A large number of people on our planet are carriers of the human papillomavirus, which leads to the appearance of warts on various parts of the body. This problem is quite unpleasant, not only because the formations cause aesthetic discomfort, but also because they can hurt, interfere with walking, and even itch. Let's try to figure out why a wart itches and what it means.
In some cases, the wart may itch
Why can a wart itch?
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Warts appear on the skin due to the activity of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which entered the body through sexual contact or household contact (using the patient’s belongings, infection when visiting public swimming pools, saunas). Papillomas and condylomas that are viral in origin can be removed from the skin after being examined by a doctor. The formations pose a danger to the patient and carry the risk of infecting other people.
Dermatologists have named the reasons why the growth may itch:
- Weakened immunity, as a result of which the virus begins to become more active, causing the growth of new warts.
- Changing the appearance of the growth.
- Injury to the growth with a razor, during epilation, touching it with clothes, jewelry, rubbing with shoes.
- Poor hygiene if the growth is located under the armpits, in the groin or anus.
Most often, itching is caused by warts located on the fingers, groin, head, armpits, face, neck, back, legs, heels, arms, palms.
The feeling of itching is present due to activation of the virus, infection of the wound, chemical burn of healthy body tissues, the healing process after eliminating the bulge using diathermoelectrocoagulation or laser.
The essence of the problem
Warts appear on the skin due to the introduction of papillomavirus into the human body. Any adult patient has seen growths at least once in his life. The rashes can be localized on the neck, head, face, but most often they affect those areas that are vulnerable to injury - fingers and toes, heels.
The disease is especially acute in children and the elderly. The reason for this is weakened immunity. In healthy people, the virus remains in a latent state and does not manifest itself in any way. The growth of the tumor begins at the moment when the body’s protective reaction is disrupted. The following can speed up the development of the problem:
- pregnancy period;
- hypothermia;
- negative external factors;
- metabolic disorder;
- hormonal imbalances.
The size of condyloma varies from 2 mm to 5 cm in length. The larger the tumor, the more difficult it is to treat. Most often, vulgar (or ordinary) papillomas with a flaky surface are observed on the body of people.
Other types of growths should be noted:
- Flat or youthful, not raised above the skin.
- Genital warts, which are easily injured when touched carelessly.
- Senile keratomas.
Do the listed types of warts itch or not? In normal condition, the growths do not itch or hurt. The main disadvantage of papilloma is that it causes a cosmetic defect, but does not in any way affect a person’s quality of life and health.
Danger
If the elements itch, do not comb the skin, it can lead to serious consequences:
- development of the inflammatory process;
- infection of dermal cells;
- formation of scars, cicatrices;
- spread of virus cells to healthy tissues, which provokes the growth of new formations;
- bleeding.
When scratching a lump on the skin, there is a risk of foreign infection entering the bloodstream, which can lead to inflammation and worsening the patient’s well-being.
If the formation begins to itch, turn red, increase in size, or blurred boundaries are observed, then you need to consult a doctor.
The doctor will decide whether there is a need for surgical removal or whether antiviral drugs and pharmaceutical cauterization agents can be used.
What not to do
If the presence of a growth causes discomfort or if it itches around the wart, it is prohibited to use non-traditional methods of therapy in relation to it, as this may aggravate the situation. If you complain that you have smeared iodine on a wart and it itches, experts recommend not to self-medicate.
Most often, celandine juice, iodine or tar soap are used to get rid of warts. The use of this method can provoke the degeneration of neoplasm tissue into oncology, infection of the wart, bleeding, inflammation, rapid growth and changes in the structure of the neoplasm. Often the wart itches after celandine, because the method itself has started the pathological process.
If you get rid of warts on your own, a scar may form, changes in skin pigmentation and disruption of the natural functions of the skin. On the stomach or on the body in general, this may not matter, but in relation to exposed parts of the body, you should be careful.
If the wart is red, begins to itch, or exhibits other unpleasant symptoms, this is a reason to consult a doctor. A process left to chance can lead to the development of severe complications. If discomfort develops, self-medication should be avoided completely.
