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

Warts on the hands are mostly benign tumors. The occurrence of such tumors is associated with increased activity of the human papillomavirus. This disease is very contagious and requires special complex treatment.

Causes of 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 HPV infection occurs, causing the growth of warts on the hands:

• Contact method. . . Usually, infection with this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct skin contact between a healthy person and an infected person. A simple handshake may be enough. That is why the phenomenon of warts on the hands occurs most often, because the hands are the most exposed parts of the body. In addition to this option, it is possible to note the possibility of pathogen transmission when using objects and objects that the carrier has touched. Therefore, you can catch the disease from loved ones at home. Sometimes the virus lingers for a while on various wet surfaces, such as in bathrooms, changing rooms, public transport, etc. v.
• Automatic sterilization. . . If a similar tumor has appeared on one part of the body, there is a risk of self-infection. More precisely, the spread of the virus to healthy tissue. This happens when the tumor is traumatized with a fingernail or various objects. If the wound and hand hygiene is not done in time, the injury will easily increase.
• From mother to child. . . In this embodiment, the infection of the child occurs from the mother during childbirth.

It should be noted that sex with a carrier of the virus is rarely the cause of the appearance of warts on the hands. This mode of transmission often causes another type of benign tumor.

HPV is highly infectious. Infection is hard to avoid. The disease affects both men and women, both 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 appearance of symptoms, it can take from 1 to 6 months. Although in some cases only warts are observed, warts never begin to develop. 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 moment - a significant weakening of the immune system.

Types of mental trauma, improper working and rest regimes, drug abuse, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and unfavorable environmental conditions can affect the situation. immunity is on the decline.

The factors that lead to the appearance of these formations are many, let's consider the most obvious reasons why warts appear on the hands:

• Acute and chronic diseases. . . Any disease and not treated promptly and competently can significantly weaken the immune system. Increased risk of HPV infection when developing hand warts along with HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The risk of the virus entering the epidermis is increased when there is even the smallest crack in the skin.
• Personal characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, that is, increased sweating on the palms of the hands is a provoking factor, because promoting the formation of a special pathological microflora, and high humidity are favorable conditions for the reproduction of the HPV virus.
• Failure to observe the rules of personal hygiene. . . Explaining the cause of warts on hands when not taking care of the skin is quite simple. For example, dry skin can cause small cracks to form and irritation, through which viruses can safely enter. It should be noted that infection can be prevented even after shaking hands with an infected person, if hands are washed promptly.

With strong protective functions, the body can deal with infection on its own. In the best case, the recovery takes place in 2-3 months. Statistically, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes self-help recovery takes up to 2 years.

What do warts on your hands look like?

Many people, when they discover they have skin tumors on their hands, wonder how to get rid of warts on their hands. However, before starting treatment, you should make sure you have the exact wart and for this you need to distinguish these benign warts from others - milia, keratosis, lichenification 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 either by accidentally injuring the growing part or when trying to remove it yourself - bleeding of varying intensities occurs.

The color spectrum of benign and safe warts varies widely. The growths may be fleshy, pale yellow, light brown, or grayish brown. Sometimes on their surface black dots can be observed - where blood vessels are located. Simultaneously, human papillomavirus-associated tumors were stained with atypical light brown, black color. Any color change should alert the person and prompt medical attention to determine how to treat the warts on the hands. Fear can also be caused by tumors that become inflamed, fester and begin to grow at a rapid rate.

The size of the wart varies from 1 to 10 mm. They are single or formed in several groups. With a very weak immune response, cancerous tissues grow rapidly. Growth individuals can grow together.

Any type of wart causes hyperkeratosis - excessive thickening of the upper layer of the epidermis. That is why it is easy to feel such growth; they stand out clearly against the background of healthy cells which have a coarser and firmer structure.

