Warts on the hands are neoplasms that are mostly benign. The occurrence of such growths is associated with increased activity of the human papillomavirus. The disease is highly contagious and requires special complex treatment.
Causes of warts on the hands
Warts are an unpleasant external manifestation of an infectious skin disease. The culprit is the human papillomavirus.
How does HPV infection, which causes warts on the hands, occur:
- Method of communication. . . Most often, infection with this pathogen 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 part that comes in contact with the body. In addition to this option, it is possible to note the possibility of transmission of the pathogen when using things and objects that have been touched by the carrier of the disease. Therefore, you can be infected by relatives at home. Sometimes the virus survives for some time on various wet surfaces, for example, in bathrooms, locker rooms, public transport, etc.
- Self-infection. . . If a similar tumor has appeared on a part of the body, then there is a risk of self-infection. More specifically, the spread of the virus to healthy tissues. This happens when the increases are injured by nails or various objects. If wound and hand hygiene is not carried out in a timely manner, then an increase in damage can easily occur.
- From mother to child. . . According to this option, the infection of the child occurs from the mother during childbirth.
It should be noted that sexual contact with a carrier of the virus is rarely the cause of warts on the hands. This method of transmission often causes another type of benign tumor.
HPV is highly contagious. It is difficult to avoid infection. The disease affects both men and women, adults and children. Most often, warts on the hands occur in children and adolescents.
It can take from 1 to 6 months from the time the virus enters the body until the first external manifestations appear. Although in some cases only transmission is observed, in which the warts never begin to grow. This is possible if the individual's immunity is strong enough to prevent the virus from multiplying and activating.
Thus, HPV can wait a long time for the right time - a significant weakening of the immune system.
Various types of mental trauma, inadequate work and rest education, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and adverse environmental conditions can affect the immune system in the direction of reducing it.
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 illness and lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. Increased risk of HPV infection with the development of warts on the hands are HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of the virus penetrating the skin increases with the presence of even the smallest cracks in the skin.
- Individual characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, ie increased sweating in the palms is a provocative factor, because it promotes the formation of specific pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the reproduction of HPV.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene rules. . . Explaining what causes warts on your hands in the absence of skin care is quite simple. For example, dry skin can cause 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 common to wash your hands early.
With strong protective functions, the body can deal with the infection on its own. In the best case, the recovery takes place in 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the recovery process with the help of his own strength takes place within 2 years.
What do warts on your hands look like?
Many people, having found skin neoplasms in themselves, wonder how to cure warts on their hands. However, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you have the right warts and that is why you need to be able to distinguish these benign growths from others - corn, keratosis, lichen planus and mollusks.
The most important difference is that warts on the hands and other parts of the body have small blood vessels. This can be understood by accidental developmental injury or when you try to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.
The color spectrum of benign and safe warts is varied. The growths can be flesh color, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Occasionally there are blackheads on the surface - clots of clotted blood vessels. At the same time, the staining of neoplasms caused by the human papillomavirus in bright brown, black is not typical. Any discoloration should alert the person and prompt an emergency trip to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the hands. Fears must also be triggered by those growths that become inflamed, soaked, and begin to grow at an accelerated rate.
Wart sizes vary from 1 to 10 mm. They are individual or formed in groups of many. With a very weak immune response, tumor tissues grow rapidly. Individual developments can be developed with each other.
Any type of wart causes hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the skin. This is why such growths are easily felt; they stand out clearly against the background of healthy cells with a rougher and more solid 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 cancer is the hands. It can easily spread to the skin of the face. The color is flesh, yellow-brown or grayish. It is in such warts that black spots often appear. The growths are keratinized surfaces above the skin. In shape, such warts on the hands look like a nodule or a dome. Their structure is dense, the surface is irregular with small villi, characterized by increased tissue dryness. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Most of the time they do not cause pain.
