Causes, symptoms and treatment of viral warts

Introduction

A viral wart is a benign growth on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus. The disease is called HPV, or simply human papillomavirus infection.

Today, this virus is the most common, 90% of the world’s population is infected with it. More common in women. 130 strains have been registered, 90 of them affect the skin and mucous membranes. It is impossible to completely recover from PVI.

What virus provokes the appearance of growths?

The HPV virus is highly specific for humans; it infects and transforms basal epithelial cells (keratocytes). The most common cause of viral warts are HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57. HPV types 3, 7, 10 and 28, 41, 65, 88 and 95 types are less common.

• 1, 2 and 4 type is detected with plantar warts;
• 2, 4, 26, 27, 29, 57 – with vulgar;
• 3, 10, 28, 49 types – with flat ones.

In the cells of the basal layer, the virus can be in a latent state for a very long time. The process of HPV replication begins only when favorable factors appear.

Description of growths, localization sites: hands, feet, fingers

A wart is the most common manifestation of HPV. It is a formation on the skin in the form of a nodule, often flesh or light brown in color, ranging in size from 1 to 10 mm. Also read how a plantar wart is trimmed in a child , symptoms and treatment.

The growth can be single or multiple. Its shape is round, dense and convex, with clear boundaries. First, the main wart appears – the maternal one, and the child warts are already formed around it.

The growth of warts in most cases is slowed down, they gradually grow and protrude to the surface. They do not cause any symptoms at first, so it often seems to a person that the papilloma appears suddenly. Depending on their localization, the warts are subsequently injured, hurt and bleed.

At what age do they appear?

Usually warts appear in young people aged 18 to 30 who are sexually active – if we are talking about anogenital warts. In recent years, the number of anal papillomas has grown due to the growing interest in anal sex.

Often they occur after 40 – then they talk about age-related warts. Children very often have warts due to bad habits (bite their nails and suck their fingers), learn the world very actively and drag everything into their mouths.

Even babies are not immune from HPV if the mother has genital growths. Infection occurs during childbirth. This is often expressed in papillomatosis of the larynx , as a result of which obstruction may occur.

In children

The frequency of warts in children is associated with their high activity – they are very mobile, often fall, play and mess around in the sandbox, dive into water, etc. In these conditions, they are often without shoes, and minor skin lesions are common.

Warts in children develop in a peculiar way, this is due to a thin layer of the epidermis and delicate children’s skin. First, in one place, a whole cluster of small flattened elevations, flesh-colored, appears. The larger ones are in the center. It often starts with the fingers, and then spreads further.

In adults

In adults, warts are often associated with the profession – cleaning, garbage collection, agricultural work, etc. These people are more likely than others to expose their skin to microtraumas, which sometimes go unnoticed. Adults are characterized by a single location of viral growths.

Warts have a wrinkled, rough surface. In their development, they go through several stages: latent, active and aging.

At the last stage, they are transformed into dense, keratinized nodules. In this form, they may disappear. 70% of warts disappear on their own, 2 years after their appearance, but with the same success they return to other places.

What are they and how do they look?

Doctors distinguish the following types:

• Ordinary (vulgar) – the shape is convex-round, small, flesh-colored, dimensions do not exceed 3 mm. The surface is rough. This is the most common form – up to 70%. In most cases, they are located on the fingers, palms, back of the hands due to frequent damage or contact with potentially infected objects.
• Plantar – resemble dry corns, for which they are called dry warts. They constantly experience the pressure of a person’s weight, therefore they do not grow outward, but inward, in the form of a spike. As a result, the internal tissues are damaged and hurt a lot. In the people, this type of growths is called “spurs” or “thorns”. As the pain hardens, it becomes chronic.
• Flat or youthful – the color differs little from the skin. Mostly occur in children and adolescents on the bends of the elbows and knees, neck, chest. They are flattened in shape, protrude slightly above the level of the skin, not more than 3 mm in size. They can be confused with moles or freckles.
• Genital warts or anogenital  – occur during sexual intercourse and appear after a few months. The incubation period  is long.
• Papillomatous – grow inside the larynx. Larger sizes can lead to death from asphyxia.

Vulgar

The causes of such papillomas are types 26–29, 41, 63, 77 of the virus. Neoplasms are not malignant. First, at the site of the future, discomfort occurs in the form of itching and burning, then papillomas appear – spherical growths.

The color is first flesh, then darkens. Size – no more than 1 cm, rough, slightly rise above the skin. Most often appear on the hands, thighs, in infants – on the knees. May be single or multiple.

Dry

Dry wart – a growth on the inside of the palms, feet and fingers. The formations are hard, yellowish in color, similar to corns. HPV types 1, 2 and 4 are caused.

Dry warts are more common in those who wear uncomfortable shoes or neglect the rules of hygiene in public places. The growths often hurt, itch, lead to a change in gait.

