Hand Warts: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Warts on the hands are neoplasms that are mainly benign. The appearance of such growths is associated with increased activity of the human papillomavirus. This disease is highly contagious and requires special complex therapy.

Reasons for the appearance of warts on the hands

Warts are an unpleasant external manifestation of an infectious disease of the skin. The culprit is the human papillomavirus.

How does HPV infection occur, which provokes the development of warts on the hands:

• contact method. . . Often, infection with this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct contact between a healthy person and the skin of an infected person. A simple handshake may suffice. Because of this, the most common occurrence is the occurrence 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 note the possibility of transmitting the pathogen when using things and objects that the carrier of the disease has touched. So you can stay at homeCan be infected from relatives. Sometimes the virus survives for some time on various wet surfaces, for example, in bath rooms, changing rooms, public transport, etc.
• autograph. . . If a similar neoplasm has appeared on one part of the body, then the risk of self-infection is possible. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissue. This occurs when the growth is affected by nails or various objectsIf the wound and hands are not cleaned in time, the wound can easily grow.
• from mother to child. . . According to this option, the child is transmitted from the mother during childbirth.

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 contagious. Avoidance of infection is difficult. The disease affects both men and women, adults and children. Most often, warts on the hands appear in children and adolescents.

From the time the virus enters the body until the first external manifestations appear, it may take 1 to 6 months. However, in some cases only carriage is observed, with the wart never growing. It is possible when a person's immunity is strong enough and does not allow the virus to multiply and become active.

Thus, HPV can cause a long wait for the right moment - a significant weakening of the immune system.

Various types of trauma, improper work and rest regimen, substance abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and adverse environmental conditions can influence the immune status towards its occurrence.

The predisposing factors for the appearance of these formations are many, consider the most obvious reasons why warts appear on the hands:

• acute and chronic diseases. . . any disease and the lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. An increased risk of getting HPV with the development of warts on the hands occurs with HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of virus penetration into the epidermis increases with the appearance of even the smallest cracks in the skin.
• individual characteristics. . . hyperhidrosis, i. e. excessive sweating on the palms is a provoking factor, becausepromotes the formation of a special pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the reproduction of HPV.
• Failure to follow personal hygiene rules. . . It is fairly easy to tell what causes warts on your hands in the absence of skin care. For example, dry skin can cause small cracks and burns through which the virus can safely enter. It is worth mentioning that if it is normal to wash hands on time, then infection can be avoided even by shaking hands with an infected person.

With strong protective functions, the body can cope with the infection on its own. In the best case, recovery occurs in 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes on its ownThe recovery process takes place within 2 years.

What do warts look like on your hands?

Many people, having found themselves with skin neoplasms, wonder how to cure warts on their hands. However, before starting the treatment, you should make sure that you have absolutely no warts, and for that you need toThese benign growths need to be able to be distinguished from others - corns, keratosis, lichen planus and molluscum contagiosum.

The most important difference is that there are small blood vessels in the warts on the hands and other parts of the body. This can be explained by accidentally injuring the growth or trying to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.

The color spectrum of benign and safe warts is diverse. Growth can be flesh-colored, pale yellow, light brown, grayish-brown. Sometimes on their surface can be observed black dots - places of thrombosis vessels. At the same time, staining of neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus in bright brown, black color is not typical. Any color change should alert the person and an immediate visit to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the handsFear should also be caused by growths that swell, discolor and grow at an accelerated rate.

The size of the warts varies from 1 to 10 mm. They are single or are formed in groups of several. With a very weak immune response, the neoplasm tissues grow rapidly. Individual growths can grow together with each other.

Warts of any type provoke hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. That is why such growths can be easily felt, they form a thicker and more solid structure against the background of healthy cells. stand together clearly.