- Superficial flat warts. . . Another name is youthful. The dorsal back of the hands is often affected. Color - from light yellow to brown. In appearance, they look like flat nodules of round or irregular shape. The size is 3-4 mm. Practically do not protrude above the skin.
- Flat warts are deep. . . The second type of flat warts. Representatives of this species grow inward. They are very specific formations. They also have an irregular shape, color from light yellow to brown. It does not protrude much above the skin, but inside the outer surface of the accumulation there is a slight cavity towards the middle. The size of an individual tumor is 3-4 mm. Most often, it is the deep warts on the hands that require treatment. usually cause rather intense painful sensations.
Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring great physical discomfort to their owner and form complexes inside him, embarrassing 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 recommended to go to the hospital and learn how to remove warts on the hands.
Ways to treat warts on the hands
The determination of the causes of warts on the hands and the treatment should be performed by a specialized doctor, who has at his disposal not only the knowledge and experience, but also all kinds of tools for diagnosis. Thus, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus, the viral load, the risks of adverse effects are determined. Based on the results, a complex treatment is prescribed, which includes not only taking drugs, but also organic removal of tumors, which are dangerous. Self-medication can very often lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.
Treatment of warts on the hands with drugs
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 treatments used to treat warts on the hands are:
- Ointments 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 the activity of the virus, slowing down the uncontrolled growth of tumors. They also contribute to the rapid healing of skin lesions, relieve inflammation.
- External means to destroy the increases. . . The active substances have an aggressive effect on the growing cells, promote their destruction and cause 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 in order to avoid side effects in the form of injury to healthy tissues. Separately, we can note the spray with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug acts on the principle of cryopreservation and effectively removes epithelial tumors caused by HPV.
Note that no specific human papillomavirus has been found at this time. 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 worth noting the drugs intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, helping the body to produce specific immune cells and are also able to have visible antiviral activity.
Popular drugs with antiviral and immunostimulatory effects used to treat HPV in the presence of warts on the hands:
- A formulation with inosine. The strong antiviral action is complemented by a stimulating effect on the immune system. A complete solution to the HPV problem of different strains provides an increase in the immune response and suppression of viral activity.
- Synthetic purine nucleoside analog. This is a direct-acting drug that targets viruses, including HPV. The result of the treatment is a visible reduction in viral activity.
- Inductor of the synthesis of endogenous interferons. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggering numerous immune processes. Accelerates interferon production.
- Preparation with acridone meglumine acetate. Increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. Reduces the viral load and stops the growth of warts on the hands.
- Popular immunostimulatory drug. The increase in the immune response leads to the fact that the virus loses its ability to integrate into healthy cells, while its population decreases significantly.
If there is a severe deterioration in health, then the doctor will recommend taking complexes of vitamins and minerals in order to restore the balance of nutrients and the performance of each building block of the body.
After a complete treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews indicate that the combination treatment has a great effect and the recurrence rate is much lower than with the simple removal of epithelial tumors by organic methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs.
Removal of warts on the hands with instrumental methods
Removal of the affected epithelium is a mandatory procedure if the warts cause discomfort, grow rapidly and change their structure or are frequently injured. In addition, any mechanical effect on the growths can cause bleeding, the addition of secondary infection, the development of the inflammatory process. Because of this, you are strongly discouraged from removing warts on your hands yourself.
There are a number of modern methods for the organic removal of skin tumors. They are characterized by a high degree of efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Painless during the operations is ensured by local anesthesia.
The most popular methods for the organic destruction of warts on the hands are:
- Electrocoagulation. . . This method is excellent for removing vulgar warts that protrude above the level of the skin, although it also helps get rid of deep epithelial neoplasms. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes high frequency current and simply cuts off the accumulation. No bleeding occurs during handling. The resulting crust leaves within 5-7 days. A scar after electrocoagulation remains only after deep exposure.
