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

Warts on the hands are predominantly benign neoplasms. The appearance of such growths is associated with increased activity of the 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 the human papillomavirus.

How does HPV infection, which causes warts to grow on hands, occur?

• Contact method. . . Very often, infection with this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct contact between the skin of a healthy person and an infected one. A simple handshake may be sufficient. Due to this, the most common occurrence is the appearance of warts on the hands, because the hands are the part of the body that has the most contact. In addition to this option, it is possible to notice the possibility of transmitting the pathogen by using things and objects that the carrier of the disease has touched. Therefore, it can be spread from family members 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 on one part of the body, then the risk of autoinfection is possible. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissue. This happens when the growths are traumatized by nails or other objects. If wound and hand hygiene is not carried out in a timely manner, then an increase in injury can easily be caused.
• From mother to son. . . According to this option, the infection of the child is caused by 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 other types of benign neoplasms.

HPV is very 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 first external manifestations appear, it can take from 1 to 6 months. Although in some cases only bearing is observed, in which the warts never begin to grow. This is possible if the person's immunity is strong enough and does not allow the virus to multiply and activate.

Therefore, HPV can wait a long time for the right time - a significant weakening of the immune system.

Various types of mental trauma, improper work and rest regimen, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and unfavorable environmental conditions can affect the immune status in the direction of its decline.

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 the lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. An increased risk of contracting HPV with the development of warts on the hands is HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of penetration of the virus into the epidermis increases with the presence of even the smallest cracks in the skin.
• Individual characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, in other words, increased sweating on the palms is a provoking factor, because it promotes the 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 hands in the absence of skin care is quite simple. For example, dry skin can lead to the formation of small cracks and irritation, through which the virus can safely penetrate inside. It should be noted that the infection can be prevented even after shaking hands with an infected person, if it is banal to wash hands in a timely manner.

With strong protective functions, the body can cope with infection on its own. At best, recovery occurs in 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the recovery process with the help of one's own strength is carried out in 2 years.

What do warts look like on my hands?

Many people, who have found skin neoplasms on themselves, wonder how to cure warts on hands. However, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you have exactly the warts, and for 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 trying to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensity occurs.

The color spectrum of safe and benign warts is varied. The growths can be flesh-colored, light yellow, light brown, grayish-brown. Sometimes on its surface you can see black dots, places of thrombosed vessels. At the same time, the staining of neoplasms caused by the human papillomavirus in bright brown, black is not typical. Any color change should alert the person and prompt an urgent trip to the hospital to determine how to treat hand warts. The fears must also be caused by those growths that become inflamed, rot and begin to grow at an accelerated rate.

The sizes of warts vary from 1 to 10 mm. They are individual or formed in groups of several. With a very weak immune response, the tissues of neoplasms grow rapidly. Individual growths can grow together.

Any type of warts causes hyperkeratosis: excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. That is why such growths can be easily felt; they stand out clearly in the context of healthy cells with a thicker 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 neoplasm is the hands. It can easily spread to the skin of the face. The color is flesh-colored, yellowish-brown, or greyish. It is in such warts that blackheads can often be seen. The growths are keratinized eminences above the skin. In shape, these warts on the hands resemble a nodule or a domed papule. Its structure is dense, the surface is irregular with small villi, characterized by a greater dryness of the tissue. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Most of the time they are painless.
• Superficial flat warts. . . Another name is juvenile. The back of the hands is often affected. Color: pale yellow to brown. In appearance, they resemble flat nodules of round or irregular shape. The size is 3-4mm. They practically do not protrude from the skin.
• Flat warts run 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 pale yellow to brown. It does not protrude particularly above the skin, but within the outer surface of the accumulation there is a slight depression towards the center. The size of a single neoplasm is 3-4 mm. Very often, it is the deep warts on the hands that require treatment. they, as a rule, produce quite strong painful sensations.

Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring great physical discomfort to their owner and form complexes in him, shame for his appearance, because the hands are almost always in sight. 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 hands

The determination of the causes of warts on the hands and the treatment should be carried out by a qualified doctor, who has at his disposal not only the knowledge and experience, but also all kinds of tools for making a diagnosis. So, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus is determined, the viral load is determined, and the risks of developing adverse consequences are evaluated. According to the results, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking drugs, but also the instrumental removal of neoplasms, which are dangerous. Very often, self-medication can lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.

Treatment of warts on the hands with medications.

