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

Warts on the hands are neoplasms that are mostly benign. The appearance of such growths is associated with increased activity of the human papillomavirus. The disease is highly 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 does HPV infection occur, which causes the growth of warts on the hands:

• contact method. . . Most often, infection with this pathogenic microorganism occurs through direct contact between the skin of a healthy person and an infected person. A simple handshake may suffice. For this reason, since the hands are the most contacted part of the body, the most common one is the formation of warts on the hands. In addition to this option, it is possible to note the possibility of transmission of the pathogen when using things and objects touched by the carrier of the disease. Therefore, you can get infected from relatives at home. Sometimes the virus spreads on various wet surfaces, for example, in bathrooms, locker rooms, public transport, etc. survives for a while.
• autoinfection. . . If a similar neoplasm has appeared on one part of the body, then the risk of self-infection is possible. More precisely, it is the spread of the virus to healthy tissue. This happens when the growths are traumatized by nails or various objects. An increase in the lesion can easily be provoked if the hygiene of the wound and hands is not carried out in a timely manner.
• mother to child. . . According to this option, the infection of the child occurs from the mother at the time of birth.

It should be noted that sexual contact with a virus carrier is rarely the cause of the appearance of warts on the hands. This method of transmission often causes another type of benign neoplasms.

HPV is highly contagious. Avoiding infection is difficult. The disease affects both men and women, both adults and children. Most often, warts on the hands occur in children and adolescents.

From the moment the virus enters the body to the appearance of the first external symptoms, it can take from 1 to 6 months. In some cases, only carriage 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.

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

Various mental traumas, improper work and rest regimen, drug use, unbalanced diet, adherence to bad habits and adverse environmental conditions may affect the immune status in the direction of decrease.

Predisposing factors for the appearance of these formations are many, consider the most obvious reasons for the appearance of warts on the hands:

• Acute and chronic diseases. . . Any disease and the lack of timely and competent treatment can significantly weaken the immune system. With the development of warts on the hands, the risk of contracting HPV increases HIV, eczema, psoriasis, etc. is . With the presence of even the smallest cracks in the skin, the risk of penetration of the virus into the epidermis increases.
• Individual characteristics. . . Hyperhidrosis, that is, increased sweating in 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 personal hygiene rules. . . It is quite simple to explain what causes warts on the hands when skin care is not taken. For example, dry skin can cause the formation of small cracks and irritation, through which the virus can safely penetrate. It is noteworthy that if it is banal to wash your hands in a timely manner, then infection can be avoided even after shaking hands with an infected person.

With strong protective functions, the body is able to cope with the infection on its own. In the best case, recovery occurs within 2-3 months. According to statistics, this is about 20% of all cases. Sometimes the healing process by one's own strength takes place within 2 years.

What do warts on your hand look like?

Many people who find themselves skin neoplasms are wondering how to treat warts on their hands. However, before starting treatment, you need to make sure that you have exactly warts, and for this you need to be able to distinguish these benign growths from others - corns, keratosis, lichen planus and molluscum contagiosum.

The key 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 warts is diverse. Growths can be tan, light yellow, light brown, gray-brown. Sometimes on their surface can be seen black dots - locations of thrombosed vessels. At the same time, it is not typical for neoplasms caused by the human papillomavirus to be stained bright brown, black. Any discoloration should alert the person and promptly go to the hospital to determine how to treat warts on the hands. Fears should also be caused by growths that become inflamed, inflamed and begin to grow at an accelerated rate.

The sizes of warts vary from 1 to 10 mm. They are formed singly or in groups of several people. With a very weak immune response, neoplasm tissues grow rapidly. Individual growths can grow together with each other.

Any type of wart provokes 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 with a coarser and more solid structure.

Most often, two types of warts appear on the hands:

• common warts. . . They are also called rude. A favorite place for this type of neoplasm is the hands. It can easily spread to the facial skin. The color is tan, yellow-brown or grayish. It is on the warts that blackheads can often be seen. The growths are keratinized protrusions on 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 villi, characterized by increased tissue dryness. The size is usually 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Most of the time they do not cause pain.
• Superficial flat warts. . . Another name is Young. The back of the hands is often affected. Color - from pale yellow to brown. In appearance, they look like flat nodules of round or irregular shape. The size is 3-4mm. Practically do not protrude above the skin.
• Flat warts are deep. . . The second type is flat warts. Representatives of this species grow inward. They are very specific formations. It also has an irregular shape from pale yellow to brown. It does not protrude especially on the skin, but there is a slight depression on the outer surface of the structure towards the middle. The size of a single neoplasm is 3-4 mm. Most of the time they are deep warts that require treatment. As a rule, they give quite strong painful sensations.

