Warts on the hands are neoplasms that are mostly benign. The appearance of such growths is associated with increased activity of human papilloma virus. 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 the human papilloma virus.
How HPV infection causes warts on the hands:
- Contact method. . . Infection with this pathogenic microorganism usually occurs through direct contact between the skin of a healthy person and an infected person. Simple handling may be enough. This is why warts are most common on the hands, as the hands are the most contact part of the body. In addition to this option, it is possible to notice the possibility of transmitting pathogens when using things and objects that the carrier of the disease has touched. 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.
- Autoinfection. . . If a similar neoplasm has appeared on one part of the body, then there is a possible risk of self-infection. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissue. This happens when the growths are traumatized by nails or various objects. If the hygiene of the wound and the hand is not carried out in time, then an increase in the lesion can easily be caused.
- From mother to child. . . In accordance with this option, the infection of the child comes from the mother during the birth.
It should be noted that sexual contact with a virus carrier is rarely the cause of warts on the hands. This mode of transmission often causes another type of benign neoplasm.
HPV is highly contagious. It is difficult to avoid infection. The disease affects both men and women, and adults and children. Warts on the hands most often appear in children and adolescents.
From the moment the virus enters the body until the appearance of the first external manifestations can take from 1 to 6 months. Although in some cases only wearing is observed, in which the nipples never start to grow. This is possible if the person's immunity is strong enough and does not allow the virus to multiply and activate.
Thus, HPV can wait a long time for the right moment - a significant weakening of the immune system.
Different types of psychological trauma, improper work and rest regime, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and unfavorable environmental conditions can affect the immune status in the direction of its reduction.
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. Increased risk of getting HPV with the formation of warts on the hands is with HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of the virus penetrating the epidermis is increased by the presence of even the smallest cracks on the skin.
- Individual characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, ie. increased sweating on the palms is a provoking factor, because it encourages the creation of special pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the reproduction of HPV.
- Failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene. . . Explaining what causes warts on the hands in the absence of skin care is quite simple. For example, dry skin can cause small cracks and irritations, through which the virus can safely penetrate inside. It is important to note that the infection can be prevented even after handling an infected person, if it is banal to wash your hands on time.
With strong protective functions, the body can cope with the infection on its own. At best, recovery occurs in 2-3 months. According to statistics, that is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the self-help recovery process takes place within 2 years.
What do warts on the hands look like?
Many people, after finding neoplasms on the skin, wonder how to cure warts on the hands. However, before starting treatment, you should make sure that you have warts, and for that you must know how to distinguish these benign growths from others - corns, keratosis, lichen planus and molluscum contagiosum.
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 accidentally injuring the growth or trying to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.
The color spectrum of benign and safe nipples is diverse. Outgrowths can be flesh-colored, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Sometimes black spots can be seen on their surface - places of thrombosed vessels. At the same time, staining of neoplasms caused by human papilloma virus in light brown, black is not typical. Any change in color should alert the person and encourage an urgent visit to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the hands. Fears should also be caused by those growths that become inflamed, fester, and begin to grow rapidly.
Nipple sizes vary from 1 to 10 mm. They are individual or formed in groups of several. With a very weak immune response, neoplasm tissues grow rapidly. Individual growths can grow with each other.
Any type of wart causes hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. That is why such growths can be easily felt, they stand out clearly against the background of healthy cells of a coarser and firmer structure.
Two types of warts most often appear on the hands:
- Ordinary warts. . . They are also called vulgar. The favorite place for this type of neoplasm are the hands. It spreads easily on facial skin. The color is flesh-colored, yellow-brown or grayish. Blackheads can often be seen on such warts. The growths are keratinized eminences above the skin. In shape, such warts on the hands resemble a nodule or a domed papule. Their structure is dense, the surface is uneven with small fringes, characterized by increased tissue dryness. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. They usually do not cause pain.
- Superficial flat nipples. . . Another name is youthful. The dorsum of the fist is often affected. Color - from pale yellow to brown. They resemble flat nodules of round or irregular shape. The size is 3-4 mm. It practically does not protrude through the skin.
- Straight nipples are deep. . . Another type of straight nipple. Representatives of this species grow inward. These are very specific formations. They are also irregular in shape, colors from pale yellow to brown. It does not protrude particularly over the skin, but inside the outer surface of the layer there is a slight depression towards the middle. The size of one neoplasm is 3-4 mm. The most common are deep warts on the hands that require treatment. they, as a rule, deliver 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, shame for his appearance, because his hands are almost always in sight. Therefore, even without the presence of pain and dangerous changes in the structure of such growths, it is advisable to go to the hospital and learn how to remove warts on the hands.
Ways to treat warts on the hands
Determining the cause 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 for diagnosis. Thus, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papilloma virus, viral load is determined, and the risks of developing harmful consequences are assessed. Based on the results, a 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 a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.
Treating warts on the hands with medication
A dermatologist treats 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 medications used to treat warts on the hands are:
- Ointments for disinfection and fight against viruses. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of infection through the skin, thus reducing the risk of infection for others. Many drugs effectively suppress the activity of the virus, slowing the uncontrolled growth of neoplasms. They also contribute to the rapid healing of skin lesions, relieve inflammation.
- External means of destroying growths. . . The active substances act aggressively on the growth cells, promote their destruction and cause complete removal of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Their use is desirable within the walls of a health facility to avoid unwanted consequences in the form of injuries to healthy tissues. Separately we can notice 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 no specific cure for human papilloma virus has been found at this time. However, there are medications 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 special column it is worth noting drugs intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, helping the body to produce special immune cells, and they can also have a visible antiviral effect.