Diagnosis of itchy growth
If the growth causes discomfort, pain, bleeds or itches, you need to go to a dermatologist. To make a diagnosis and determine the type of wart on the dermis, the doctor conducts an examination and, if necessary, sends the patient for tests:
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to determine the type of virus and its quantity in the human body. They take fingerprints.
- Histology. Tissue removed from a plantar or other wart is sent for examination to determine its nature and the presence of cancer cells.
Flat, convex tubercles on the dermis, which are often exposed to ultraviolet radiation, are injured, rubbed by clothing or shoes, require special attention.
Prevention methods
Wart growths appear on the body due to a weakened immune system, so the main methods of prevention are focused on preventing infection and improving immunity. To do this you need:
- Do physical exercise and strengthen your body.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Be outdoors more often.
- Try not to injure the wart: trim your nails, wear soft things that are not close to your body, and dry yourself carefully with a towel.
- Eat right, follow the diet prescribed by your doctor.
- Carry out bath procedures more often to avoid irritation.
- Take vitamin complexes.
- Try not to use other people's things, especially a comb, razor or towel.
- Control your emotional state, avoid stressful situations.
- Have a full rest. Night sleep should last at least 7 hours.
- Promptly treat foci of chronic infection. The consequence of a negligent attitude towards one’s health can be the penetration of the virus into the body and the deterioration of the immune system.
The main components of good health
How to treat a wart that itches
To get rid of itching, dermatologists advise using pharmaceutical preparations:
- Nezulin.
- Akriderm.
- Mesoderm.
- Pimecrolimus.
- Iricar.
Folk remedies help eliminate discomfort:
- Chamomile with a string. A mixture of two herbs is brewed, the composition is infused for two hours, then gauze is moistened in it and attached to the sore spot.
- Garlic. The clove is cut in half, its cut is applied to the affected area.
- Bath with soda. A foot bath using warm water and soda helps eliminate itching; the lower limbs are dipped into it, steamed, and the top layer of the wart is cleaned off with pumice.
- Celandine. The juice of the plant removes itching and the formation itself.
- Kalanchoe. Apply the leaves of the plant to the growth for a week.
If the wart has already been scratched, you need to treat it with antiseptic medications: iodine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, castor oil.
Drug treatment
Itching can be relieved with the help of medications that have local and sedative effects. They are available in the form of ointments, creams and gels that have an antipruritic effect. Products are selected according to the patient's skin type. Thus, dry and flaky skin requires the use of fatty and cooling ointments, and the dermis with increased fat content requires the use of gels, tinctures and creams.
If the wart itches, as a rule, treatment consists of using drugs based on carbolic acid, tar, Anestezin, Diphenhydramine. The following ointments have a good effect: “Pimecrolimus”, “Akriderm”, “Mesoderm”, “Iricar”, cream-gel “Nezulin”. There are also products on sale that have complex effects, including antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects.
If the growth itches due to a secondary infection (gonococcus, staphylococcus, trichomonas, etc.), it is necessary to fight it.
A necessary condition for treating an unpleasant symptom with medications is a consultation with a dermatologist and a detailed study of the instructions for use of the drug.
What symptoms should you see a doctor for?
Constant itching in the area of education is a reason to consult a doctor. The symptom may indicate inflammation of a flat or raised growth on the skin.
Signs of wart inflammation:
- bleeding of the formation and the area of skin around it;
- change in size, color, shape, blurring of boundaries;
- rapid growth on the skin;
- sensation of pain, itching in the area of the wart;
- swelling of the tubercle, sharp redness or darkening.
Most doctors advise removing growths that itch not with pharmaceutical drugs or folk remedies, but in a hospital setting using the following methods:
- Cryodestruction or cauterization with liquid nitrogen.
- Laser therapy.
- Radio waves.
- Surgical excision.
- Diathermoelectrocoagulation.
The appearance of moles and other bumps on the skin is not always a lucky sign. Any points on the skin require observation and care; they should not be combed, picked, or removed with pumice or scrubs. If a person experiences frequent discomfort, he should visit a doctor.
