Hanging warts on the face, neck and body: causes of appearance, what to do, treatment

Today in dermatology we often have to deal with such a problem as hanging warts. This is a serious problem that not only causes discomfort to the patient, creates an unattractive appearance, but also poses a serious threat to human life and health. Thus, there is a serious risk of malignant degeneration of this neoplasm and further development of a malignant tumor. Therefore, this problem should not be ignored under any circumstances.

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Causes hanging warts

The main reason for the development of warts is a viral infection in humans. There are quite a large number of viruses that can provoke the development of warts. Basically, the development of warts is triggered by HPV of various types, the herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, parviviruses, retroviruses. There are forms that promote the transition of the wart from a passive, flat state to a hanging position and trigger further growth.

There are several forms of the disease. But regardless of the form, they are all skin tumors of varying sizes. The standard size ranges from a pinhead to the size of a 20-centimeter coin. It has been established that the symptoms depend on the shape and size of the wart.

They are mainly localized on the upper layer of the skin - the epidermis. They can be flat or raised. It is also worth noting that warts can grow and multiply quite quickly. They can be both single and multiple. Often, warts are the only form of manifestation of this disease.

As a rule, flat warts appear mainly in adolescence and adolescence. With age, growths, papillomas and hanging warts on the skin may appear. The answer to the question of why they degenerate has not yet been found. There are many reasons.

Thus, with persistence or high virus content in the blood, symptoms similar to a cold are observed. At first, a person's body temperature may rise. Then a runny nose, cough, tonsils, lymph nodes become inflamed. Against this background, or a few days after recovery, warts appear. At first, they look like an elevated growth, then they begin to grow rapidly. In a month, a fairly sharp, abrupt growth may occur, in which the size increases by about 5-10 times.

Another reason may be a decrease in immunity. Again, in this case, everything is mainly related to the persistence of viruses that are activated against the background of decreased immunity. Often, increased growth and a change in the shape of a wart occurs during pregnancy, or some time after childbirth, which is also associated with a decrease in immunity. In adolescence, warts also begin to grow due to hormonal changes. A similar picture is observed during menopause, against the background of some diseases of the immune system, endocrine glands, and metabolic disorders.

There are also venereal hanging warts, which are transmitted sexually during unprotected contact. Such warts, as a rule, have a pointed appearance. Their peculiarity is that they are located on the mucous membranes. This type of warts appears mainly in women. This is due to the transmission of the virus sexually, since men are often carriers of this virus, but the disease does not manifest itself in them. The virus can persist in the blood in an inactive form, or is simply suppressed by the immune system. But when in contact with a woman, she often becomes infected, since women have much lower immunity, and it does not allow them to fully resist the infection. The main manifestation is the formation of papillomas (multiple, single).

Also, one of the reasons, or rather triggers for the development of warts, can be pregnancy. In this condition, there is a decrease in immunity, as well as significant hormonal changes. All this contributes to the activation of infection in the blood.

There is also a special type - plantar warts, the cause of which is mechanical formation, development of seals and mechanical damage to the skin, mechanical pressure.

Risk factors

The risk group includes people who are carriers of viruses that cause the formation of warts. These are, first of all, the herpes virus, papillomas, retroviruses, and others. The risk group also includes people with reduced immunity, with a disturbed or altered hormonal background. Transitional periods and stages of adaptation are also factors that contribute to the fact that a person falls into the risk group (adolescence, adolescence, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, old age). Elderly and old people make up a special category associated with a high degree of risk, since their body often has disturbed metabolic processes, hormonal background, maladaptation and degradation processes.

Those at risk include frequently ill people, those in contact with people suffering from warts, women and men whose partners are infected. A special group includes people subject to frequent stress, chronic diseases, malnutrition, with a disrupted work and rest schedule.

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Symptoms hanging warts

Warts can be localized on any part of the body. As a rule, they are flat at first, and only over time become hanging. Most often they are diagnosed under the arms, on the neck, in any folds, in the groin fold. They are also quite often found on the arms, legs, and face. In fact, there is no such area where a wart could not form. They even form on mucous membranes.