- Surgical resection. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if 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 with a scalpel. Healthy tissue is often cut during this process. After the procedure, cosmetic sutures are applied for 7-10 days. After the tissues are completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of the operation is calculated on an individual basis for each patient.
- Laser removal. . . According to many criteria, it is considered the most successful method - minimal painful sensations, high safety, accurate effect on training. With the help of a laser, the wart cells in the hands are burned. The remaining recesses are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
- Cold disaster. . . Deep freezing of the tissues, which takes place within a few seconds, causes the treated tissues to die. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the warts on the hands begin to become slightly pale and thick. The tissue around it swells slightly and may turn red. After that, the wart body transforms 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 now is about 2 weeks.
The crusts, bubbles, wounds formed as a result of the procedures should never be torn. This can lead to infection and longer recovery time. Also, due to such actions, unattractive scars 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 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 on the hands with folk remedies
Many people refuse to visit a doctor for various reasons and seek an answer to the question of how to get rid of warts on their hands at home.
Traditional healers use many improvised means, foods and plants to eliminate warts and fight the human papillomavirus. However, you should understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the treatment of HPV is rather weak, so you should not rely on it, refusing to take medication and professional removal of skin growths.
In some cases, the treating physician may recommend the supplementation of traditional methods of treating warts on the hands with folk remedies. Among the tasks are the same - maintaining immunity and increasing the body's antiviral activity, normalizing the balance of nutrients, as well as topical antiseptic treatment.
Recipes for effective folk remedies:
- Herbal infusion. . . For cooking, take 25 grams of birch leaves, juniper needles, dandelion root, plantain leaf, chicory root and 30 grams of nettle leaves, grass and ponytail. 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.
- Infusion with herbs. . . For cooking, take wormwood (10 g), birch buds (15 g), lemon herb (20 g), thyme herb (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. For the preparation, take 40 g of the herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, infuse for 1-1, 5 hours, filter and take it inside. The dose taken is calculated for 1 day. The treatment for warts on the hands is 2 to 5 weeks.
- Hand baths. . . The raw material is tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (from half the fruit). Dilute both ingredients in 2 cups of warm water. Place in the mixture with the palms and hold for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the softened wart particles on the hands must be removed. The tool has antiviral action, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration and fights pathogens.
- Lemon-pine mixture for warts. . . It is necessary to mix lemon and pine oil in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to soften the growths, have an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
- Applications for warts. . . The patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and adheres over the accumulation. Such applications can take several hours. To speed up the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be performed 2-3 times a day until the warts on the hands completely disappear.
- Absinthe infusion. . . The crushed dry wormwood in a volume of 60 g is poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2, 5 hours in a thermos, filter. The infusion is impregnated with a gauze bandage and compresses are made twice a day.
Sometimes the removal of warts is practiced with felantin, onions, potato juice, lemon, Kalanchoe, acetic acid.
Real patient reviews for the treatment of warts on the hands
The choice of treatment methods is the prerogative of the doctors, but it will not be unnecessary to get acquainted with the possible treatment options with HPV and the methods of tumor removal before going to the hospital. Comments on the treatment of warts on the hands, which are left on forums on the Internet, will help in the preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of a particular scheme. We suggest you familiarize yourself with some stories of getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV:
- "My child has warts on his hands. Immediately they simply smeared it with 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 radio waves. The son, indeed, did not complain of pain during the procedure, there was no blood. The skin recovered very quickly. Then they took an interferon-based medicine. "Now there is not a single wart. "
- "I got these increases somehow all of a sudden. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and put fellante, 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 heal gradually, but I still take antiviral pills and an immunosuppressant. "
- "But folk remedies did not help me, they only started a wound. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this dirt has grown. It is good that even though the doctor did not seriously deform my fingers, he sewed them carefully. It took about three weeks for him 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 optimal method of destruction should be done exclusively by a specialized doctor, in order to prevent the spread of the disease and to reduce the risk of infection of the surrounding people.