Warts, as you already know, are caused by the human papillomavirus. They can be located almost anywhere on the body, and warts often appear on the hands. When are warts dangerous and need medical attention? How to prevent the appearance of warts on hands? You will find the answers to these questions in the next article.
Warts on hands
A wart (wart) is a benign, contagious lesion of the skin that looks like a papule or papilloma.
Common, flat warts and genital warts are caused by a virus common to them - Tumefaciens verrucarum. The incubation period is long (2-5 months). Histologically, depending on the clinical form, different severities of papillomatosis, acanthosis, hyperkeratosis are found; in the cells of the styloid layer - perinuclear vacuoles.
The common wart (verruca vulgaris) is a dense, non-inflammatory nodule from the head of a pin to a pea, grayish or yellowish in color, with a rough surface. Most often located on the hands. Common warts can appear in large numbers.
The wart is flat or juvenile (flat wart, s. Juvenilis) - a flat papule, slightly bulging above the level of healthy skin, rounded or polygonal outlines, flesh or yellowish-pink, with a matte, sometimes shiny surface. Flat warts are usually multiple, spread on the face, back of the hands in young people, especially at school age.
The plantar wart (verruca plantaris) - a callus-like variety of a common wart - is located in places of increased pressure, particularly in the head of the metatarsal bone and in the heel area. Painful under pressure. After scraping the horny masses from the surface of the wart, the papillary bulges are exposed.
Genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) occur as a tiny pink papule, which then grows into a papillary shape. When the papules fuse, extensive vegetation is formed. Characterized by a smooth consistency, a narrow leg-shaped base. It most often develops in the genitals, inguinal and intergluteal folds with dirty maintenance and skin maceration.
Characteristics of warts on hands and palms
Warts can affect absolutely any part of the epidermis of the hands, but most often they form on the back of the hand or in the area of the fingers. Furthermore, most of these formations belong to common growths that do not differ in color from healthy skin and are relatively small in size - 0, 1-1 cm.
As for the number of these neoplasms, there are single skin defects and multiple warts that are prone to fuse.
Distinct signs of warts on the palms are the following manifestations:
- Absence of pain and itching;
- The skin defect site does not have an epidermal pattern, which is usually restored after the wart is removed;
- Black dots may appear on the surface of the formation, which represent coagulated vessels.
Based on the above, we can conclude that warts on the palms are another aesthetic defect, which, however, in the absence of timely treatment, can lead to a significant proliferation of neoplasms and a high risk of mechanical damage.
How to recognize a wart
The wart looks like a mass that rises above the skin, with a different skin color. Most of the time, several warts appear at the same time. At the same time, the location can be very diverse: from the palms of the hands and face to the soles of the feet (plantar warts). A wart can appear on the palm of the hand and even under the nail! The formation is rough to the touch, or vice versa, smooth and flat.
Papillomas that appear in groups are capable of fusion.
Common warts (common) usually appear on the fingers. A common wart looks like a tumor no more than one centimeter in size, its color is brownish or gray, and it has a dome shape. Black dots may be visible within the formation. Small, flat warts usually appear on the hands and are characterized by the appearance of clumps. Its color is pinkish or yellowish.
Reasons for Appearance
Warts on fingers and other parts of the body are exclusively viral in nature, which is associated with the penetration of human papillomavirus into the patient's blood. Based on this, the treatment of warts on fingers, palms and elbows should aim to eliminate the underlying cause. Unfortunately, so far, no medical technique is able to completely rid the patient's blood of the virus, which explains the symptomatic therapy of neoplasms.
An important concomitant factor that causes the appearance of warts on the hands is the decrease in the body's immune response, which can occur in a context of overwork, malnutrition or an infectious process. Considering the fact that HPV is able to enter the bloodstream through damage to the epidermis, it is worth noting the role of microtraumas, scratches and minor wounds, which are not uncommon on the skin of the hands. Based on all of the above, you can once again appreciate the importance of maintaining personal hand hygiene.
Despite all this, HPV infection is not critical. Statistical data claim that about 90% of all people are carriers of the virus, which may not manifest for a long time, being in the blood in a latent state.
As already mentioned, these neoplasms arise due to the penetration of the HP virus in the body, which has more than a hundred types. This virus is quite common, and common warts are found in 20% of school-age children.
It is important to remember that the attack multiplies quite intensely - through the germination of the upper layers. Also, the person from whom you got the "wart" virus may not have the warts. HPV is especially fond of micro-cracks in the skin and micro-trauma, so most people "bring" them from reservoirs and public pools.
If you don't take treatment measures and don't remove these rashes, complications can arise: they can spread throughout the body, and even if they go away, they can come back again. When removing warts at home, keloid scars can form.
Symptoms of warts on hands and fingers
Of course, warts, despite their harmlessness, should not be ignored, as they can cause many problems. Furthermore, they are contagious and can be transmitted to new and new victims with a simple touch.
By the way, the appearance of such rashes should be a reason to think about your own immunity, because it is people with reduced immunity who are at risk. Numerous stresses weaken our immunity and therefore these people also become vulnerable to this virus.
How to recognize a wart? Around the papilla or nodule that rises above the skin, the skin will be characteristically fair or, conversely, dark. The lump appears more than one, usually on the forehead, cheeks, arms and legs, small moles appear, dense and fleshy, smooth and flat. Rough growths appear around the nails or under the nails, and on the legs you may also notice these neoplasms that are oval or round and that are painful to step on. To the touch, they are a little rough or smooth and flat, they can merge into groups into a neoplasm.