• Hanging warts under the armpit

The armpit area is a zone that is quite prone to the formation of hanging warts. Thus, the skin under the armpit is thin, and a fairly large number of sweat glands are formed in its surface layer. Almost always high humidity due to abundant sweat secretion. This is an ideal environment for the reproduction of bacterial and viral microflora. Often, excretory and metabolic processes are disrupted in this area, a large number of metabolites accumulate, including lactic acid, which contributes to the intensification of metabolic processes, and also stimulates the reproduction of bacterial and viral flora.

• Hanging small warts on the neck

This structure is represented by connective tissue. It looks like a wart, or a small seal that rises on a stalk. This contributes to the fact that the stalk gradually bends and the wart becomes hanging. They are formed mainly on the neck. From above, this structure is covered with multilayered epithelium. It can rise quite strongly above the surface (on the stalk) on which it grows. The initial stage, as a rule, is that the wart can be flat and spread in a horizontal direction.

• Hanging wart in the groin

Often, hanging warts associated with a viral infection that is sexually transmitted are formed in the groin. It is worth noting that women often suffer from this form, since men are only carriers of viruses. They transmit the infection to their partners during sexual intercourse. In women, the infection does not always manifest itself. It makes itself known only in the case of reduced immunity, hormonal imbalance, frequent illnesses, and a high degree of viral load. It also often develops during pregnancy. These warts are potentially oncogenic, that is, they provoke the development of malignant neoplasms under certain conditions: reduced immunity, increased reactivity and sensitization, weakness, decreased endurance and resistance of the body, disruption of the biochemical cycle, normal structural and functional state of the body, as well as hormonal imbalance.

Complications and consequences

At first glance, warts are simply unattractive in appearance, spoiling the aesthetic appearance. But this is only part of the consequences. One of the most dangerous complications is the possibility of malignant degeneration of the wart and the risk of tumor development. There is always a potential risk of progression of these conditions and their transition to malignant tumors - sarcomas, cancers, leukemia.

Tumors located on internal organs are especially dangerous: they can be damaged and cause bleeding. When localized in the lumen of internal organs (larynx, respiratory tract, esophagus, intestines), they can grow and close the lumen. This causes the corresponding pathologies: suffocation, obstruction. Such tumors must be removed. The main method of treating papilloma is surgical, which consists of its excision.

There is also a great danger during pregnancy, since warts, as well as active and persistent viruses, can lead to pregnancy pathologies (most often spontaneous uterine and ectopic bleeding, spontaneous abortions, miscarriages, premature births, stillbirths, early death of viable infants). In addition, various congenital developmental defects can be diagnosed in children born to infected mothers. Most often, physical deformities, pathologies, underdevelopment or functional immaturity of organs and functional systems are diagnosed. Various mental and functional deviations are observed, as well as developmental delays (both mental and physical).

But these are extreme cases that occur with a high concentration of viruses, a high viral load. Otherwise, with treatment and constant monitoring by a doctor, pregnancy can proceed normally. But there is always a risk of developing a genitourinary tract infection, bleeding, which is especially intensified during childbirth. There is an increased risk of infection of the child during childbirth.

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Diagnostics hanging warts

The basis of diagnostics is the detection of the virus in the blood, as well as the determination of the degree of its activity. For this, both laboratory and instrumental research methods are used. Differential diagnostics is also important, which allows you to distinguish one type of wart from another, as well as to identify the exact species and generic name of the virus that caused the development of the pathology.

Tests

The main method of confirming the diagnosis is to detect the virus in the blood, which can only be achieved after passing the appropriate tests. Laboratory methods are used for this. Serological and virological research methods are mainly used. Standard clinical methods are uninformative.

In most cases, the material of the study is blood. The blood may contain both active viruses and their persistent, inactive forms. Methods such as DNA probing, hybridization, and genome sequencing are also often used.

These methods allow to detect the virus itself in the blood, its waste products or DNA (its fragments). The ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is also often prescribed. However, as the results of modern scientific research show, this method is inaccurate and uninformative. It often makes mistakes (false positive and false negative reactions). This is quite natural, since the method is based on the ability to react to the amount of the antigen-antibody complex. This causes cross-reactions. It should also be taken into account that antibodies persist throughout life after a single illness. Therefore, it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the stage and degree of activity of the viral infection in the body. Additional methods may include microscopic examination and scraping. Microscopy will help to detect the virus itself or its waste products in a smear.

