Warts on the hands are usually benign tumors. These growths are due to increased activity of human papillomavirus. The disease is highly contagious and requires special complex therapy.
Causes of warts
Warts are an unpleasant appearance of an infectious skin disease. The culprit is human papillomavirus.
How HPV is caused by the growth of warts on the hands:
- Communication method. . . Most often, the infection of this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct contact of an infected person with the skin of a healthy person. A simple handshake may suffice. Because of this, warts often form on the hands, because the hands are the most affected part of the body. In addition to this option, the possibility of transmission of the pathogen can be noted when using objects and products that the carrier touches. Therefore, you can be infected at home by relatives. The virus can sometimes be found on various wet surfaces, such as bathrooms, changing rooms, and on public transportation. b. y. s.
- Autoinfection. . . If a similar neoplasm develops in a part of the body, there is a risk of self-infection. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissues. This growth can occur when the nail is traumatized by various things. If hygiene is not carried out in time for injuries and attacks, the increase can be easily provoked.
- From mother to child. . . According to this option, the infection of the child is transmitted from mother to child during birth.
It should be noted that sexual intercourse with a carrier of the virus rarely causes warts on the hands. This method of transmission often results in other types of benign tumors.
HPV is highly contagious. Infection is difficult to prevent. The disease affects men, women, adults and children. Warts are more common in children and adolescents.
It can take from 1 to 6 months from the time the virus enters the body until the first symptoms appear. In some cases, warts appear on the carriage, which never begins to grow. This person's immune system may be strong enough to prevent the virus from multiplying and activating.
Thus, HPV can wait a long time for the right moment - a significant weakening of the immune system.
Various types of mental trauma, poor work and rest regimes, drug abuse, poor diet, bad habits and unfavorable environmental conditions can affect its decline in immune status.
There are many factors that contribute to the formation of these structures, and consider the most obvious reasons for the formation of warts:
- Acute and chronic diseases. . . Any disease and lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. HIV, eczema, psoriasisb. The risk of HPV infection increases with the appearance of warts on the hands. The risk of the virus spreading to the epidermis is even greater when there are small cracks in the skin.
- Personal characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, p. a. Increased sweating of the palms is a provocative factor, because it promotes the formation of pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the growth of HPV.
- Failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene. . . It is very easy to explain the cause of warts on your hands when you do not take care of your skin. For example, dry skin can provoke the formation of small cracks and irritation, through which the virus can safely penetrate. It should be noted that it can be prevented even after shaking hands with an infected person, if you wash your hands in a timely manner.
With strong protective functions, the body is able to fight infection on its own. At best, recovery will take 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is 20% of all cases. Sometimes the process of self-recovery takes place within 2 years.
What do the warts on your hands look like?
Many people find new skin tumors and think about how to cure warts on their hands. However, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you have a clear wart, and to do this you need to be able to distinguish these benign growths from others - corn, keratosis, lichen and molluscum contagiosum.
The main difference is that warts on the hands and other parts of the body have small blood vessels. This can be explained by accidentally damaging the plant or by trying to remove it yourself - various intense hemorrhages occur.
The color spectrum of good and safe warts is diverse. Plants can be flesh-colored, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Occasionally, dark spots may appear on their surface - areas of thrombotic vessels. At the same time, tumors caused by human papillomavirus are not characterized by a light brown or black color. Any discoloration should alert the person and prompt him to go to the hospital to determine how to treat the wart on his hand. Risks must also come from growths that become inflamed, purulent, and rapidly growing.
The size of warts varies from 1 to 10 mm. They are formed alone or in groups. With a very weak immune response, neoplasmic tissue grows rapidly. Individual growths can grow together.
Different types of warts cause hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the epidermis. Therefore, such growths can be easily felt in the background of healthy cells with a coarse and solid structure.
There are usually two types of warts on the hands:
- Ordinary warts. . . They are also called vulgar. My favorite place for this species is the hands. It can easily spread on the skin of the face. Color body color, yellow-brown or gray. Black spots are common in such warts. Plants are keratinized on the skin. These warts are shaped like knots or domed papules. Their structure is dense, the surface is not the same as that of small villas, and is characterized by an increase in the dryness of the soil. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Usually they do not hurt.
- Flat warts on the surface. . . Another name is young. The back of the hand is often injured. Color - from light yellow to brown. In appearance, they resemble round or irregularly shaped flat knots. The size is 3-4 mm. It does not actually come out on the skin.