Wart viruses can sit dormant in your body for years and their incubation period can last up to six months, so don't be surprised if they show up suddenly for no apparent reason.
Warts can be different: there are common or common, flat, plantar, as well as filiform and genital varieties. Common warts are those that appear on the feet and hands, on the elbows and knees, and on the fingers and toes. They are small growths, no more than one centimeter, hard to the touch, brownish or gray in color. Its shape is usually domed.
The common or vulgar surface can be rough, resembling a cauliflower in appearance, and black spots can be distinguished inside. The flat type includes those that, with sizes up to five millimeters, are distinguished by a smooth and flat surface, as well as pink, yellowish or light brown. These growths usually appear on the face, but they can grow in clusters on the hands or knees.
The most unpleasant are plantar warts: they cause many problems when walking, causing sensations as if a stone had entered the shoe. They are usually quite hardy, dirty gray in color. The threadlike type grows on the face - around the nose, around the neck, around the mouth. They are elongated and resemble the shape and color of a finger.
Warts also include genital warts, also called genital warts: they develop on the genitals as well as the groin and buttocks and are a direct consequence of an impure attitude towards the body. Externally they look like pink nodules, often fuse together, have a base that looks like a leg.
when to see a doctor
- if the wart rapidly changes shape, color or all together;
- if the wart has an uneven color;
- if the boundaries of the wart are vague (in this case it is most likely not a wart);
- if the wart hurts or is constantly sore (this increases the risk of turning it into something more serious);
- if the number of warts gradually increases;
- if the wart is bleeding or itchy;
How to get rid of papilloma in your hands
Warts cause us a lot of discomfort on a daily basis. In conspicuous places, they don't look aesthetically pleasing, inconveniently located, hurt quickly, and cause pain. Therefore, people often go to a dermatologist when warts appear. Due to the possibility of its malignancy, oncologists are also involved in warts.
As the appearance of warts is associated with provocative factors, the treatment is usually complemented by the ingestion of vitamin and mineral complexes, sedatives and agents that increase immunity. Otherwise, mechanical removal of the papillomas may not give the desired results and, after a while, they will start to grow again.
The desire to get rid of warts on your own sometimes leads to bad consequences. Several folk remedies offered by various consultants may not only fail to remove the wart, but also contribute to its malignancy. You must be extremely careful here. Home treatment of warts should not involve the use of traditional medicines, but the use of special medicines purchased from the pharmacy.
It's even easier to trust professionals at private clinics. Or make an appointment with a dermatologist, an oncology dispensary.
Papilloma Removal Methods
Today, private and public clinics can offer a very wide range of methods to eliminate warts. Before choosing a removal technique, listen to your doctor's recommendations. Your doctor will advise you on the most appropriate intervention based on your individual characteristics. In particular, they are:
What to do to dissolve warts on your hands
A woman's son was just four years old when warts began to appear on his arms. There were so many that in kindergarten his mother was asked not to take him there. And what they just didn't do with this misfortune! Doctors recommended burning the warts with acid. But the woman still decided to resort to folk remedies for the treatment of warts.
Cut a branch of a thuja (the size of a palm) into pieces 3–7 mm long. Put in a glass bottle, for example, hydrogen peroxide, pour alcohol. Close with a stopper and leave to ferment for 12 days, stirring occasionally. After 12 days, open and keep the bottle open for 1–2 days. After that, the dye is ready to use.
You need to dip a cotton ball in a match and lubricate the warts several times a day. It is recommended to lubricate up to six times a day. And after this treatment, the warts finally began to disappear from the boy's skin without a trace. However, don't expect immediate results. So how long the course of treatment for the boy was. And by the way, the dye can be stored for a long time.
Propolis for warts on fingers
For a long time - more than six years - a woman could not get rid of a wart on her finger. She tried to burn it with liquid nitrogen, but the wart continued to grow. She even went to the oncologist, because she was beginning to think it was a malignant neoplasm.
But at the hospital, her fears were not confirmed, and the doctor suggested that she take a wart-sized piece of propolis, put it in her mouth, and soften it with saliva. At this time, in slightly lukewarm water - clean, without any additives - hold a finger with a wart for 30–40 minutes so that it also softens. Then it is necessary to clean the finger and apply the propolis to the wart, which has just softened in the mouth.
It should be fixed with duct tape for three or four days. It has been written in the lunar calendar that it is best to start removing warts during the full moon and continue until the new moon.
On New Moon Eve, remove all bandages and stop treatment until full moon, and restart at full moon.
It was with this popular method of treating warts that she painlessly got rid of this unpleasant misfortune. If you have minor warts, you may be able to get rid of them in a full moon or new moon treatment.
Wart Prevention
It is known that it is easier to prevent the disease than to cure it later. This fully applies to warts. First of all, you must follow the basic rules of personal hygiene.
You should not walk barefoot in common areas, especially wet ones - like showers, changing rooms, swimming pools; don't abuse shoes in which your feet constantly sweat, or at least find an opportunity to dry them qualitatively; do not unnecessarily touch your own warts or other people's warts or objects that the patient has touched with you.
You should also pay attention to your overall health and especially your immune system - eat a balanced diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.
It would also be good to learn to relax and avoid stress - with this, you are guaranteed to get rid not only of the possible appearance of warts, but also of a lot of possible illnesses.