Warts on the hands are neoplasms that are mostly benign. The appearance of such growths is associated with increased activity of human papillomavirus. The disease is highly contagious and requires special complex therapy.
Causes of warts on the hands
Warts are an unpleasant external manifestation of an infectious skin disease. The culprit is human papillomavirus.
How does HPV infection, which provokes the growth of warts on the hands, occur:
- Mode of contact. . . Most often, infection with this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct contact between the skin of a healthy person and an infected person. A simple handshake may be enough. Because of this, the most common occurrence is the appearance of warts on the hands because the hands are the most contact part of the body. In addition to this option, it is possible to notice the possibility of pathogen transmission during the use of things and objects that have been affected by the disease carrier. Therefore, you can be infected by relatives at home. Sometimes the virus survives for some time on various wet surfaces, for example, in bathrooms, changing rooms, public transport, etc.
- Autoinfection. . . If a similar neoplasm has appeared in a part of the body, then the risk of self-infection is possible. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissues. This occurs when growths are traumatized by various nails or objects. If wound and hand hygiene is not performed in a timely manner, then an increase in the lesion can easily be provoked.
- From mother to child. . . In line with this option, the baby's infection occurs from the mother during birth.
It should be noted that sexual contact with a carrier of the virus is rarely the cause of the appearance of warts on the hands. This method of transmission often causes another type of benign neoplasm.
HPV is highly infectious. It is difficult to avoid infection. The disease affects both men and women, both adults and children. Most often, warts on the hands appear in children and adolescents.
From the moment the virus enters the body until the appearance of the first external manifestations, it can last from 1 to 6 months. Although in some cases only cart is observed, in which the warts never start to grow. This is possible if the person's immunity is strong enough and does not allow the virus to multiply and become active.
Thus, HPV can wait a long time for the right moment - a significant weakening of the immune system.
Various types of mental trauma, improper work and rest regime, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and unfavorable environmental conditions can affect the immune status in terms of lowering it.
The predisposing factors for the appearance of these formations are numerous, consider the most obvious reasons why warts appear on the hands:
- Acute and chronic diseases. . . Any disease and lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. The risk of increased HPV infection with the development of warts on the hands is with HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of virus penetrating the epidermis increases with the presence of even the smallest cracks in the skin.
- Individual characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, d. m. th. increased sweating in the palm is a provocative factor, sepsenxit formation of a special pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the reproduction of HPV.
- Non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. . . Explaining what causes warts on your hands in the absence of skin care is quite simple. For example, dry skin can provoke the formation of small cracks and irritation, through which the virus can safely penetrate inside. It is worth noting that the infection can be prevented even after shaking hands with an infected person, if it is banal to wash your hands at the right time.
With strong protective functions, the body can cope with the infection itself. At best, healing occurs in 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the recovery process with the help of its own forces occurs within 2 years.
What do warts look like on your hands?
Many people, having found skin neoplasms on their own, wonder how to cure warts on the hands. However, before starting treatment, you should make sure that you have exactly the warts and for this you should be able to distinguish these benign growths from others - corn, keratosis, lichen planus and molluscum contagiosum.
The most important difference is that the warts on the hands and other parts of the body have small blood vessels. This can be understood by accidentally damaging the growth or when you try to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.
The color spectrum of benign and safe warts is varied. Growths can be flesh-colored, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Sometimes on their surface can be noticed black spots - places of thrombotic vessels. At the same time, staining of neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus in light brown, black is not typical. Any discoloration should alert the person and make an urgent trip to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the hands. Fear must also be caused by those growths that become inflamed, irritated, and begin to grow at an accelerated rate.
Wart sizes range from 1 to 10 mm. They are single or formed in groups of several. With a very weak immune response, neoplasm tissue grows rapidly. Individual growths can grow together.
Any type of wart provokes hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. This is why such increases can be easily felt; they are clearly distinguished against the background of healthy cells with a thicker and stronger structure.
Most often, two types of warts appear on the hands:
- Common warts. . . They are also called vulgar. A favorite place for this type of neoplasia are the hands. It can spread easily on the skin of the face. The color is flesh-colored, yellow-brown or gray. It is in such warts that blackheads can often be seen. Growths are keratinized eminences on the skin. In shape, such warts on the hands resemble a knot or a dome-shaped papule. Their structure is dense, the surface is uneven with small villi, characterized by increased tissue dryness. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Most often they do not cause pain.