Video on topic
Warts are benign formations, some of which remain on a person’s skin throughout life without changing color, shape or size. Their presence is expressed only as a cosmetic defect on the dermis. If a wart itches, there is reason to think; there can be many reasons for this phenomenon. Treatment or removal of the growth may be required.
Prompt ways to solve the problem
It is recommended to remove all warts located in easily injured areas. There are many methods for bloodless and painless removal of growth. These include:
- laser radiation;
- cryodestruction;
- electrocoagulation.
The essence of the first procedure is layer-by-layer removal of papilloma using heat. Another way to cauterize a growth is to use liquid nitrogen. The method has virtually no contraindications and is especially effective in the early stages of the disease.
Along with surgical treatment, it is recommended to take a course of vitamins to strengthen the immune system. An integrated approach will increase the chance of full recovery. If HPV is present in the body, it is necessary to promptly treat chronic ailments in order to avoid the multiplication of the viral pathogen.
Causes of itching
Why might a wart itch? There are several reasons for the condition, but if the appearance of the tumor does not change, then there is no need to panic ahead of time. The reason to visit a doctor is a sharp increase in growth and discomfort when touching it. A rare cause of these changes is the degeneration of papilloma tissue into a malignant tumor. Much more often, harmless factors lead to the disease - injury, secondary infection, or aggressive exposure to sunlight. Each of the listed causes of wart itching should be considered in more detail.
Damage to the build-up
A common reason for the growth and itching of condyloma is wearing uncomfortable underwear. This is especially true in cases where the tumor is localized on the abdomen, back or genitals. The problem can be solved by selecting appropriately sized items made from natural materials. Synthetic fabrics do not allow the skin to breathe, which provokes an exacerbation of epidermal diseases. Increased sweating and insufficient air exchange are ideal conditions for warts to increase in size and become red.
Condylomas can hurt and itch due to the increased pressure exerted by clothing on the body. For this reason, you should avoid wearing things that do not fit.
Symptoms of itching are provoked by accidental damage to the papilloma during work or when putting on things. In such cases, doctors recommend excision of the pathological elevation.
Connection of secondary infection
The wart may itch and grow due to the re-attachment of a bacterial pathogen. When the body's defenses decrease, a small wound appears on the surface of the condyloma.
Excessive sun exposure
The appearance of growths on the skin changes under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The neoplasms become denser, grow in size and itch. The listed signs indicate:
- about a minor burn of the epidermis;
- about excess melanin production.
Any area of the skin can be affected by sun rays, but the following areas are most affected: neck, face, décolleté, hands. These parts of the body are almost always open during the hot season.
Radiation in a solarium can provoke the degeneration of benign condyloma cells into a cancerous tumor. For this reason, experts advise people who have growths and moles on their skin to avoid visiting beaches and beauty salons. Sunbathing is possible only after applying special protective creams.
How to Deal with Itching Symptoms
To relieve signs of itching, pharmaceutical products with a sedative effect are used. Women during pregnancy should take medications only under the supervision of a doctor. Many drugs used to combat pathology are prohibited when carrying a child, since they negatively affect its growth and development.
For temporary relief of itching, ointments and creams are used for local treatment of problem areas. If the epidermis is peeling, then preference is given to gels with a fatty composition and a cooling effect:
It is desirable that the agent used has several actions at once: antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial. For signs of severe itching, creams and ointments are used:
Medicines are used only with the permission of a doctor. Many of the listed creams have contraindications, for example, violation of the integrity of the epidermis.
Treatment of itchy warts requires an integrated approach, especially if the tumors are located in the genital area. The excreted feces and urine corrode the surface of the papilloma and cause its secondary infection with staphylococci, gonococci and other types of bacteria. In this case, your doctor will help you develop a competent treatment regimen. If the problem is diagnosed in women, they are advised to change panty liners frequently.
Additionally, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:
- do not touch or scratch the wart;
- regularly wash the affected area with soap;
- wear loose clothing made from natural fabrics;
- stop using woolen items;
- treat the growth with iodine and camphor oil;
- Take antihistamines orally if signs of itching worsen.