- Flat warts are deep. . . The second type of flatworm. Representatives of this species grow thin. They are very special structures. It also has an irregular shape, ranging in color from light yellow to brown. It does not particularly penetrate the skin, but is slightly sunken towards the middle on the outer surface of the break. The size of a new tumor is 3-4 mm. Deep warts on the hands often require treatment. they usually give a much stronger painful sensation.
Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they cause great physical discomfort to its owner, including the formation of complexes, ashamed of their appearance, because their hands are almost always visible. Therefore, even in the absence of pain and dangerous changes in the structure of such growth, it is advisable to go to the hospital and learn how to remove the wart in his hand.
Ways to treat warts
Determining the causes of warts on the hands and treatment should be carried out by a qualified physician, who has not only the knowledge and experience, but also all the tools to diagnose. Thus, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus, the viral load is determined, and the risk of adverse effects is assessed. Based on the results, a complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking medications, but also instrumental removal of neoplasms, which are dangerous. Self-medication can often lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.
Treatment of warts with drugs
A dermatologist treats existing warts. Its main function is to suppress the activity of the virus and prevent the spread of infection. To do this, antiviral drugs are used both for external use and for oral administration.
The most popular remedies used to treat warts are:
- Oils for disinfection and virus control. . . Topical treatment reduces the spread of the infection through the skin, thereby reducing the risk of transmission to others. Many drugs effectively suppress the activity of the virus and slow down the uncontrolled growth of tumors. They also promote rapid healing of skin ulcers and relieve inflammation.
- External means for the destruction of plants. . . The active substances aggressively affect the growth cells, promote their destruction and promote the complete elimination of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Their use is necessary within the walls of the medical institution to prevent adverse effects in the form of damage to healthy tissues. Separately, we should note the spray with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug works on the principle of cryodestruction and effectively eliminates HPV-caused epithelial tumors.
It should be noted that currently no specific drug against human papillomavirus has been found. However, there are drugs that can reduce the activity of the virus and stop the growth of warts on the hands, feet and other parts of the body. Thus, in a separate column it is necessary to emphasize the drugs intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, help the body develop special immune cells, and have a pronounced antiviral effect.
Popular drugs with antiviral and immunostimulatory activity are used to treat HPV in the presence of warts:
- A drug with the addition of inosine. The strong antiviral effect is complemented by a stimulating effect on the immune system. A comprehensive solution to the HPV problem of different strains provides an increase in the immune response and suppression of viral activity.
- synthetic analogue of purine nucleoside. It is a direct-acting drug whose target is viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a marked decrease in viral activity.
- Inducer of endogenous interferon synthesis. Specific action - it stimulates many immune processes and activates the body's defenses. Accelerates interferon production.
- Preparation with meglumine acridone acetate. Increases the body's resistance to HPV. Reduces the viral load and stops the growth of existing warts.
- Popular immunostimulating drug. An increase in the immune response leads to a loss of the virus's ability to integrate into healthy cells, and its population is greatly reduced.
If severe impairment of health, the doctor recommends taking vitamin-mineral complexes to restore the balance of nutrients and performance of each structural unit of the body.
Patients' feedback after comprehensive treatment of existing warts shows that complex therapy has a greater effect, and the recurrence rate is much lower than simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs.
Removal of existing warts by instrumental methods
If the warts become uncomfortable, grow rapidly, change their structure, or are often injured, removal of the damaged epithelium is a mandatory procedure. In addition, any mechanical effects of growth can provoke bleeding, additional infections, the development of inflammatory processes. Therefore, it is not recommended to remove the warts yourself.
There are a number of modern methods for instrumental removal of skin tumors. They are characterized by high efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Painlessness during the procedure is provided by local anesthesia.
The most popular methods of instrumental removal of warts are:
- Electrocoagulation. . . This method is excellent for removing vulgar warts that protrude above the level of the skin, but it also helps to get rid of new tumors in the deep epithelium. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes a high-frequency current and simply cuts off the accumulated current. No bleeding during manipulation. The resulting crust disappears in 5-7 days. The scar after electrocoagulation remains only after deep exposure.
- Surgical incision. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if a growth sample is needed for analysis and if there are large ulcers. Warts are removed with a surgical scalpel. During this procedure, healthy tissue is often removed. Cosmetic sutures are applied for 7-10 days after the procedure. Once the tissue is completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of surgery is calculated individually for each patient.