Usually, two types of warts appear on the hands:

• Common warts. . . They are also called vulgar. The preferred site for this type of cancer is the hand. Can be easily spread on the face. The color is flesh-like, golden brown or gray. Blackheads are often visible on warts. Growths are keratinized nodules on the skin. In appearance, such warts on the hands resemble dome-shaped papules or papillomas. Their structure is dense, the surface is uneven with small villi, which is characterized by increased tissue dryness. Sizes are typically 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Usually they do not cause pain.
• Superficial flat warts. . . Another name is youth. The back of the hand is often affected. Color - from light yellow to brown. In appearance, they resemble flattened nodules that are round or irregularly shaped. Dimensions are 3-4 mm. Practically does not protrude beyond the skin.
• Deep flat warts. . . The second type of flat warts. Representatives of this species grow inward. They are very specific formations. Also irregular in shape, pale yellow to brown in color. Not particularly protruding above the skin, but within the outer surface of the building block there is a slight concave towards the middle. The size of a single tumor is 3-4 mm. Usually, it's the deep warts on the hands that need treatment. they, as a rule, give a rather strong pain sensation.

Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring physical discomfort to their owners and form complexes in their bodies, shame about their appearance, because the hands are almost always in sight. Therefore, even if there are no painful manifestations and dangerous changes in the structure of such warts, you should go to the hospital and find a way to get rid of the warts on your hands.

How to treat warts on hands

Determining the cause of hand warts and treating them should be done by a qualified physician who has not only the knowledge and experience but also all sorts of tools for diagnosis. So, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus, the viral load is determined, the risks of developing adverse effects are assessed. Based on the results, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking drugs, but also by removing the tumor with instruments, which are dangerous. Self-medication very often can lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.

Treatment of warts on hands with medicine

A dermatologist mentioned the treatment of warts on the hands. Its main task is to block the activity of the virus and prevent the spread of infection. For this, antiviral drugs are used for both external and oral use.

The most common remedies used to treat hand warts are:

• Ointment to disinfect and fight viruses. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of the infection through the skin, thereby reducing the risk of infecting others. Many drugs effectively block the action of the virus, slowing the uncontrolled growth of tumors. They also contribute to the rapid healing of skin lesions, reducing inflammation.
• External means to destroy development. . . Active substances have a positive effect on growing cells, promote their destruction and stimulate the complete elimination of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Their use is desirable within the walls of medical institutions in order to avoid undesirable consequences in the form of damage to healthy tissues. Separately, we can note the spraying with dimethyl ether and propane. The drug works on the principle of cold and effectively eliminates epithelial tumors caused by the HPV virus.

It should be noted that currently no specific drugs have been found against the human papillomavirus. 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. Therefore, in a separate column, the drugs intended for oral use should be highlighted. They actively stimulate the immune system, help the body produce special immune cells, and may also have obvious antiviral effects.

Common drugs with antiviral and immunostimulating activity are 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 suppression of viral activity.
• Synthetic analogue of the purine nucleoside. This is a direct-acting drug that targets viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a decrease in viral activity.
• Endogenous interferon synthetic conductor. Specific action - it activates the body's defenses, activates many immune processes. Accelerates the production of interferon.
• Prepared with meglumine acridone acetate. Increase the body's resistance to the impact of HPV virus. Reduce the viral load and prevent the growth of warts on the hands.
• Common immunostimulants. An increase in the immune response leads to the fact that viruses lose the ability to integrate into healthy cells, and at the same time their population is significantly reduced.

If the health condition is severely impaired, the doctor will recommend vitamin and mineral complex supplements to restore the balance of nutrients and the performance of each structural unit of the body.

After comprehensive treatment of hand warts, patient reviews indicate that complex therapy has excellent efficacy and a much lower recurrence rate than simple removal of epithelial tumors byinstrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulating drugs.

Removal of warts on hands with instrumental methods

Removal of the affected epithelium is a required procedure if the warts are bothersome, grow rapidly and change their structure, or are frequently injured. Moreover, any mechanical impact on the tumors can cause bleeding, cause secondary infections, develop inflammatory processes. Therefore, you should not remove warts on your hands yourself.

There are several modern methods of instrumental skin tumor removal. They are characterized by a high level of efficiency. Most of them are considered minimally invasive. Make sure there is no pain during the procedure with local anesthesia.