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

The most popular remedies used to treat warts on the hands are:

• Ointments to disinfect and fight the virus.. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of infection through the skin, thus reducing the risk of infection to other people. 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 for the destruction of growths.. . . Active substances have an aggressive effect on growing cells, promote their destruction and provoke the complete removal of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Its use is desirable within the walls of a medical institution to avoid undesirable consequences in the form of damage to healthy tissues. Separately, we can observe 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 so far no specific drug has been found against human papillomavirus. However, there are medications that can reduce viral activity and stop wart growth on the hands, feet, and other parts of the body. So, in a separate column, it is worth highlighting the drugs intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, helping the body to produce special immune cells, and can also have a visible antiviral effect.

Popular drugs with antiviral and immunostimulating 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 the suppression of viral activity.
• Synthetic purine nucleoside analog. This is a direct-acting drug, it targets viruses, including HPV. The result of the treatment is a visible decrease in viral activity.
• Inducer of the synthesis of endogenous interferons. The action is specific: it activates the body's defenses and triggers numerous immune processes. Accelerates the production of interferon.
• Preparation with acridone meglumine 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.
• Folk immunostimulating medicine. An increase in the 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-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 with simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of drugs. antivirals and immunostimulants.

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. Also, any mechanical effect on the growths can provoke bleeding, the addition of a secondary infection, the development of the inflammatory process. Because of this, removing warts from your hands yourself is strongly discouraged.

There are several 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 procedures is ensured by 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 protrude from the skin level, but it also helps remove deep epithelial neoplasms. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes the high-frequency current and simply cuts off the build-up. No bleeding occurs during handling. The resulting crust is gone in 5-7 days. A 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 large lesion. The removal of warts on the hands is done with a surgical scalpel. Often during this procedure, healthy tissue is removed. After the procedure, cosmetic stitches are applied for 7-10 days. Once the tissues have fully healed, scars may remain. The cost of the surgery is calculated individually for each patient.
• Laser removal. . . By many criteria, the most successful method is considered: a minimum of painful sensations, high safety, a precise effect on education. With the help of a laser, the wart cells on the hands are burned. The remaining clefts are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
• Cryodestruction. . . Deep tissue freezing, performed in a matter of seconds, causes the death of the treated tissues. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the wart on the hands begins to turn slightly pale and thick. The surrounding tissue swells slightly and may become red. After that, the body of the wart turns into a bubble that can fill with fluid. In a week, it subsides and a scab remains in place. The recovery time of the skin from this point on is about 2 weeks.

Scabs, bubbles, wounds formed as a result of the procedures should never be pulled off. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery time. Also, due to such actions, unattractive scars often remain.

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 home 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 remove warts and fight the human papillomavirus, traditional healers use many improvised means, foods and plants. However, you need to understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the treatment of HPV is quite weak, so you should not rely on it, refusing to take drugs and professional removal of skin growths.

In some cases, the treating physician may recommend supplementing traditional methods of treating warts on the hands with home 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 of effective home 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, agine grass and horsetail grass. All ingredients are poured with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, boiled 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 herb (10 g), birch buds (15 g), lemon balm (20 g), thyme herb (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). all the ingredients are mixed. To brew beer, take 40 g of the herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, infuse for 1-1. 5 hours, filter and take in. The received dose 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). Both ingredients are diluted in 2 cups of warm water. Place in the palm mixture and hold for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the soft wart particles on the hands should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates the regeneration of tissues and fights against pathogens.
• Lemon and pine mix for warts. . . It is required to mix lemon and pine oil in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas 3-5 times a day to smooth growths, have an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
• Applications for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and clings to the buildup. These applications can last several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be carried out 2-3 times a day until the wart on the hands completely disappears.
• Wormwood infusion. . . Crushed dry grass wormwood 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 impregnated and compresses are made twice a day.

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

Reviews of real patients on 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 the possible options for HPV therapy and methods of eliminating neoplasms before going to the hospital. Comments on the treatment of warts on the hands, which are left on Internet forums, will help to preliminarily assess the effectiveness of a particular scheme. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with some stories on how to get rid of the external manifestations of HPV:

1. "My son has warts on his arms. Immediately, they just smeared him with an antiseptic, but when they started to grow near the nails, the pain appeared. We decided to remove it in the safest and most effective way, as we were told, by radio waves The son, in fact, 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. "
2. "I got these growths somehow all of a sudden. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and applied celandine but got no results. They had to be removed with a laser, the warts on my hands were deep so the scars were deep It took me about two weeks to heal, the scars are gradually healing, but I'm still taking antiviral pills and an immunity drug. "
3. "But the home remedies didn't help me, they just started a sore. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this crap has grown. It's good that even though the doctor didn't severely disfigure my fingers, he sutured them carefully. He took me around after three weeks to recover. Now I take pills and make decoctions for the regeneration of the skin. "

Treating warts on the hands is a responsible matter. Prescribing drugs and determining the best method of destruction should be done exclusively by a qualified medical professional to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of infection to the surrounding people.