- Flat surface warts. . . Another name is youth. The back of the hands is often affected. Color - from pale yellow to brown. In appearance, they resemble flat or irregularly shaped flat joints. The size is 3-4 mm. Practically does not extend over the skin.
- Flat warts are deep. . . The second type of flat warts. Representatives of this species grow from within. They are very specific formations. They also have a irregular shape, colored from pale yellow to brown. Not particularly elongated on the skin, but inside the outer surface of the collection there is a slight depression towards the middle. The size of a single neoplasm is 3-4 mm. Most often, it is the deep warts on the hands that require treatment. they, as a rule, give quite strong painful sensations.
Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring their owner great physical discomfort and form complex in him, embarrassment for their appearance, because the hands are almost always in the eye. Because of this, even without the presence of pain and dangerous changes in the structure of such growths, it is advisable to go to the hospital and find out how to remove warts on the hands.
Ways to treat warts on the hands
Determining the causes of warts on the hands and treatment should be performed by a qualified physician, who has at his disposal not only knowledge and experience, but also all kinds of tools to make a diagnosis. So, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus is determined, viral load, the risks of developing negative consequences are assessed. Based on the results, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking medication, but also instrumental removal of neoplasms, which are dangerous. Self-medication can very often lead to lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.
Treatment of warts on the hands with medication
A dermatologist deals with the treatment of warts on the hands. Its main task is to suppress the activity of the virus and prevent the spread of infection. For this, antiviral drugs are used for both external use and oral administration.
The most popular remedies used to treat warts are:
- Ointment for disinfection and fight against the virus. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of the infection through the skin, thus reducing the risk of infection to others. Many drugs effectively suppress virus activity, slowing the uncontrolled growth of neoplasms. They also contribute to the rapid healing of skin lesions, relieve inflammation.
- External tools for destroying growths. . . The active substances have an aggressive effect on the growth cells, promote their destruction and provoke the complete elimination of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Their use is desirable within the walls of a medical institution to avoid unwanted consequences in the form of damage to healthy tissue. Separately, we can observe spraying with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug acts on the principle of cryodestruction and effectively removes epithelial tumors caused by HPV.
It should be noted that no specific drug against human papillomavirus has been found at present. However, there are medications that can reduce viral activity and stop the growth of warts on the hands, feet and other parts of the body. So in a separate column it is worth noting the medications intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, helping the body produce specific immune cells, and are also able to have a noticeable antiviral effect.
Folk remedies with antiviral and immunostimulatory activity used to treat HPV in the presence of warts on the hands:
- A preparation with inosine. The strong antiviral effect is complemented by a stimulating effect on the immune system. A comprehensive solution to the problem of HPV of different strains provides an increase in the immune response and suppression of viral activity.
- Synthetic analogue of purine nucleoside. This is a drug with direct action, its target is viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a marked decrease in viral activity.
- Inductor of endogenous interferon synthesis. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggering numerous immune processes. Accelerates the production of interferon.
- Preparation with meglum acridone acetate. Increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. Reduces viral load and stops the growth of warts on the hands.
- Immunostimulatory folk medicine. Increased immune response leads to the fact that the virus loses its ability to integrate into healthy cells, while its population is significantly reduced.
If there is a strong deterioration in health, then the doctor will recommend taking vitamin and mineral complexes to restore the balance of nutrients and the performance of each structural unit of the body.
After a comprehensive treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews show that complex therapy has a great effect, and the recurrence rate is much lower than with simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs.
Removal of warts on hands by instrumental methods
Removal of the affected epithelium is a mandatory procedure if the warts cause discomfort, grow rapidly and change their structure or are often injured. Moreover, any increased mechanical effect can provoke bleeding, the addition of a secondary infection, the development of the inflammatory process. Because of this, it is strongly discouraged to remove the warts on your own hands.
There are a number of modern methods for instrumental removal of skin neoplasms. They are characterized by a high degree of efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Painless during procedures is provided with local anesthesia.
The most popular methods for instrumental destruction of warts on the hands are:
- Electrocoagulation. . . This method is excellent for removing vulgar warts that appear above the level of the skin, although it also helps to get rid of deep epithelial neoplasms. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes high frequency current and simply interrupts the accumulation. There is no bleeding during the manipulation. The resulting crust is removed within 5-7 days. A post-electrocoagulation scar remains only after deep exposure.
- Surgical incision. . . In most cases, it is described whether it is necessary to take a growth sample for analysis and in the presence of a large lesion. Removal of warts on the hands is performed using a surgical scalpel. Healthy tissue is often removed during this procedure. After the procedure, cosmetic sutures are applied for 7-10 days. Once the tissues are completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of surgery is calculated individually for each patient.
