results of the examination, the doctor makes a decision on acceptable methods for removing the tumor.