Two types of warts often appear on the hands:

• common warts. . . They are also called vulgars. A favorite site for this type of neoplasm is the hands. Can easily spread to the skin of the face. The color is flesh-colored, yellowish-brown or brown. Often on such wartsBlackheads can be observed. Growths are noted keratinized above the skin. In shape, such warts on the hands resemble a nodule or domed papule. Their structure is dense, the surface is uneven with small villi, which lead to increased drying of the tissue. Characteristic. The size is usually from 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Often they do not cause pain.
• superficial flat warts. . . Another name is youth. The dorsum of the hands is often affected. Color - from light yellow to brownish. In appearance, they resemble flat nodules of a round or irregular shape. Size is 3-4 mm. PracticalDo not leave out on the skin.
• flat warts are deep. . . the second type of flat warts. Representatives of this species grow inward. They are very characteristic formations. Also have an irregular shape, the color varies from light yellow to brown. Not particularly protruding on the skin, but within the outer surface of the build-up 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 ruleAs in, give rather strong painful sensations.

Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring great physical discomfort to their owner and create complexes in him, embarrassment about their appearance, because the hands are almost always in sight. Because of this, such growthsIt is advisable to go to the hospital and learn how to remove warts on the hands, even without the appearance of pain and dangerous changes in the structure of.

Ways to treat hand warts

The causes of warts on the hands should be determined and treated by a qualified doctor who has not only knowledge and experience, but also all kinds of equipment to make a diagnosis. So, with the help of laboratory tests, the types of human papillomavirus, the viral load is determined, the risks of developing adverse consequences are assessed. Based on the results, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking medications, but also removing the neoplasm, whichare dangerous. Self-medication can often lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.

Treatment of warts on hands with medicines

A dermatologist deals with the treatment of warts on the hands. Its main function is to suppress the activity of viruses and prevent the spread of infection. For this, antiviral drugs are used both for external use and for oral administration.

The most popular treatments used to treat hand warts are:

• Ointments for disinfection and fighting viruses. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of infection through the skin, reducing the risk of infection to others. Many drugs effectively suppress the activity of the virus, slowing the uncontrolled growth of the neoplasmIS. They also contribute to the rapid healing of skin wounds, relieve inflammation.
• External means for the destruction of growth. . . The active substances have an aggressive effect on growth cells, promoting their destruction and provoking the complete elimination of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. In order to avoid undesirable consequences in the form of injury to healthy tissues, aTheir use within the walls of the medical institution is desirable. Separately, we can note the spray with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug works on the principle of cryodestruction and effectively removes epithelial tumors caused by HPV.

It should be noted that at the moment no specific drug has been found against the human papillomavirus. However, there are drugs that can reduce viral activity and prevent the development of warts on the hands, feet and other parts of the body. So, In a separate column it is worth highlighting drugs for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, help the body produce specialized immune cells, and are also able to have a visible antiviral effectThere are.

Popular drugs with antiviral and immunostimulating activity used to treat HPV in the presence of warts on the hands:

• A preparation with inosine. Strong antiviral effect is complemented by a stimulating effect on the immune system. A comprehensive solution to the problem of HPV of various strains provides an increase in the immune response and suppression of viral activity.
• Synthetic analogue of purine nucleoside. It is a direct-acting drug, its target is viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a pronounced decrease in viral activity.
• Initiator of the synthesis of endogenous interferon. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggering a number of immune processes. Accelerates the production of interferon.
• Preparation with Meglumine Acridone Acetate. Increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. Decreases the viral load and inhibits the growth of warts on the hands.
• Popular immunostimulating drug. 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 weakening of health, 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 comprehensive treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews indicate that complex therapy has a great effect, and the percentage of relapses is much lower than simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulating drugs.

Removal of warts on hands with instrumental methods

Removal of the affected epithelium is a mandatory procedure if the warts cause discomfort, grow quickly and change their structure, or are often injured. In addition, any mechanical impact on the growth can provoke bleeding, a secondary infectionIn addition, the development of the inflammatory process. Because of this, it is strongly discouraged to remove the warts on your hands yourself.

There are many modern methods of removing skin neoplasms. They are characterized by a high level of efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Painlessness during the procedures is ensured by local anesthesia.

