How to identify a wart and growths on the skin in the form of such formations, and how are pimples and calluses similar to them?

What is a wart and what causes warts?

Warts are benign skin growths that develop under the influence of various types of

Papilloma is a known problem of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Activation of HPV occurs under the influence of factors such as hypothermia, inflammation in the body and promiscuous sex life. Growths on the body in the form of warts can have a different structure and appear on any part of the skin.

Warts are contagious; their pathogen is transmitted through contact with a sick person or through shared objects. The risk of infection increases when the integrity of the skin is damaged (atopic dermatitis, cuts).

Treatment

As a rule, treatment for a red wart is prescribed when it causes physical or cosmetic discomfort. In other cases, nothing needs to be done.

Drug therapy

Conservatively, red warts are treated with the following medications:

• Hormones. This is the most effective therapy, but drugs in this group are selected strictly on an individual basis after the necessary diagnosis, in addition, hormonal treatment must be monitored by the attending physician.
• Sclerosing therapy. Subcutaneous injection of ethyl alcohol is carried out. Thus, scar tissue is formed, which compresses the blood vessels. As a result, the neoplasm cells die. Despite the simplicity of this procedure, it should only be performed in a hospital setting.

Surgical removal

You can remove red warts in the following ways:

• Cryodestruction - neoplasm cells are frozen with liquid nitrogen.
• Electrocoagulation - the neoplasm is cauterized, and the vessels are simultaneously sealed. The disadvantage of this removal is that noticeable scars remain after the procedure.
• Laser coagulation is a gentle method of removal, so it can be used on children, and even remove tumors on the delicate skin near the eyes. Several procedures will be required at intervals of a week.
• Surgical excision - used in the presence of large red subcutaneous warts. Removal is carried out with a scalpel at a time. The downside is that after the procedure there is a scar or scar.

What types of warts are there?

Depending on the shape and location of warts, as well as the type of HPV virus that provoked them, there are several types of these tumors. Types of warts on the body include:

• simple (ordinary, vulgar);
• flat (youth);
• palmoplantar;
• filamentous (hanging warts);
• genital (pointed, venereal);
• senile warts.

Simple warts are light (gray, yellow) or brown nodules, the diameter of which is 2-10 mm. This type of neoplasm is most often found in school-age children. In most cases, simple warts appear on the elbows, knees, fingers and face.

Flat warts on the body are pink, red or yellow-brown papules with a flat and smooth surface. Most often, flat warts form on the oral mucosa, the back of the hands and along the edges of the lips of the mouth.

Palmoplantar warts are dense, round plaques and papules that have a granular surface. These neoplasms appear on the palmar surface of the hands and the skin of the feet. These warts on the legs often cause discomfort when standing and walking.

Filiform warts are small, soft threads of thin skin. The diameter of warts, as a rule, is 4-6 mm, but there are also neoplasms up to 1 cm in diameter. Most often, filiform warts appear on the skin of the eyelids, neck, armpits and under the mammary glands.

Papillomas on the labia: how best to remove Genital warts appear in the form of papules on the labia, penis, perianal and pararectal areas. Such tumors can cause cancer. At the same time, genital warts develop quite quickly and are often combined into groups of several neoplasms.

Senile warts on the body (keratomas) occur in middle-aged and elderly people. Over time, keratomas increase in size and turn from light-colored growths into brown warts. The occurrence of senile warts is not associated with HPV. Its causes may include genetic characteristics of the body, poor nutrition and skin injuries.

Signs

Red warts do not manifest themselves symptomatically, they do not interfere physically, and the most that can bother a person is a cosmetic defect.

However, the manifestations of neoplasms may depend on the location, structure and characteristics of the course, for example:

• on the neck, can put pressure on the trachea and interfere with normal breathing;
• near the eye or ear area may limit vision or hearing.

If red warts are located on internal organs, they can interfere with their functionality; such neoplasms have a particularly negative effect in childhood – during the period of growth.

Options for the development of warts without treatment:

• an increase in the size and number of tumors;
• for a long time everything will remain unchanged;
• spontaneous disappearance.

Options for the course of pathology during treatment:

• neoplasms completely disappear at the very beginning of therapy;
• warts disappear gradually with treatment;
• warts remain resistant to treatment.

Speaking about the unpredictability of red warts, it must be said that even after complete recovery, a relapse is not excluded.

What are the differences between warts and papillomas?

Both warts and papillomas are caused by exposure to the human papillomavirus. But unlike papillomas, which are soft skin growths, warts have a dense structure.

A characteristic feature of papillomas is the presence of a stalk (a slight narrowing at the site of contact with the surface of the skin). Warts have no legs. Papillomas most often appear on the back, neck, armpits and genital area, and warts - on the knees, elbows, phalanges of the fingers and facial skin.

It is often difficult to distinguish a wart from a papilloma by eye. Only a doctor who examines the patient, conducts diagnostics and prescribes treatment can diagnose a skin tumor.