Popular antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs used to treat HPV in the presence of warts on the hands:
- 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 enables an increase in the immune response and suppression of viral activity.
- Synthetic analogue of the purine nucleoside. This is a direct-acting drug, targeting viruses, including HPV. The result of the treatment is a visible reduction in the activity of the virus.
- Inducer of endogenous interferon synthesis. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggering numerous immune processes. Accelerates interferon production.
- Preparation with meglumine acridone acetate. Increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. It reduces the viral load and stops the growth of warts on the hands.
- A popular immunostimulating drug. An increase in the immune response leads to the virus losing its ability to integrate into healthy cells, while its population decreases significantly.
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 performance of each structural unit of the body.
After a comprehensive treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews show that complex therapy has an excellent effect, and the recurrence rate is much lower than simply removing epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs.
Removal of warts on the hands by instrumental methods
Removal of the affected epithelium is a mandatory procedure if the warts cause discomfort, grow rapidly and change structure, or are often injured. Moreover, any mechanical effect on the growths can cause bleeding, the addition of secondary infection, the development of the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to remove warts on your hands yourself.
There are a number of modern methods of instrumental removal of skin neoplasms. They are characterized by a high degree of efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Painlessness during the procedure is provided 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, but it also helps to get rid of deep epithelial neoplasms. A special loop device eventually synthesizes high-frequency current and simply stops the accumulation. No bleeding occurs during the manipulation. The resulting crust leaves within 5-7 days. The scar after electrocoagulation remains only after deep exposure.
- Surgical excision. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if it is necessary to take a sample of the growth for analysis and in the presence of a larger lesion. Removal of warts on the hands is performed with a surgical scalpel. Healthy tissue is often excised during this procedure. After the procedure, cosmetic sutures are applied for 7-10 days. Once the tissues have completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of surgery is calculated individually for each patient.
- Laser removal. . . According to many criteria, it is considered the most successful method - a minimum of painful sensations, high security, accurate effect on education. With the help of a laser, the cells of the warts on the hands are burned. The remaining indentations are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
- Cryodestruction. . . Deep freezing of tissues, performed in a few seconds, causes the death of treated tissues. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the warts on the hands begin to fade slightly and thicken. The tissue around it swells slightly and may turn red. After that, the body of the nipple turns into a fluid-filled bladder. It shrinks within a week, and the crust remains in place. The recovery time of the skin from this moment is about 2 weeks.
Bark, blisters, wounds resulting from the procedure should never be torn off. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery time. Also, unattractive scars often remain due to such actions.
The cost of each procedure depends on the location of the warts on the hands, the number of growths and the total surface 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 of folk remedies
Many people for various reasons refuse to visit a doctor and seek an answer to the question of how to get rid of warts on the hands at home.
To eliminate warts and fight the human papilloma virus, traditional healers use many improvised remedies, foods and herbs. However, you must understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in treating HPV is quite poor, so you should not rely on it, refusing to take medication and professionally remove skin growths.
In some cases, your doctor 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.
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 leaf, agina grass and horsetail grass. All the ingredients are poured over boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, cook for 10 minutes on low heat, insist 10-12 hours. It should be taken four times a day for half a glass.
- Infusion with herbs. . . For cooking, take the wormwood plant (10 g), birch buds (15 g), lemon balm plant (20 g), thyme plant (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. For cooking, take 40 g of herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, let it stand for 1-1, 5 hours, filter and put inside. The received dose is calculated for 1 day. The treatment of warts on the hands lasts 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 nipple particles on the hands should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration and fights pathogens.
- A mixture of lemon and pine 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.
- Nipple applications. . . Patchouli oil is applied to the bactericidal patch and applied over the deposits. 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.
- Wormwood infusion. . . Crushed dry wormwood grass in a volume of 60 g is poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2, 5 hours in a thermos, filter. The gauze bandage is impregnated in the infusion and dressings are made twice a day.
Sometimes the removal of warts is practiced with celandine, onion, potato juice, lemon, kalanchoe, acetic acid.
Reviews of real patients about the treatment of warts on the hands
The choice of treatment methods is the prerogative of the doctor, but it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the possible options of HPV therapy and methods of removing neoplasms before going to the hospital. Feedback on the treatment of warts on the hands, left on online forums, will help to preliminarily assess the effectiveness of a particular scheme. We suggest you read some stories about getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV:
- My child has warts on his hands. Immediately they simply smeared him with antiseptic, but when they started to grow near the nails, there was pain. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, as we were told - by radio waves. indeed, he 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 are no warts. "
- "Somehow I suddenly got these growths. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and applied celandine, but I didn't get any results. They had to remove them with a laser, my nipples were deep, so the scars are deep. It's about two weeks to heal, the scars are gradually healing, but I'm still taking antiviral pills and immunity medication. "
- "But folk remedies didn't help me, they just started the wound. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this dirt grew. It's good that the doctor, although he didn't seriously disfigure my fingers, sewed it up carefully. It took me about three weeks. "Now I'm taking pills and making decoctions to regenerate my skin. "
Treating warts on the hands is a responsible job. Prescribing medications and determining the best way to destroy them should be performed exclusively by qualified medical personnel in order to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of infection of the surrounding people.