Viral warts (human wart virus, skin papillomas)

Papillomas or so-called warts, which can be viewed in a million photos on the Internet, sometimes cause discomfort or even pain. Often, this happens due to changes in the formations in size and shape, which directly indicates their inflammatory process. This may be due to injury or other incidents. So, when a wart becomes inflamed, only experienced doctors will advise what to do.

What does an inflamed wart look like?

Warts appear as a result of penetration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) into the body through contact, household or sexual contact. The cause of skin disease and the occurrence of warts is a decrease in the protective properties of the body and the activation of the virus against this background.

If the neoplasm begins to change its color and shape, increases in size, becomes painful, itches, itches, bleeds or festers, this indicates that an inflammatory process has begun. This situation can be caused by a number of reasons and requires consultation with a dermatologist.

What virus causes warts

About 120 types of HPV are known to medicine. According to statistics, about 80% of HIV-infected patients are infected with papillomavirus. Half of the population is carriers of the infection. An infectious person is not even aware of the infection. The only manifestation of the disease may be growths on the skin.

Plantar formations appear when infected with types 1, 2, 4 of HPV. Juvenile warts are caused by types 26, 27, 57.

Flat - occur when viruses of 3, 10, 28, 49 types persist in the body. The head, neck, and lungs are affected by types 6, 11, and 30 of the virus.

Genital warts appear when infected with types 11, 42, 54 of HPV. There are viruses of high oncogenicity and low. Strains 16 and 18 are considered malignant.

The quantity and form of papillomavirus are detected using diagnostic research methods.

Common causes of inflammation of skin tags

The most common external causes that provoke inflammation of the wart:

• constant injury to the growth by clothing, underwear or shoes;
• accidental injury to the wart with sharp nails or objects (when combing, shaving, hair removal, etc.);
• excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays;
• Aggressive effects of household chemicals.

Also, the causes of inflammation can be various internal problems in the body, provoked by heredity, hormonal imbalances, frequent stress and nervous tension.

As a result of improper manipulations associated with trying to remove a wart at home, the growths can also become inflamed. In this case, nearby skin is also affected.

The most dangerous situation is the possible degeneration of a benign neoplasm into a malignant one, in which the papilloma looks thickened and expanded, pain occurs when you press it, and the color changes from pink-brown to black.

Symptoms of viral warts

There are several types of viral warts.

Common warts are hard, non-painful, round-shaped nodules (from 3 to 10 mm in diameter) with a rough surface, located on open areas of the body.

Plantar warts are located on the back of the feet and resemble a callus in appearance. They are painful and differ from calluses and other types of warts in their endophytic growth, and their section shows thrombosed capillaries that bleed easily when pressed.

Flat warts in the form of small, slightly raised, painless, flesh-colored nodules are predominantly recorded in young people. Localized on open areas of the body and the flexor surface of the limbs.

Anogenital warts, or condylomas, of a pointed form, spread during sexual contact and are localized on the skin and mucous membranes of the external genitalia and perianal area. In men, they are located in the area of ​​the frenulum or coronary groove, on the penis, at the external opening of the urethra.

Perianal warts are mainly reported in homosexual men and less often in heterosexual men, as well as women, in whom they can be located throughout the perineum, anus, vagina and cervix.

Laryngeal papillomatosis occurs in infants when infected through the birth canal and in adults during oral-genital sex. Warts are often accompanied by itching and, less often, bleeding; a secondary bacterial or fungal infection is quite likely.

Inflammation of a wart as a result of injury

Damage to the skin with a growth most often occurs due to mechanical impact on the wart during shaving or rubbing against clothing. You can accidentally touch the papilloma with a nail or jewelry, or accidentally pick it off when combing your hair. Often, growths on the soles are damaged by prolonged walking or contact with uncomfortable shoes.

The inflamed growth hurts, itches, can bleed and come off completely. In this situation, you must immediately treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide and consult a doctor.

The use of detergents and household cleaning products can also provoke an inflammatory process, characterized by itching and redness of the wart and surrounding tissues.

Features of accompanying symptoms: suppuration, redness

The symptom of suppuration is a consequence of the behavior of the integrity of the surface skin, the addition of secondary pathogenic microflora. Infection occurs through the wound surface and, when spreading, can penetrate into the deep layers to the roots of the wart, causing severe pain. Purulent fistulas form.

Redness and inflammation may occur due to microtrauma of the skin near the wart.

If clinical manifestations appear in the area of ​​skin growths, you must immediately consult a medical specialist (dermatologist, dermato-oncologist, gynecologist, urologist, proctologist), depending on the location of the formation. When tearing off a formation, it is necessary to take the separated part for histological examination for cancer cells.

