Papillomas on the neck

Neck papillomas are one of the symptoms of an infectious disease caused by the human papilloma virus. Refers to benign skin formations.

Causes of papillomas on the neck

There is an etiological reason why papillomas begin to grow on the neck or any other part of the human body - infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a member of the papovaviridae family. There are more than 100 serotypes of this pathogenic agent, each of which is responsible for the emergence of a different clinical picture of the disease (papilloma, condyloma, warts - these concepts are synonymous, different names are associated with localization features in a particular area).

The main routes of transmission are domestic and genital (condylomas of the perianal area). The virus can only penetrate the skin in the presence of micro-damage or open wounds, in other cases it cannot cross the skin's protective barrier.

Pathogen information

1. It is highly spread regardless of gender (but is more common in women than in men), age, or region (according to some sources 2/3 of the planet is infected with the virus).
2. Contains double-stranded, twisted loop DNA that can integrate into the human genome.
3. Infection with some strains is associated with a high carcinogenic risk, especially in the case of permanent injury. Neck papillomas are caused by non-oncogenic strains of the virus.
4. A virus goes through two main stages in the process of division. In the first stage, it is in episomal (free) form and the main cleavage of the viral particle occurs in the same period. This stage is reversible (a prolonged remission occurs after treatment). In the second - integrative - stage, the virus is implanted into the genome of the cell (the first step towards cell degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasm). The first phase is temporary and passes relatively quickly, while the second is hidden and explains the presence of carriers.
5. The basal layer of the epidermis where the virus reproduces is affected. In the remaining layers, the pathogen may persist but cannot divide. As the virus grows in the germ layer, normal differentiation of cells in all layers of this region is impaired, especially at the level of the barbed layer.
6. There is a long-term asymptomatic tendency to carry in the body (from several months to a year). It is rarely possible to determine a specific moment of infection - this is why treatment is started not at the first vague symptoms, but at a time of intense clinical manifestations.
7. To prevent infection, bivalent and tetravalent vaccines are used which are particularly effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predetermining factors

1. Lack of hygiene. Since the virus can sustain vital activity in the outdoor environment for a long time, it is necessary to carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene when visiting public places (swimming pool, bathhouse, gym).
2. Traumatic injuries to the skin. Micro cracks or scratches on the skin (caused by rubbing the neck with the collar of a shirt, for example) are sufficient for the virus to penetrate.
3. Impaired immune system function. With immunodeficiency of any formation, favorable conditions arise for the development of any infection. For example, common colds and infectious diseases lead to a weakening of the immune system and the appearance of papillomas on the skin.
4. Self-infection when scratching the skin.
5. Systematic lifestyle disorder (stress, lack of physical activity, improper diet). These factors affect the functioning of all metabolic processes in the body and lead to a decrease in the barrier function of the skin.
6. Environmental factors (hypothermia, excessive ultraviolet exposure) that affect the reduction in the body's defenses.

External signs of the disease

Cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

1. The growth is mostly on a broad base and protrudes significantly above the skin surface. Less commonly, the base of the papilloma is represented by a thin leg (in this case the formation takes a hanging position). The second option has a much higher risk of injury.
2. The boundaries of education are equal and clear.
The
3. Color is no different from the surrounding skin. In rare cases, it may be slightly paler or darker than adjacent tissues.
4. Surface is generally smooth. Sometimes growths are possible on top of the papilloma, which makes its surface ribbed.
5. Diameter varies widely from 1-3mm to several centimeters (smaller diameter papillomas are more common).
6. Location in any part of the neck (back, lateral front). Sometimes the face is involved.

As a rule, there are many lesions located along the skin folds.

In very rare cases, papillomas on the neck can become malignant, that is, a skin tumor. This can occur as a result of infection with an oncogenic HPV strain.

Signs that might indicate a malignant transformation are:

• color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
• boundary change (blur, loss of definition);
The appearance of
• asymmetry (when drawing a line through the conditional middle of the formation, two equal halves cannot be obtained);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (a non-specific symptom, because it is also typical for simple trauma in the neoplasm);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• drops occur (little girl formations around the central one).

The appearance of such symptoms does not necessarily mean degeneration of the papilloma, but it does mean that you need to consult a doctor and go through differential diagnosis to see if we are talking about a common inflammatory mole or skin cancer.

How do I get rid of papillomas on the neck

The treatment of papillomas on the neck is carried out in a complex, with a simultaneous action only on the pathological focus on the skin and the pathogen itself in the blood.

There are several ways to fight:

Method	Description
Medicine	The use of cytostatics, immunomodulators is designed to suppress the replication of the viral agent in the affected area and reduce its concentration in the blood. Some medications (keratolytics) are applied directly topically to destroy skin growth (cauterize it and cause tissue necrosis).
Physical Methods	Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation. They aim to get rid of papillomas both on the neck and other parts of the body. These methods allow you to restore the aesthetic appearance of open areas and remove the viral reservoir - the skin neoplasms themselves - but do not completely remove the virus from the body.
Combination therapy	Combines the previous two options and is therefore the most effective.

It is ineffective and often dangerous to treat papillomas with folk home remedies (eg celandine juice), in any case, a prerequisite is to consult a doctor.

Physical destruction methods

It is possible to effectively reduce occurrences using the following physical methods:

Method	Description
Local action with concentrated acid solutions	1. 5% zinc chloropropionate solution in 50% 2-chloropropionic acid, combination of nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic acids and copper nitrate trihydrate etc. used. The procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist) in accordance with surgical rules. . . . The agent is applied pointwise with a spatula until the color of the formation becomes lighter (as soon as this happens, further application should be stopped immediately). For a complete papilloma treatment, you need to do 1-2 treatments on average.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, point excision of formations is performed without affecting the underlying tissues (with minimal effect on healthy skin cells). The method is best suited if the formation has a long stem and small size.
Cryodestruction	Focus is exposed to liquid nitrogen, too low temperature causes tissue necrosis. It is good to clean this training form with a wide base. The nitrogen duration of action is chosen by an expert (1-5 minutes). After the burn, a healing burn occurs within an average of 10 days.
Laser Removal	The most modern and precise approach to removing growths in prominent places such as the neck. It has the most positive reviews. Affect focus using a light guide from 5 seconds to 3 minutes in continuous mode. The recovery time is much shorter than other methods (5-7 days). The technique is associated with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues due to the high sensitivity of movement.
Classic surgical removal (excision with scalpel)	Very rarely used only for large lesions or suspected malignancy. The reason is that the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck and too small for excision, plus scars may remain after surgical excision, creating a cosmetic defect in themselves.