Warts on the hands: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Warts on the hands are mainly benign neoplasms. 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 the appearance 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 causes warts on the hands, occur:

• Contact method. . . Infection with this pathogen often occurs as a result of direct contact with the skin of a healthy person. A simple handshake may suffice. For this reason, the most common phenomenon is the formation of warts on the hands, because the hands are the most touching part of the body. In addition to this option, it is possible to note the possibility of transmission of the pathogen when using objects and objects touched by the carrier of the disease. Therefore, you can be infected at home by relatives. Sometimes the virus stays for a while on different wet surfaces, such as bathrooms, changing rooms, public transport, and so on.
• Autoinfection. . . If a similar neoplasm appears in any part of the body, then there is a risk of self-infection. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissues. This happens when the growths are traumatized by nails or various objects. If the wound and hand hygiene are not carried out in time, the growth of the lesion can be easily provoked.
• From mother to child. . . According to this option, the infection of the child occurs at birth.

It should be noted that sexual intercourse with a carrier of the virus rarely causes the appearance of warts on the hands. This method of transmission often causes other types of benign neoplasms.

HPV is highly contagious. Infection is difficult to prevent. The disease affects both men and women, as well as adults and children. Warts on the hands are often seen in children and adolescents.

It can last from 1 to 6 months from the moment the virus enters the body until the first external manifestations appear. Although in some cases warts are observed only in the carriage, which never begins to grow. This is possible when 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 regimes, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, bad habits, and unfavorable environmental conditions can all contribute to a decline in immune status.

There are many factors that predispose to these formations, consider the most obvious reasons for the appearance of warts 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 HPV infection with the development of warts on the hands is associated with HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. happens with. The risk of the virus penetrating the epidermis increases with the presence of even the smallest cracks in the skin.
• Individual features. . . Hyperhidrosis, ie. Increased sweating in the palms is a provocative factor, as it contributes to the formation of specific pathological microflora and high humidity, which are favorable conditions for the proliferation of HPV.
• Failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene. . . It is very simple to explain the cause of warts on your hands when the skin is not cared for. For example, dry skin can cause small cracks and irritation, through which the virus can safely penetrate. Interestingly, if washing your hands on time is banal, you can prevent infection even after shaking hands with an infected person.

With its strong protective functions, the body can cope with infection independently. At best, recovery occurs within 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the process of self-healing takes place within 2 years.

What do the warts on your hands look like?

Many people find skin neoplasms and think about how to treat warts on their hands. However, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you have complete warts, and to do this you need to be able to distinguish these benign growths from others - corns, keratoses, 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 when you try to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.

The color spectrum of pleasant and safe warts is different. Growths can be flesh-colored, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Sometimes black spots can be observed on their surface - the location of thrombotic vessels. At the same time, neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus are not typical of bright brown, black staining. Any discoloration should alert the person and cause an emergency visit to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the hands. Fears should also stem from inflammatory, purulent, and rapidly growing growths.

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

Any type of wart provokes hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. Therefore, such growths can be easily felt, clearly contrasting with the background of healthy cells with a coarser and more robust structure.

Two types of warts are often seen on the hands:

• Common warts. . . They are also called vulgar. The favorite place for this type of neoplasm is the hands. Can be easily spread on faceThe color is flesh-colored, yellow-brown or grayish. It is in such warts that blackheads can often be seen. Growths are keratinized protrusions on the skin. In the picture, such warts on the hands look like a nodular or domed 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. They often do not cause pain.
• Superficial warts. . . Another name is youth. The back of the hands is often affected. Color - from light yellow to brown. In appearance, they look like straight knots of round or irregular shape. The size is 3-4 mm. Practically do not go on the skin.
• Straight warts are deep. . . The second type of flat warts. Representatives of this species grow inside. They are very specific formations. It also has an irregular shape, light yellow to brown. It is not particularly protruding on the skin, but there is a slight depression in the middle on the outer surface of the accumulation. The size of a single neoplasm is 3-4 mm. Often there are deep warts on the hands that require treatment. they, as a rule, give very strong painful sensations.

Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they cause great physical discomfort to the owner, and then the complexes are ashamed of their appearance, because the hands are almost always in sight. Therefore, even if there are no painful or 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

Determining and treating the causes of warts on the hands should be carried out not only by knowledge and experience, but also by a qualified physician who has all the means to diagnose. Thus, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus, the viral load is determined, the risk of developing negative results is assessed. Based on the results, a complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only medication, but also instrumental removal of dangerous neoplasms. Self-medication can often lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.

Drug treatment of warts on the hands

A dermatologist treats warts on the hands. Its main task is to suppress the activity of the virus and prevent the spread of infection. To do this, antiviral drugs are used for both external use and oral administration.

The most popular remedies used to treat warts are:

• Ointments for disinfection and antivirals. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of the infection through the skin, thereby reducing the risk of infecting others. Many drugs effectively suppress the activity of the virus, slowing down the uncontrolled growth of neoplasms. They also help skin lesions to heal faster and eliminate inflammation.
• External means to destroy growths. . . The active ingredients have an aggressive effect on growth cells, help to destroy them and completely eliminate warts on the hands and other parts of the body. It is desirable to use them on the walls of a medical institution to prevent undesirable consequences in the form of damage to healthy tissues. Separately, we can mention the spray with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug works on the principle of cryodestruction and effectively eliminates epithelial tumors caused by HPV.