Considering them to be calluses, many do not go to the doctor. At the initial stage, the pain is felt only when stepping, walking, then it becomes constant. A plantar wart  always has a few black dots – these are sealed vessels. There is no skin pattern on it – this is its main difference from corns.

flat

They occur more frequently in children than in adults. Flat (intradermal) papillomas practically do not protrude above the skin, have a wide base. Called by types 3 and 10. In shape – rounded or oval flesh-colored formations. tend to merge. The growths are located on the folds of the limbs, neck, in the armpit.

Flat papilloma

filiform

They have a thin and narrow specific leg. At first they look like a small bump, which soon stretches out. They hang down in the form of flesh-colored skin mushrooms.

HPV types 7 and 2 are caused. Appear after 40 years. They are localized on the neck, upper eyelids, in the groin , under the armpits, in the inguinal zone and under the mammary glands. Easily and often injured by clothing or inaccurate movements.

About nail

Periungual warts are a variety of simple ones. They spoil the appearance of the hands, although they do not pose a threat.

Most often caused by a type 2 virus. Such growths affect the skin of the nail cuticle or are localized under the plate. They look unaesthetic, so many of their owners tend to get rid of them faster.

Most often, this disease affects people who constantly bite their nails, tear off cuticles and work without protective gloves in the aquatic environment. Also, such growths occur in children who constantly suck their fingers.

Senile keratomas

Seborrheic (senile) keratosis is the occurrence of benign formations on the surface of the skin. In other words, this is not an inflammatory increased keratinization and thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis of the skin, which is accompanied by a slowdown in the exfoliation of dead cells.

With age, the skin becomes less collagen, so it loses its elasticity. Wrinkles appear on it, it dries, cracks. But her changes are not limited to this. With age, spots also form on the skin: yellow, brown, in the form of plaques, growths, etc.

They peel off, can itch, change their color and size. Usually such changes begin after 40 years. Growths appear in places inaccessible to the eye (back, neck, head), they have no symptoms, and the person does not notice them.

Such changes are absent only on the palms and soles. And after 60 years, seborrheic keratosis occurs in 95% of people. Neoplasms can be single or multiple. They grow very slowly, are asymmetrical, non-infectious, rarely reborn, although this possibility is not excluded – 3.3% of cases. Special treatment is often not required.

Places of localization of neoplasms

Favorite localization is the basal layer of the epithelium. This is where the virus lives and multiplies rapidly. Favorable conditions for it – the presence of moisture.

The localization of warts is almost unlimited, but they appear faster in those places where contact with the virus is possible: fingers and feet.

Favorite places of appearance are the back surfaces of the hands, fingers, interdigital spaces, palms, feet, beard area, scalp, lip border, that is, where the skin is most and most often damaged. Often warts grow on the genitals – it is always warm and humid here.

Causes of occurrence, under what circumstances arise?

The main reason is the penetration of HPV into damaged skin. Common ways of infection are contact-household, sexual, vertical (a sick mother infects a child during childbirth).

Provoking factors:

• weakening of the immune system; stress;
• psycho-emotional overload;
• diabetes;
• hormonal disruptions during pregnancy and puberty;
• smoking and alcohol (smoking has been proven to stimulate the growth of HPV in the cervix);
• visiting crowded places – baths, saunas, beaches, pools;
• violation of personal hygiene, use of other people’s towels or cosmetics;
• avitaminosis;
• overweight;
• old age;
• increased sweating.

Signs of HPV infection

Symptoms of warts are practically absent. On the skin, they grow slowly and imperceptibly. Patients usually go to the doctor only for aesthetic discomfort.

Signs of damage can only give plantar warts, others in case of injury. Warts do not cause symptoms because the virus does not penetrate into the deeper layers of the dermis.

Why should you see a doctor?

Some types of human papillomavirus are cancerous. The most serious complication is degeneration into a malignant form.

An urgent visit to the doctor is necessary if:

• there is an increase in education;
• the growth became inflamed, began to bleed;
• education is constantly being traumatized;
• itchy;
• the wart changes its color and surface, geometry;
• there are signs of suppuration;
• you are at risk for a genetic predisposition;
• education is in a prominent place and causes problems, from an aesthetic point of view.

Possible Complications

Complications can occur in case of inflammation of frequently injured warts. This is fraught with infection of the wound. Surgical removal of a wart can also lead to inflammation.

Injured warts may bleed or become chafed by clothing. This may be the result of rubbing clothing, wearing jewelry. Malignancy often occurs after 45 years.

Conclusion

High immunity copes well with HPV. But as soon as immune functions weaken, the virus is activated. In addition, only healthy clean skin can serve as a reliable barrier against the virus.

Prevention can be specific and non-specific. The first option is to vaccinate adolescent girls against HPV of the cervix  with a high oncogenicity. The second option is to comply with the preventive measures of the rules.