Internal reasons

If a wart on the body becomes inflamed without obvious reasons, this may be due to internal factors, including:

• infectious and inflammatory processes occurring in the body;
• severe decrease in immune defense;
• disorders of the thyroid gland and hormonal imbalances;
• disorders of the gastrointestinal system, liver and kidneys;
• manifestations of allergies;
• pregnancy period;
• alcohol or drug addiction;
• poisoning of the body with pesticides.

In rare cases, warts can develop into malignant tumors. Such formations can hurt, bleed, increase in size and turn black.

Is it dangerous and should I see a doctor?

If a wart becomes inflamed as a result of mechanical friction, damage or exposure to aggressive chemicals on the skin, but after treatment with antiseptics and painkillers the wound has healed, you should carefully monitor the further condition of the growth and, if necessary, visit a doctor.

The growth should be removed at home after consultation with a dermatologist, and the best way would be to remove the growths in specialized clinics or beauty salons.

When new symptoms of inflammation appear (itching, burning, bloody or purulent discharge from a wart), the question arises which doctor should be consulted. In this situation, a dermatologist will provide professional advice, who, after conducting diagnostic studies, can refer you to an oncologist, gynecologist or other specialist, depending on the location of the tumor.

Methods for getting rid of painful warts

Cryotherapy

This technique is carried out using liquid nitrogen, which can destroy damaged tissue. The advantage of this method is that it does not leave any traces behind. The method is painless and safe for the patient, even if the wart is inflamed.

The time period of such a procedure is manifested in a long healing period, which can reach up to 6 months. This removal method is designed to apply nitrogen to benign papillomas of various types.

We recommend reading:

1. Warts on a child's hands
2. Causes of warts on fingers
3. Remedy for warts

Laser removal

When the first lasers appeared, the method became quite widespread. The method has proven itself well, but also demonstrated disadvantages - the formation of scar tissue after the procedure. It was very difficult to find the correct dosage of the old laser, which could cause a burn.

Today, high-tech equipment makes it possible to perform high-quality operations that do not leave scars, and the tissue quickly regenerates after the procedure. The advantage of the method is the disinfection of the area where the growths have multiplied, and blocking the occurrence of infection at the site of removal.

Electrocoagulation

The method is often used in clinics to remove inflamed warts. The advantage of this method is the possibility of taking a sample for further histology. The downside is the appearance of scars after the procedure.

A wart is inflamed - what to do?

What to do if the wart becomes inflamed:

1. Inflammation can be reduced using folk remedies or traditional medications.
2. In case of multiple growth of papillomas and extensive inflammatory process, aggravated by pain, bleeding or purulent discharge, you should consult a doctor for advice on removing tumors using surgery or hardware methods.
3. Antiviral drugs are required to treat inflammation, the action of which helps strengthen the immune system and prevents the multiplication of the virus.

Pregnant women should pay increased attention to the treatment of inflammation of skin growths, since during this period their immune system is weakened. Incorrect or insufficient measures to eliminate the inflammatory process on the skin can lead to negative consequences for the unborn child.

Why is the wart inflamed and painful?

Inflammation of a wart is usually preceded by trauma and infection .

Injuries

You can injure a growth on the skin by hitting it with a fingernail, a comb, a razor, or hitting it on a hard surface. Injury can be caused by wearing clothes made of coarse fabrics or hard wool, which rub and irritate the skin formation, causing microtrauma on its surface.

Household chemicals containing alkali or acid can also damage the top layer of the tumor.

Infection

Microorganisms penetrate through the damage, and immune blood cells fight with them, which gives the picture of inflammation. Redness, itching, and pain characteristic of inflammatory processes appear .

Reactions occurring at the site of inflammation affect skin pain receptors (nociceptors), causing an increase in their sensitivity (sensitization) and a decrease in the pain threshold.

The result is pain (hyperalgesia) - pain receptors begin to react to stimuli that previously did not cause their reaction, so the wart hurts when pressed.

Folk remedies for relieving inflammation

It is possible to treat condylomas at home using traditional medicine that helps relieve inflammation. The following home remedies are recommended to treat inflamed growths:

1. Garlic cream. Mix a suitable cream with crushed garlic in a 2:1 ratio, apply a gauze pad with the applied product to the damaged area of ​​skin and secure with a bandage for 3 hours. After removing the bandage, rinse the growth with warm water.
2. Tea tree oil, which is a good antiseptic and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Apply a cotton swab to the wart 3-4 times a day.
3. Celandine juice, which should be carefully applied to the wart several times a day, without touching the surrounding skin.
4. Compresses from decoctions of chamomile, calendula, plantain, burdock root. All herbs have an anti-inflammatory, calming effect.