- Laser removal. . . By many criteria, it is considered the most successful method - a minimum of painful sensations, high security, an accurate effect on education. With the help of the laser the wart cells in the hands are burned. The remaining teeth tighten after 2-3 weeks.
- Cryodestruction. . . Deep tissue freezing, performed within a few seconds, provokes the death of the treated tissue. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the wart on the hands begins to fade slightly and thicken. India around it swells slightly and may turn red. After that, the wart body turns into a bubble that can be filled with fluid. Within a week, it shrinks and a crust remains in place. The skin recovery time from this moment is about 2 weeks.
Crusts, blisters, scars formed as a result of procedures should never be removed. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery time. Also, due to such actions, unattractive wounds are often left.
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 lesion. Also, different clinics may offer the same service at different prices, depending on the type of equipment used and the qualifications of the medical staff.
Treatment of warts on the hands with folk remedies
Many people refuse to visit a doctor for various reasons and are looking for an answer to the question of how to get rid of warts on their hands at home.
To eliminate warts and fight human papillomavirus, traditional doctors use many improvised tools, foods and herbs. However, you should understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in treating HPV is quite weak, so you should not rely on it, refusing to take medication and professional removal of skin growths.
In some cases, the attending physician may recommend supplementing traditional methods of treating warts on the hands with folk remedies. Among the tasks are the same - maintaining immunity and increasing the antiviral activity of the body, normalizing the balance of nutrients, as well as local antiseptic treatment.
Prescriptions for effective folk remedies:
- Herbal infusion. . . For cooking, take 25 g of birch leaves, juniper needles, dandelion root, plantain leaves, chicory root and 30 g of nettle leaves, agine grass and horsetail grass. All ingredients are poured with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, boil for 10 minutes on low heat, insist for 10-12 hours. It should be taken four times a day, half a glass.
- Herbal infusion. . . For cooking, take wormwood grass (10 g), birch buds (15 g), lemon grass (20 g), thyme grass (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. For brewing, take 40 g of herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, inject for 1-1, 5 hours, filter and infuse. The dose taken is calculated for 1 day. Treatment for warts on the hands is 2 to 5 weeks.
- Hand baths. . . The starting material is tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (from half the fruit). Dilute both ingredients in 2 cups of warm water. Put in the palm mixture and hold for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the softened wart particles on the hands should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration and fights against pathogens.
- Lemon-pine mixture for warts. . . A mixture of lemon and pine oil in equal proportions is required. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to soften the growths, to have an antiseptic effect and to accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
- Applications for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal piece and glued onto the agglomerate. Such applications may take several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be performed 2-3 times a day until the wart on the hands completely disappears.
- Worm infusion. . . Crushed wormwood with dry grass in a volume of 60 g is poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2, 5 hours in a thermos, filter. In the infusion, a gauze bandage is saturated and the bandages are made twice a day.
Sometimes it is practiced to remove warts with celandine, onion, potato juice, lemon, Kalanchoe, acetic acid.
True patient reviews for the treatment of warts on the hands
The choice of treatment methods is the prerogative of doctors, but it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with possible HPV therapy options and neoplasm removal methods before going to the hospital. Feedback on the treatment of warts on the hands, left on the Internet forums, will help to evaluate in advance the effectiveness of a particular scheme. We suggest you familiarize yourself with some stories to get rid of the external manifestations of HPV:
- "My baby has warts on his arms. Immediately they just painted him with an antiseptic, but when they started to grow near the nails, pain appeared. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, as we were told - from the waves of"The boy, really, did not complain of pain during the procedure, there was no blood. The skin recovered very quickly. Then they also took an interferon-based medicine. Now there is not a single wart. "
- "I got these growths somewhat suddenly. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and applied celandine, but I got no results. They had to remove them with laser, the warts on my hands were deep, so the wounds were"It took about two weeks to heal, the wounds are gradually healing, but I still take antiviral pills and an immunity medicine. "
- "But the folk remedies did not help me, they only started a wound. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this fertilizer has grown. Well, even though the doctor did not disfigure my fingers, he sewed them carefully. It took about three weeks. "to recover. Now I take pills and make decoctions for skin regeneration. "
Treating warts on the hands is a responsible business. Prescribing drugs and determining the best method of destruction should be performed exclusively by a qualified medical professional in order to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of infection of the surrounding people.