The most popular methods for instrumental destruction of warts on the hands are:

• electrocoagulation. . . This method is great for removing vulgar warts that protrude 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 a high-frequency currentand simply cuts off the build-up. There is no bleeding during manipulation. The resulting scab falls off within 5-7 days. A scar after electrocoagulation remains the same after deep exposure.
• surgical excision. . . In most cases, it is determined that 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. Often during this procedureHealthy tissue is excised. After the procedure, cosmetic sutures are applied for 7-10 days. After the tissue has completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of surgery is calculated on an individual basis for each patientis done on.
• laser removal. . . According to a number of criteria, this is considered the most successful method - minimal painful sensations, high safety, accurate effect on education. With the help of a laser, the wart cells on the hands are burned. The remaining indentation is carried out for 2-3 weeksAfter it is hardened.
• cryodestruction. . . Deep freezing of the tissues, carried out in a few seconds, provokes the death of the treated tissues. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the wart on the hands begins to turn slightly yellow and thicken. The tissue around it slightly swells and becomes redAfter that, the body of the wart turns into a bubble that can fill with fluid. Within a week, it subsides, and a crust remains in its place. From this moment the skin heals. Occurrence time is about 2 weeks.

Scabs, bubbles, wounds that result from procedures should never be cut. This can lead to infection and take a long time to recover. Also, such movements often leave unattractive scars.

The cost of each procedure depends on the location of the warts on the hand, 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 equipment used. Depends on the type and qualifications of the medical personnel.

Treatment of warts on the hands with folk remedies

Many people refuse to go to the 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 healers use a lot of improvised means, food and plants. However, you need to understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the treatment of HPV is quite weak, so you shouldIt should not be relied upon, 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. The actions are similar - maintaining immunity and increasing the antiviral activity of the body, normalizing the balance of nutrients, as well as local antiseptic treatment.

Recipes for effective folk remedies:

• herbal infusion. . . For cooking, take 25 g of birch leaves, juniper needles, dandelion root, plantain leaf, chicory root and 30 g of nettle leaves, thyme grass and horsetail grass. All ingredients are poured into a volume of 1 liter of boiling water. Poured with, boiled for 10 minutes over low heat, insisted for 10-12 hours. It should be taken half a glass four times a day.
• infusion with herbs, , , For cooking, take Wormwood Herb (10 g), Birch Buds (15 g), Lemon Balm Herb (20 g), Thyme Herb (25 g) and Juniper Berry (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. To cookTake 40 grams of herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, 1-1. Infuse for 5 hours, filter and ingest. The received dose is calculated for 1 day. Treatment of hand warts takes from 2 to 5 weeks.
• hand shower, , , The starting ingredients are tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (from half of the fruit). Both ingredients have been dissolved in 2 cups of warm water. Place in the palm mixture and keep for 20 minutes. After the procedure, Soft wart particles on the hands should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration, fights pathogens.
• Lemon-Pine Combination for Warts, , , It is necessary to mix lemon and pine oil in equal quantities. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to soften the growth, have an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
• application for warts, , , Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and applied to the build-up. Such applications can last for several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be done 2-3 times every day until the handsBut the wart should not disappear completely.
• wormwood infusion, , , Crushed dry grass wormwood in an amount 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 applied and compresses are applied twice a day. Is.

Sometimes it is practiced to remove warts with celandine, onion, potato juice, lemon, Kalanchoe, acetic acid.

Real patient reviews on the treatment of warts on the hands

The choice of treatment methods is the prerogative of doctors, but before going to the hospital it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the possible options for HPV therapy and methods of removal of neoplasms. Reactions on the treatment of warts on the hands left on Internet forums, any specificWill help to make a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme. We suggest that you get acquainted with some stories of getting rid of external manifestations of HPV:

1. "My child has warts on his arms. Immediately he simply smeared it with an antiseptic, but when they began to grow near the nails, pain appeared. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, asThat we were told - radio waves. Is. "
2. "I got these growths somehow suddenly. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and celandine, but to no avail. They had to remove them with a laser, the warts on my hands were deep, so the scars were deep. It took about two weeks to heal, the scars are slowly healing, but I still drink antiviral pills and a drug for immunity. "
3. "But folk remedies did not help me, they only started a torment. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this sludge has grown. It is good that even if the doctor did not seriously spoil my fingers, but he carefully watered them. 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 medications and determining the best method of destruction should be done exclusively by a qualified medical professional to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the risk of infection to people around.