Treatment with traditional methods includes the internal use of infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs that help strengthen the immune system and relieve inflammation (rose hips, echinacea, eleutherococcus, etc.).

First aid for a festering wart

Pus is a sign of bacterial contamination of a skin formation; it is necessary to first treat the site of suppuration and the surrounding area with an antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine, miramistin, alcohol solution of chlorophyllipt, betadine) and treat it with a local agent with an antibacterial component (Levomekol-cream, Baneocin, Tetracycline ointment, Levomycetin). At night, apply a sterile bandage over the treated area to avoid friction with clothing and bedding.

After the wound has healed, you can cauterize the wart with iodine or brilliant green to speed up the healing process.

In case of severe bleeding, treat with an antiseptic, cover it with a paper-based adhesive plaster, and you must visit a doctor.

If you cannot see a doctor, you can use first aid using traditional methods of therapy:

• You can stop bleeding by applying plantain, yarrow, horsetail, raspberry leaves, aloe;
• You can cauterize a wound that is ripped off or suppurating using celandine, onion juice, 1 drop of essential oil (tea tree, pine oils).

Treatment with medications

For pain and inflammation, various local remedies are used that have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. The most effective ointments are Betadine, Ichthyol, Vishnevsky. They must be applied to the damaged surface of the papilloma several times a day, covering the area with a bandage.

It is also recommended to use antiviral drugs that affect the cause of inflammation (Oxolinic ointment, Viferon, Acyclovir, Panavir).

There are also medicinal methods of getting rid of warts using drugs with salicylic acid, Celandine balm, etc. They should be used only after consultation with a doctor and in the absence of contraindications.

How to treat filamentous warts?

Taking antiviral medications helps prevent new warts from appearing

Currently, there are many ways to get rid of filamentous warts. These methods are divided into two large groups:

• drug therapy;
• radical removal.

Drug treatment

Drug treatment of filamentous warts involves the use of drugs aimed at suppressing the activity of the virus, as well as drugs that destroy tumors.

To put the virus into a dormant state, Viferon or Panavir is usually used, and to get rid of growths:

• Malavit is a preparation based on Altai herbs;
• Collomak is a tissue softener;
• Stefalin is a herbal medicine;
• Cryopharm is a drug that freezes papilloma.

You can use these products only after consulting a doctor.

Radical removal

Radical removal allows you to get rid of filamentous warts in the shortest possible time. The patient may be offered:

• laser therapy;
• cryodestruction;
• electrocoagulation;
• removal by radio waves;
• surgical excision.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy is the simplest and most effective way to remove filamentous warts. The formation is cut layer by layer with a laser beam, which guarantees:

• speed (only one session is required to remove the acrochord);
• minimal injury to healthy tissue;
• no risk of scarring or bleeding.

The disadvantage of the procedure is its high cost. The price of removing papillomas with a laser ranges from 350-2000 rubles, depending on the quantity and location.

Cryodestruction

Cryodestruction is a procedure that allows you to remove filamentous warts by freezing their tissues with liquid nitrogen. Removing formations in this way is available to almost everyone (you can get rid of an acrochord for 100 rubles), but it has the following disadvantages:

• inability to control the depth of tissue freezing - the wart may reappear;
• high probability of frostbite of surrounding tissues and, accordingly, scar formation;
• long-term rehabilitation.

Electrocoagulation

Electrocoagulation is a method that is based on the removal of filamentous warts using high-frequency currents. The formation is removed in one session, and the removed tissue is suitable for histology. The only drawback of this procedure is the risk of a thermal burn, the healing of which is most often accompanied by the formation of scars. The cost of wart removal averages 300 rubles.

Radio wave removal

Radio wave removal is a technique for combating filamentous warts, which involves the use of an electrode of a certain design (radio knife), which receives electricity that evaporates the growth tissue. The procedure is a gentle method of influence and has the following advantages:

• short rehabilitation period;
• absence of complications, including scars.

Removing an acrochord in this way costs 200 rubles.

Surgical excision

Surgical excision is the only way to remove large or deep-lying warts. In treatment, acrochords are practically not used due to the formation of scars at the site of the growth.

Removing a wart using this method costs approximately 3,000 rubles.

ethnoscience

Use folk remedies with caution, as they can leave burns on the skin

Homemade ointments, infusions and compresses can also help fight filamentous warts. However, it is impossible to guarantee the effect of their use.