Instrumental diagnostics

The essence of diagnostics is that with the help of special equipment, instruments and devices, the changes that occur in the body are recorded, physiological and functional changes that underlie the pathogenesis are noted. They can lead to the development of pathology. Also, a reverse reaction is often observed, in which the corresponding changes in the body at various levels entail the formation of warts, or trigger their transformation into hanging forms.

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Differential diagnosis

During diagnostics, it is important to differentiate the signs of several pathologies that have similar external manifestations. Thus, it is necessary to differentiate various types and forms of warts, distinguish them from papillomas, fibromas, tumors, traumatic scars and other pathologies that are very similar in appearance. It is also important to determine what exactly is the cause that provoked the development of this pathology. So, if the cause was a virus, then it is necessary to accurately determine the species and generic name of this virus, and if possible, the phage type and genotype of the virus.

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Treatment hanging warts

For the treatment of hanging warts, drug therapy is used. This is the main type of treatment. But physiotherapy, folk, homeopathic remedies, and phytotherapy are also often used. Surgical treatment methods are used either when there is a risk of malignant degeneration or when traditional therapy is ineffective.

How to remove a hanging wart at home?

It is impossible to remove a wart at home on your own, regardless of whether it is hanging or flat. Firstly, this requires special equipment and tools. Secondly, it is necessary to create sterile conditions, otherwise infection will occur with further development of the inflammatory and purulent-infectious process. Thirdly, you need to know the exact technique of removal. Incorrect removal, damage can lead to malignant degeneration of tissue, development of a cancerous tumor. It is worth noting that incomplete excision of tissue is no less dangerous, since there is also a risk of its malignant degeneration. Only specialists should do this. You can only use drug treatment on your own, which can slow down the development of the wart.

How to remove hanging warts?

Various methods are used to remove hanging warts. These can be both traditional medicinal and radical methods. Medicinal therapy mainly uses drugs for internal use. First of all, antiviral therapy is used, since in most cases the cause of wart development is a viral infection. Antibiotic therapy may also be required if a bacterial infection develops. Various ointments for local use, as well as lotions, balms for application to the skin have proven themselves quite well.

Radical methods include surgical excision of warts. Laser removal and burning of warts by various methods, including liquid nitrogen, light and electric current, are also often used.

Medicines

When using medications to treat warts, you need to take precautions, otherwise side effects may occur. You should be wary of such effects as malignant degeneration of the wart, its intensive growth, rapid reproduction.

Anaferon is used as the main antiviral therapy. This is a drug that is taken from 3 to 5 tablets per day. The course is usually designed for 5-7 days. It helps to eliminate both active and persistent infection, reduce the degree of viral load. Reducing the viral load entails a decrease in the intensity of wart development, and also helps to stop their growth. Regression (reduction of the wart, its reverse development) is rare, however, such a scenario is not excluded.

To eliminate such unpleasant symptoms as burning, irritation, itching, you can use suprastin. It is taken 1 tablet 2-3 times a day. It should be taken in a course of 5-7 days. This is enough to get rid of the pathology. Suprastin has one significant drawback - it can cause drowsiness and slow reaction. Therefore, people whose work is associated with the need to be especially attentive, as well as drivers, should choose other drugs.

For warts of bacterial etiology, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. The essence is the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. For example, amoxiclav (500 mg) helps well. It will quickly get rid of the bacterial infection and reduce or completely remove the wart, or speed up the treatment. This is a very convenient remedy, since the entire course of treatment is designed for three days. The drug is recommended to be taken 1 tablet (500 mg) per day for three days.

Sometimes intoxication or an autoimmune process develops in the body, which is accompanied by the development and accumulation of toxins, autoantibodies. Enterosgel is used to cleanse the body. To prepare, take a tablespoon of the product, dissolve in a glass of cold or warm water. Drink twice a day. As a result of taking it, the body is cleansed, the wart gradually disappears. The course of treatment is 30 days.

For external use, you can use the hops-antisept ointment, which increases local immunity, normalizes the skin microflora, and also helps stop the growth or gradually remove the wart. It has both antiviral and antibacterial effects. It is also worth noting its ability to normalize the microflora, due to which the colonization resistance of the skin increases.

Folk remedies

• Recipe No. 1.

To prepare, take a tablespoon of onion, plantain, and raspberry pulp, pour in about 500 ml of red wine (for example, Cahors), then add half a teaspoon of freshly squeezed aloe juice. Leave it to infuse for at least 1-2 days, drink 50 ml per day. The course of treatment is at least 28 days (a full biochemical cycle).