The most common methods of removing warts on the hands with the tool are:

• Condenser. . . This method is great for removing vulvar warts that protrude from the skin, although it also helps to remove deep epithelial tumors. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes high frequency currents and simply cuts off the build-up. No bleeding occurred during the operation. The resulting crust will leave within 5-7 days. Scars after electrocautery remain only after deep exposure.
• Surgical removal. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if it is necessary to take a growth sample for analysis and when there is a large lesion. Removal of warts on the hands is done with a surgical knife. Healthy tissue is usually removed during this process. After the procedure, cosmetic sutures from 7-10 days. After the tissue has completely healed, scarring may remain. The cost of surgery is calculated on an individual basis for each patient.
• Laser removal. . . By many criteria, this is considered the most successful method - minimal pain, high safety, precise educational effect. With the help of a laser, the cells of the wart on the hand will be burned away. The remaining indentations are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
• Cryodestruction. . . Deep freezing of tissues, done within seconds, leads to death of the treated tissues. Under the action of liquid nitrogen, the warts on the hands begin to turn slightly pale and thicken. The tissue around it is slightly swollen and may turn red. The body of the wart then turns into a bubble that can be filled with fluid. Within a week, it subsided and a crust remained in its place. The recovery time of the skin from this point is about 2 weeks.

The crusts, bubbles, wounds formed by the treatment process are never separated. This can lead to infection and a longer recovery time. In addition, due to such actions often leave unsightly scars.

The cost of each procedure depends on the location of the wart on the hand, the number of growths, and the total area of the lesion. In addition, different clinics may provide 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 answers to the question of how to get rid of hand warts at home.

To get rid of warts and fight the human papillomavirus, traditional healers use a lot of improvised, food and botanical means. However, you need to understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in treating HPV is quite weak, so you should not rely on it, refuse to take the drug and remove the warts professionally.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend supplementing the traditional methods of treating hand warts 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 treating local antiseptics.

Effective folk remedies:

• Herbal infusion. . . For cooking, take 25 g of birch leaves, juniper needles, dandelion root, plantain leaves, chicory root and 30 g of nettle leaves, agave and horsetail. All ingredients are poured with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, boiled for 10 minutes over low heat, simmered for 10-12 hours. It should be taken four times a day, one glass each time.
• Infused with herbs. . . For cooking, take wormwood herb (10 g), birch buds (15 g), perilla herb (20 g), thyme (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. To mix, take 40 g of herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, steep for 1-1. 5 hours, filter and clear. The dose received is calculated for 1 day. Treatment for hand warts is 2 to 5 weeks.
• Shower hands. . . The starting materials are tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (from half a fruit). Both ingredients are diluted in 2 cups of warm water. Pour into the palm mixture and keep for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the soft warts on the hands should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration and fights pathogens.
• Lemon-pine mixture to treat warts. . . Ask 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 tumors, have an antiseptic effect and accelerate the regeneration of healthy tissues.
• Application for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to an antibacterial patch and applied to the accumulation. Such applications can last for several hours. To accelerate the treatment effect, it is recommended to carry out the course of treatment 2-3 times a day until the wart on the hand disappears completely.
• Infusion of mugwort. . . Minced dried wormwood 60 g mass, poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Bite 2. 5 hours in thermos, filter. During the infusion, an impregnated and compressed gauze dressing is performed twice a day.

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

Real patient reviews about the treatment of warts on hands

The choice of treatment is the doctor's prerogative, but it won't be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the possible options for HPV therapy and tumor removal methods before heading to the hospital. Feedback on the treatment of warts on the hands, left on Internet forums, will help to make a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of a particular program. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with several stories about getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV:

1. "My kid had warts on his arm. Immediately they simply put an antiseptic on him, but when they started to grow near the nail, the pain appeared. We decided to remove it in a way. safest and most effective, as we said - by radio waves. The son, indeed, did not complain of pain during the procedure, did not bleed. The skin recovered very quickly. After that, they also used it. an interferon-based drug. Now there isn't a single wart. "
2. "Somehow I got these growths all of a sudden. They were very sick. At home I tried garlic and celandine, but to no avail. They had to be removed with a laser. , the wart on my hand is deep, so the scars are deep. It took about two weeks to heal, the scars also gradually healed but I still take anti-viral drugs and a medicine for immunity ".
3. "But folk remedies didn't help me, they just started to ache. I had to go to the surgeon, because a lot of this has grown. It's good that even though the doctor didn't do the finger. I was severely disfigured, but he carefully stitched them up. It took about three weeks to recover. Now I take medicine and make a decoction to regenerate the skin. "

Treating hand warts is a responsible business. Prescribing medications and determining the best method of disposal should be done exclusively by a medical professional with the expertise to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the risk of infection to those around them.