Celandine juice

The fresh stem of the plant with leaves and flowers is crushed and the juice is squeezed out. The finished product is used to treat the growths in such a way that it does not come into contact with healthy skin - this can lead to a burn. Treatments are carried out three times a day.

Castor oil

The product is rubbed into the growths with smooth movements for five to seven minutes, after which a compress with celandine juice is applied to the wart. Treatments are carried out over four to eight weeks.

Ammonia

A cotton swab is dipped into ammonia so that the cotton wool is completely saturated with it. Then the stick is applied to the papilloma for 10 seconds (ammonium should not get on healthy skin).

Garlic cream

A few garlic cloves are crushed and mixed with two teaspoons of any hand cream. The finished mixture is applied to a piece of gauze, applied to the wart and secured with an adhesive plaster. After three to four hours, the bandage is removed and the affected skin is washed with soap and warm water. Treatment is carried out daily for a month.

Tincture of thuja, celandine and potatoes

A liter jar is filled with potato sprouts, chopped celandine and young thuja branches in equal proportions. Then it is filled with alcohol so that its level is slightly higher than the level of the plant mixture, closed with a lid and left for two to three weeks in a dark place. The finished product is filtered and used to lubricate the formations. Treatment is carried out three to four times a day for ten to fifteen days.

Walnuts on kerosene

Green walnuts are ground in a blender or meat grinder. The resulting slurry is filled into two-thirds of a liter jar, filled with purified kerosene (up to the neck), covered with a lid and left in a dark place for three weeks. After the specified time, the product is filtered, poured into a dark glass bottle and used to treat warts for 10-20 days.

Radical removal

The most radical methods of removing papillomas are hardware techniques or surgical excision of the tumor.

Surgery is indicated for large size and oncogenic risk of the tumor.

Effective procedures for removing warts are: laser removal, electrocoagulation and thermocoagulation (exposure to high frequency currents or high temperature), cryodestruction (freezing with liquid nitrogen) and radiosurgical excision.

If the papilloma becomes inflamed during pregnancy

The formation of papillomas during pregnancy is often associated with hormonal changes in the female body and a decrease in immunity during this period. If an inflammatory process occurs on the skin, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor who can recommend the most suitable medications and methods for removing tumors without harming the unborn child.

Removal of papilloma should be carried out only according to indications, since excessive intervention in a woman’s body during this period is inappropriate. The most suitable methods for eliminating warts in pregnant women are: surgical excision, laser removal or radiocautery. The procedure is best performed in the 1st trimester and when the size of the wart is still small.

What to do if a wart hurts

If a wart causes pain, you should not self-medicate or try to remove it using folk methods or pharmaceuticals.

This problem should not be addressed to a beauty salon either.

The only correct action in this case is to consult a dermatologist .

The likelihood that the changed tumor will turn out to be melanoma is low. But this disease is so dangerous that even the slightest suspicious symptoms should serve as grounds for reinsurance. Therefore, at the first signs of wart inflammation, you should contact a dermatologist rather than a beauty salon.

The doctor will examine the tumor, select the appropriate method for its removal, and send the removed material for histological examination . This analysis will make sure that malignant processes have not begun in the tissues. And if the result shows their presence, which happens in rare cases, then the sooner treatment is started, the higher the chances of recovery from this most dangerous disease.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of tumors and inflammatory processes on the skin, you should adhere to the following rules:

• maintaining hygiene (wash your hands after returning from the street, do not use personal belongings and clothes of other people);
• refusal of unprotected casual sexual contacts;
• in public places (swimming pool, sauna, beach) protect your feet with special shoes;
• strengthen the immune system (eat right, avoid stress, exercise, spend more time in the fresh air, use vitamin complexes);
• If there are warts on the body, periodically carefully examine them to identify changes, and avoid tight, chafing clothes and shoes.

Where do plantar warts come from?

HPV enters the body from the outside. Pathogens love moist environments. You can become infected by wearing someone else's shoes, neglecting the rules of hygiene in pedicure salons, baths, saunas or swimming pools. A virus suppressed by the immune system may not manifest itself for years. But in a weakened body, viral particles begin to divide very quickly. The propagation of plantar strains is facilitated by:

• increased sweating of the feet;
• uncomfortable tight shoes;
• microcracks in the skin;
• fungal infections of the feet;
• circulatory disorders due to joint deformation: arthritis, arthrosis, flat feet.

Within the epidermis, the virus first infects the basal layer. Then it provokes the proliferation of keratinized particles, forming characteristic hard plaques on the skin.

The main symptom of this form of HPV is severe pain while walking. The roots reaching the lower layer of the dermis constantly injure the nerve endings. Many patients have to give up their usual shoes and use thick, soft insoles to alleviate the pain.