Types of growths on the body

Similar formations can be observed in men and women, even in children; they are divided into two main types, by which benign neoplasms can be distinguished from other skin defects:

• flat – the structure is dense, outwardly reminiscent of moles;
• cavernous - rise above the surface of the skin, growing outward.

Combined elevations are also diagnosed - a combination of simple and cavernous neoplasms, as well as mixed ones - in addition to blood vessels, they include nervous and muscle tissue; such neoplasms are called hemangiomas.

According to their appearance, red warts are classified as follows:

• flat;
• branched;
• pineal;
• knotty.

It must be said that the type of red wart does not matter to the patient himself; this information is needed only by a specialist in order to determine which method of removing a skin growth will be more preferable.

Red warts are an accumulation of small blood vessels in a group; the mechanism of this association is not yet known to science, but some experts believe that this phenomenon may be caused by the influence of certain protein structures that are synthesized in utero - in the placenta.

What happens if a wart is injured or torn off?

If you traumatize a wart, it can hurt, bleed, and grow in size. If you severely injure or tear off a wart, this can lead to its degeneration into a malignant neoplasm.

After injury, warts may turn red or black. But in some cases, red warts on the body can occur due to disturbances in the functioning of small blood vessels, which lead to their interweaving with each other. Black warts on the body often appear in old age and in the presence of blood clots in the blood vessels. If a black wart occurs at a young age, this carries a risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system (which are caused by blood clots).

Is it dangerous

Red warts are benign in nature and do not pose a health hazard to the wearer. They do not cause discomfort if they are not located in visible areas. Danger arises from accidental or special damage. The following problems will appear:

• inflammation of hemangioma with the formation of bleeding ulcers and erosions;
• damage to large warts is fraught with infection and inflammation with the release of pus;
• injury will result in bleeding.

If the red growths are large, it is recommended to undergo regular examinations with a dermatologist. The formation of a wart with a bloody spot in the middle indicates blockage of the capillaries, requiring special treatment. If itching, peeling, or a sharp increase in size appear, consult a doctor; these are alarming symptoms indicating the development of a malignant process. After examining the problem area and collecting tests, treatment is prescribed, with possible removal.

How to get rid of a wart?

Treatment of warts includes removal of tumors and drug therapy aimed at combating the human papillomavirus, as well as increasing immunity. You can remove warts using methods such as:

• radio wave surgery (using the Surgitron device);
• cryodestruction (removal of warts due to exposure to liquid nitrogen);
• chemical exposure (cauterization of warts with special compounds);
• electrocoagulation (removal under the influence of high-frequency current).

Treatment of warts with folk remedies is also common. It is recommended to wipe the new growths daily with an infusion of celandine, which can be purchased in pharmacies. Castor oil also has a therapeutic effect, one drop of which should be applied to the wart twice a day. Garlic will also help remove warts (they should rub the growths every day until they completely disappear).

It is possible to get rid of warts forever through their complex therapy, which can only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Self-medication can lead to injury to warts and the development of complications.

Effective removal methods

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Warts are treated with antiviral therapy, but the method is not effective against hemangiomas. If the red pigment spots do not interfere, are small in size and are not in a dangerous area subject to injury, treatment is not necessary. Removal is required in cases of a cosmetic defect, a large area of ​​formation, or in places of increased friction. The clinic will conduct diagnostics, study the causes and nature of the red growth. The doctor decides which treatment will be effective in your case.

Taking pharmaceutical drugs

Treatment is based on taking hormonal and sclerosing drugs. Hormone therapy is effective, but not suitable for everyone. Prescribed by a doctor, medication is taken under the supervision of a specialist. Treatment with the sclerosing method involves a subcutaneous injection of ethyl alcohol in the area with the red wart. Its injection effect promotes the formation of scar tissue, which constricts the blood vessels, causing the gradual destruction of the element.

Surgical removal

You can remove warts using several methods, the effectiveness of which is justified.

Removal using traditional methods

It is not recommended to carry out removal using alternative medicine methods. With home treatment, there is a high risk of complications; a network of blood vessels is involved in the formation of the red formation.

Prevention of neoplasms

Despite the fact that all types of growths have a different nature of appearance, their development can be prevented by following preventive measures. The main preventive measures include:

• protecting the skin from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
• compliance with personal hygiene rules;
• thorough shoe cleaning;
• avoiding skin damage;
• strengthening the immune system.

It is also very important to regularly examine your body for the appearance of any new growths. This event is the main preventive procedure that makes it possible to identify malignant tumors at the initial stage of their development.

If, for some reason, strange growths still appear on the body, then you should not delay visiting a dermatologist. The specialist will prescribe a number of necessary examinations that will help determine the type of tumor and select the necessary treatment.

Unspecified neoplasms

Undefined formations on the skin, similar to warts, or borderline growths are harmless at the initial stage of development and only after becoming a precancerous state without the necessary treatment, they become a cause of oncology.

The most common borderline neoplasms, which are easily confused with warts, are:

• senile keratoma;
• cutaneous horn.