• Recipe No. 2.

Take equal parts of lilac buds, dandelion roots, stinging nettle leaves, common bilberry leaves, common bean pods, and lady's mantle grass. Take about 2-3 tablespoons of each component, add about 20 grams of honey, 500 ml of cognac, leave for at least 5 days, drink in small quantities twice a day for 28 days.

• Recipe No. 3.

Vodka or pure alcohol is used as a base. Then about a tablespoon of the following ingredients is added: burdock root, blueberry leaves, green oat straw, 20 grams of lemon zest. Mix, then set aside and allow to solidify.

Herbal treatment

Nettle is used as a plant. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, thins the blood, and thus quickly eliminates warts.

A decoction of wild strawberries is used as compresses and lotions. Apply in several layers, then tie for 2-3 hours. Healing usually occurs after 5-10 days.

Mulberry leaves in the form of poultices. They are made daily at the same time. To do this, an ivy leaf is soaked in boiling water and applied to the wart. It is also recommended to cover it with cellophane on top to create a "greenhouse effect". The course of treatment is 7-10 days.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies can only be used after prior consultation with a specialist. This is the main precaution that helps prevent a number of complications. In the treatment of warts, of all known homeopathy, balms aimed at increasing immunity and normalizing microflora have proven themselves to be the best. All this increases the body's endurance and resistance. Accordingly, the viral load is significantly reduced, warts either stop growing or decrease in size. There are even known cases of warts completely disappearing.

You can use various strengthening and stimulating infusions and balms that stimulate protective properties, which you can prepare yourself. But you need to strictly follow the precautions, since failure to follow them leads to serious adverse effects, such as the growth or expansion of warts, as well as malignant degeneration. Let's consider some recipes.

• Recipe No. 1.

To prepare, take a tablespoon of motherwort leaves, birch buds, dandelion roots and grass, red clover flowers, blackberry leaves, pour in about 500 ml of red wine (for example, Cahors), then add half a teaspoon of ground ginger. Leave it all for at least 3-4 days, drink 50 ml per day. The course of treatment is at least 28 days (a full biochemical cycle).

• Recipe No. 2.

Take equal parts of creeping wheatgrass rhizomes, flax seeds, raspberry leaves, valerian roots, galega grass, and blueberry leaves. Take about 2-3 tablespoons of each component, add about 2-3 tablespoons of honey, 500 ml of alcohol, leave for at least 5 days, drink in small quantities twice a day for 28 days.

• Recipe No. 3.

Vodka or pure alcohol is used as a base. Then about a tablespoon of the following components is added: walnut leaves, aspen bark, bog blueberry leaves and shoots, bearberry leaves. Mix, leave for at least a day. Drink 2-3 tablespoons twice a day for at least a month.

• Recipe No. 4.

Add a tablespoon of laurel leaves, chicory roots, small-leaved linden flowers, and evading peony roots to cognac or cognac spirit (500 ml). Then add 2-3 drops of marsh cudweed and three-part Bidens essential oil. Drink a tablespoon twice a day.

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Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is used if the wart reaches a sufficiently large size, or if it is located in the lumen of internal organs, and there is a risk of their blockage. Warts are also removed if they appear on mucous membranes, as well as if they are located on legs, and there is a risk of their detachment and bleeding. The main method is mechanical excision of the wart. Laser removal is also used.

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Prevention

Prevention is based primarily on increasing immunity. You should periodically consult an immunologist, take tests for viruses and latent infections. It is important to take courses of vitamins and, if necessary, immunostimulants and antiviral agents. A prerequisite is proper nutrition. It is important to include the required amount of vitamins and minerals in the diet. It is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, follow a daily routine, avoid hypothermia, and minimize the impact of stress on the body.

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Forecast

In most cases, with proper and timely treatment, the prognosis will be favorable. Hanging warts can be removed surgically, or their growth can be stopped with medications, physiotherapy, folk and homeopathic recipes. Wart removal surgery is quite simple: it is a quick and painless procedure that requires virtually no recovery. However, if no measures are taken and warts are not treated, complications may arise. The most dangerous are the development of malignant neoplasms, wart detachment with bleeding, blockage of the lumens, and progression of warts.