- Laser removal. . . According to many criteria, this is the most successful method - minimal pain, high safety, accurate impact on knowledge. With the help of a laser, the wart cells in the hand are burned. The remaining holes are reinforced after 2-3 weeks.
- Cryodestruction. . . Deep cooling of the tissues, carried out in a few seconds, provokes the death of the treated tissue. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the warts on the hands become slightly pale and thick. The surrounding tissue may become slightly swollen and red. The wart's body then turns into a foam that fills with fluid. Within a week, it shrinks and remains a shell in its place. From this point on, the recovery time of the skin is about 2 weeks.
The skin, foam, and wounds that result from the procedure should never be torn. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery time. Also, such attempts often result in unpleasant scars.
The cost of each procedure depends on the location of the warts on the hands, the number of growths and the total area of the affected area. Also, different clinics can offer the same service at different prices, depending on the type of equipment used and the qualifications of the medical staff.
Treatment of warts with folk remedies
Many people refuse to see a doctor for various reasons and are looking for an answer to the question of how to get rid of warts at home.
Traditional healers use many improvised means, foods, and plants to kill warts and fight human papillomavirus. However, you need to understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine is much weaker in the treatment of HPV, so do not rely on it, refusing to take medication and professional removal of skin growths.
In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you use traditional remedies to supplement your warts. Among the tasks are the same - to maintain immunity and increase the body's antiviral activity, normalize the balance of nutrients, as well as local antiseptic treatment.
Recipes for effective folk remedies:
- Herbal infusion. . . To prepare, take 25 g of birch leaves, juniper needles, dandelion roots, plantain leaves, chicory roots and nettle leaves, agine herbs and 30 g of horseradish each. All ingredients pour 1 liter of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes on low heat and leave for 10–12 hours. Drink half a glass four times a day.
- Herbal infusion. . . To prepare, take floor grass (10 g), birch buds (15 g), melissa grass (20 g), thyme grass (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. To brew beer need to take 40 g of herb mixture, pour 400–500 ml boiling water, infuse 1–1, 5 hours, filter. The dose is calculated for 1 day. Treatment of warts lasts from 2 to 5 weeks.
- Hand baths. . . The starting material is tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (half of the fruit). Both ingredients are diluted in 2 cups of warm water. Put in the palm of your hand and hold for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the softened wart particles should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration, fights pathogens.
- Lemon-spruce mixture for warts. . . It requires mixing lemon and pine oil in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to soften growth, has an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissue.
- Guides for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and applied to the affected area. Such applications can take several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be performed 2-3 times a day until the warts are completely gone.
- Zhulin's infusion. . . 60 g of chopped dry grass is poured into 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2, 5 hours in a thermos, filter. The infusion is impregnated with a gauze bandage and a compress is applied twice a day.
Sometimes warts are treated with celandine, onion, potato juice, lemon, kalanchoe, and acetic acid.
Opinions of real patients on the treatment of warts on the hands
The choice of treatment is the prerogative of doctors, but it is not superfluous to get acquainted with the possible options of HPV therapy and methods of tumor removal before going to the hospital. Opinions on the treatment of warts on the remaining hands on Internet forums help to predict the effectiveness of a particular scheme. Here are some tips to help you get rid of HPV:
- "My son has warts. Immediately when they just rubbed with antiseptic, but began to grow near the nails, the disease began. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, as we were told - by radio waves. The child did not actually complain of illness during the procedure and did not have blood. The skin recovered very quickly. They also took interferon-based medication. Now there are no warts. "
- "I got this growth unexpectedly. They became very sick. I tried making garlic and celandine at home, but to no avail. They had to be removed with a laser, and the warts on my hands were deep, and the scars were deep. It took about two weeks to heal, and the scars were slowly healing, but I was still taking antiviral pills and immunosuppressants. "
- "But folk remedies didn’t help, they just started citizen. I had to go to the surgeon, because the mud had grown a lot. Even if the doctor does not injure my fingers, it is better to sew them carefully. It took about three weeks to recover. Now I take pills and make skin decoctions. "
Treating warts is a responsible job. Prescribing drugs and determining the best way to eliminate them should be done only by a qualified medical professional in order to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of infection in the surrounding area.