Warts are a source of infection. At the same time, they bring great physical inconvenience to their owner and form complexes in him, they are ashamed of their appearance, because the hands are almost always in sight. Therefore, even if there is no pain and dangerous changes in the structure of such growths, it is recommended to go to the hospital and learn how to remove warts on the hands.

Ways to treat hand warts

Determination and treatment of the causes of warts on the hands should be carried out by a qualified doctor, who has not only knowledge and experience, but also all kinds of diagnostic tools. Thus, with the help of laboratory tests, the type of human papillomavirus, viral load is determined, the risks of developing negative consequences are evaluated. Based on the results, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes not only taking medications, but also instrumental removal of dangerous neoplasms. Self-medication can often lead to a lack of therapeutic effect or the development of complications.

Treatment of warts on the hands with drugs

A dermatologist deals with the treatment of 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, both for external use and for oral administration.

The most popular remedies used to treat hand warts are:

• Ointments for disinfection and fighting the virus. . . Topical treatment can reduce the spread of infection through the skin, thereby reducing the risk of infection to others. Many drugs effectively suppress the activity of the virus and slow down the uncontrolled growth of neoplasms. It also contributes to the rapid healing of skin lesions, relieves inflammation.
• External means for the destruction of growths. . . Active substances have an aggressive effect on growth cells, promoting their destruction and causing the complete elimination of warts on the hands and other parts of the body. Their use is desirable within the walls of a medical institution in order to avoid undesirable consequences in the form of damage to healthy tissues. Separately, we can note the spray containing dimethyl ether and propane. The drug acts on the principle of cryodestruction and effectively eliminates epithelial tumors caused by HPV.

It should be noted that there is currently no specific drug against the human papillomavirus. However, there are medications that can reduce viral activity and stop the growth of warts on the hands, feet, and other parts of the body. Therefore, in a separate column it is worth highlighting drugs intended for oral administration. They actively stimulate the immune system, help the body 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 containing 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, its target is viruses, including HPV. The result of treatment is a noticeable decrease in viral activity.
• Inductor of the synthesis of endogenous interferons. The action is specific - it activates the body's defenses, triggering numerous immune processes. It accelerates the production of interferon.
• Preparation with meglumine acridone acetate. It increases the body's resistance to the effects of HPV. It reduces the viral load and stops the growth of warts on the hands.
• Popular immunostimulating drug. An increase in the immune response causes the virus to lose its ability to integrate into healthy cells, while the population is drastically reduced.

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

After a comprehensive treatment of warts on the hands, patient reviews show that complex therapy has a great effect, and the percentage of relapses is much lower than simple removal of epithelial tumors by instrumental methods without the use of antiviral and immunostimulating drugs.

Removal of warts on the hand with instrumental methods

If warts cause discomfort, grow rapidly and change their structure or are frequently injured, removal of the affected epithelium is a mandatory procedure. Also, any mechanical effect on the growth can cause bleeding, the attachment of a secondary infection, the development of the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is strongly not recommended to remove warts on your hands yourself.

There are a number of modern methods for the instrumental removal of skin neoplasms. They are characterized by a high degree of efficiency. Most are considered minimally invasive. Painlessness during the procedures is provided by local anesthesia.