It should be noted that currently no specific drug against human papillomavirus has been found. However, there are drugs that reduce the activity of viruses and stop the growth of warts on the hands, feet and other parts of the body. Thus, it is worth highlighting the drugs intended for oral administration in a separate column. They actively stimulate the immune system, help the body produce specific immune cells, and at the same time have a visible antiviral effect.

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

• A drug containing inosine. The strong antiviral effect is complemented by a stimulating effect on the immune system. The complex 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. It is a direct-acting drug that targets viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a significant reduction in viral activity.
• Inducer of the synthesis of endogenous interferons. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggers numerous immune processes. Accelerates interferon production
• Preparation with meglumin acridone acetate. Increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. Reduces viral load and stops the growth of warts on the hands.
• A popular immunostimulating drug. An increase in the immune response causes the virus to lose its ability to integrate into healthy cells, and the population to shrink significantly.

If there is a strong deterioration of health, then the doctor will recommend taking vitamin and mineral complexes to restore the balance of nutrients and the activity of each structural unit of the body.

After thorough treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews show that complex therapy has a significant effect and the recurrence rate is much lower than the simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs.

Removal of warts on the hands by instrumental methods

Removal of damaged epithelium is a mandatory procedure if the warts are disturbed, grow rapidly, and change their structure or are frequently injured. In addition, any mechanical impact on the growths can lead to bleeding, the addition of secondary infection, the development of inflammatory processes. For this reason, it is not recommended to remove the warts 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 of instrumental destruction of warts on the hands are:

• Electrocoagulation. . . This method is excellent for removing vulgar warts above the level of the skin, although it helps to 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. Bleeding does not occur during manipulation. The resulting bark is left for 5–7 days. After electrocoagulation, the scar remains only after a deep impact.
• Surgical excision. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if a growth sample needs to be taken for analysis and there is a large lesion. Removal of warts on the hands is performed using a surgical scalpel. During this procedure, healthy tissue is often cut. Cosmetic sutures are applied 7-10 days after the procedure. Scars may remain after the tissues have fully healed. The cost of the operation is calculated individually for each patient.
• Laser removal. . . According to many criteria, it is considered the most successful method - minimal pain, high safety, accurate impact on education. With the help of a laser, the wart cells in the hands are burned. The remaining indentations are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
• Cryodostruction. . . Deep freezing of tissues performed within a few seconds causes the death of the treated tissues. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the warts on the hands begin to fade and thicken. The surrounding tissue swells a little and may turn red. After that, the body of the wart turns into a bubble that can be filled with fluid. Within a week, it decreases and a crust remains in place. The recovery time of the skin from now on is about 2 weeks.

Bruises, blisters, and wounds resulting from the procedure should never be removed. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery period. Also, such actions often leave 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 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 see 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.

Traditional healers use many improvised means, foods and herbs to eliminate warts and fight human papillomavirus. However, you should understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the treatment of HPV is very weak, so you should not rely on it, refusing to take medication and professionally remove skin growths.

In some cases, the attending physician may recommend complementing traditional methods of treating warts with folk remedies. The tasks are the same - to protect the immune system 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 cook, take 25 g of maple leaves, juniper needles, ginger root, plantain, chicory root and nettle leaves, 30 g of each of maple grass and horsetail. All ingredients are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes on low heat, insist 10-12 hours. Take half a glass four times a day.
• Infusion with herbs. . . To cook, take wormwood (10 g), maple buds (15 g), lemon balm grass (20 g), thyme grass (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. To brew, take 40 g of vegetable mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, infuse for 1-1, 5 hours, filter and take. The dose is calculated for 1 day. Treatment of warts is from 2 to 5 weeks.
• Hand baths. . . The starting material is tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (half of the fruit). Both substances are diluted in 2 cups of warm water. Put in the palm mixture and leave 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, fights pathogens.
• Lemon-pine mixture for warts. . . It is necessary to mix lemon and pine oil in equal proportions. The mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to soften growths, have an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
• Applications for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and glued to the collection. Such applications can take several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be performed 2-3 times a day until the warts on the hands are completely gone.
• Wormwood infusion. . . Pour 60 g of crushed dried wormwood with 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2, 5 hours in a thermos, strain. The infusion is impregnated with a gauze bandage and compresses are applied twice a day.

Sometimes it is applied 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 is up to the doctors, but before going to the hospital, it is no longer necessary to get acquainted with the possible options of HPV therapy and methods of removing neoplasms. An opinion on the treatment of warts on the hands left on the Internet forums will help to assess in advance the effectiveness of a particular scheme. Here are some stories of getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV:

1. "My child has warts on his arms. He was immediately stained with an antiseptic, but the pain began to grow near the nails. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, as we were told - with radio waves. The son did not really complain of pain during the procedure. "There was no blood. The skin recovers very quickly. Then they took interferon-based medication. Now there is not a single wart. "
2. "I got these growths all of a sudden. They were very sick. I tried garlic at home and smoked celandine, but it didn't work. They had to remove it with a laser. The warts on my hands were deep, so the scars were deep. It took about two weeks to heal. He is recovering, but I am still taking antiviral pills and immunosuppressants. "
3. "But folk remedies did not help me, it just started to hurt. I had to go to surgery, because most of the dirt grew. Fortunately, the doctor did not seriously break my fingers, but carefully stitched them. It took about three weeks to heal. Now I take pills and restore the skin. I prepare decoctions.

Treating warts on the hands is a responsible job. To prevent the spread of the disease and to reduce the risk of infection in the surrounding people, the appointment of drugs and the determination of the best method of destruction should be carried out only by a qualified medical professional.