The most popular methods for the instrumental removal of warts on the hands are:

• electrocoagulation. . . This method is great for removing rough warts that protrude above the skin level, although it helps to get rid of deep epithelial neoplasms. A special device with a loop at the end synthesizes the high-frequency current and simply ceases to accumulate. There is no bleeding during manipulation. The resulting crust separates in 5-7 days. After electrocoagulation, the scar remains only after deep exposure.
• surgical excision. . . In most cases, it is prescribed if a sample of the growth needs to be taken for analysis and in the presence of a large lesion. Removal of warts on the hands is carried out using a surgical scalpel. Healthy tissue is usually excised during this procedure. After the procedure, cosmetic stitches are applied for 7-10 days. After the tissues have completely healed, scars may remain. The cost of the operation is calculated separately for each patient.
• laser removal. . . According to many criteria, it is considered the most successful method - minimal feeling of pain, high security, a correct effect on training. With the help of laser, the wart cells on the hand are burned. The remaining indentations are tightened after 2-3 weeks.
• cryodestruction. . . Deep freezing of tissues, performed within a few seconds, causes the death of the treated tissues. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, the wart on the hands begins to fade and thicken slightly. The surrounding tissue swells slightly and may turn red. After that, the body of the wart turns into a balloon that can be filled with fluid. It subsides within a week and a crust remains in its place. The recovery period of the skin from this moment is about 2 weeks.

The crusts, blisters and wounds formed as a result of the procedures should never be peeled 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 healthcare staff.

Treatment of warts on the hands with folk remedies

Many people refuse to go to the doctor for various reasons and are looking for an answer to the question of how to get rid of warts at home.

To destroy warts and fight the human papillomavirus, traditional healers use many improvised means, foods and herbs. However, you should understand that the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the treatment of HPV is rather weak, so you should refuse to take medications and professionally remove skin growths.

In some cases, the attending physician 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 therapy.

Recipes for 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, agin grass and horsetail grass. All ingredients are poured with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, insisted for 10-12 hours. Take half a glass four times a day.
• infusion with herbs. . . For cooking, take wormwood (10 g), birch buds (15 g), lemon balm (20 g), thyme grass (25 g) and juniper berries (30 g). All ingredients are mixed. For brewing, take 40 g of herbal mixture, pour 400-500 ml of boiling water, 1-1. Infuse for 5 hours, strain and drink. The dose taken is calculated for 1 day. Treatment of hand warts is 2 to 5 weeks.
• hand baths. . . The starting material is tea tree oil (3 drops) and lemon juice (from half the fruit). Both components are diluted in 2 glasses of warm water. Put it in the palm mixture and hold for 20 minutes. After the procedure, the softened wart particles on the hand should be removed. The tool has an antiviral effect, softens the skin, accelerates tissue regeneration and fights pathogens.
• Lemon-pine mixture for warts. . . Lemon and pine oil should be mixed in equal proportions. The resulting 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.
• apps for warts. . . Patchouli oil is applied to a bactericidal patch and added onto the puddle. Such applications can take several hours. To accelerate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be carried out 2-3 times every day until the wart on the hands disappears completely.
• wormwood infusion. . . Crushed dry herb wormwood in a volume of 60 g is poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Insist 2. 5 hours in a thermos, filter. Infusion is impregnated with gauze and compresses are made twice a day.

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

Real patient reviews about the treatment of warts on the hands

The choice of treatment methods is the prerogative of doctors, but before going to the hospital it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the possible options for HPV treatment and methods of removing neoplasms. Feedback on the treatment of warts on the hands left on Internet forums will help to pre-assess the effectiveness of a particular plan. We suggest you familiarize yourself with some of the stories of getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV:

1. "My child has warts on his arms. They immediately smeared it with an antiseptic, but when they began to grow near the nails, the pain appeared. We decided, as we were told, to remove it with radio waves in the safest and most effective way. The son, really, did not complain of pain during the procedure, there was no blood. The skin it healed very quickly. Then they also took an interferon-based medicine. Now there is not a single wart. "
2. "I somehow got these growths suddenly. They were very sick. I tried garlic at home and applied celandine, but with no results. They had to remove them with a laser, the warts on my hands were deep, so the scars were deep. It took about two weeks to heal, the wounds are healing slowly, but still antiviral pills and I drink a medicine for immunity. "
3. "But folk remedies didn't help me, they just started to hurt. I had to go to the surgeon, because this muck has grown so much. Fortunately, the doctor carefully sewed up my fingers, although it did not seriously shape them. It took about three weeks to heal. Now I take pills and make a decoction for skin regeneration. . "

Treating warts on the hands is a responsible business. Prescribing drugs and determining the best method of disposal should only be done by a qualified medical professional to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the risk of transmission to surrounding people.