What is a warty nevus? What is the danger of this skin protrusion? These and other questions regarding the aforementioned disease will be answered below.
General information
Warty nevus is a formation on the skin of a benign type. It consists of novocytes, which contain a large amount of pigment such as melanin.
The word "nevus" is of Latin origin naevus. Translated into Russian, it sounds like a "mole."
In general, there are many different types of spots on the skin (birthmarks). They can be congenital, that is, noticeable from the first days of life, and acquired, that is, they appear a little later. The classification of such formations is very extensive. However, the most common of them are: papillomatous (or warty nevus of the scalp), intradermal and dysplastic.
Causes of occurrence
Why is a warty nevus formed? Many experts note that almost all such formations, including those that appeared with age, are congenital skin defects. According to scientists, the disorders leading to the development of the tumor occur even at the embryonic level.
The main factors for the development of such a protrusion include:
- fluctuations in sex hormones (progestins and estrogens) in a pregnant woman;
- infectious diseases of the genitourinary system in a pregnant woman;
- the impact on the body of a pregnant woman of adverse factors;
- genetic disorders.
All these reasons can lead to impaired development of melanoblasts, that is, cells from which melanocytes are subsequently formed. Subsequently, they accumulate in certain parts of the skin and are converted to neocytes. The latter differ from standard melanocytes in the following features:
- they lack processes, thanks to which the pigment could spread to other cells;
- the warty dysplastic nevus is less subject to the regulatory systems of the patient’s body, however, unlike cancer cells, it has not fully lost this ability.
Other reasons
For what reasons can a warty nevus still appear, the photo of which is presented in this article? Such a formation often occurs due to:
- Hormonal changes in the body. This is especially pronounced in adolescents.
- The effects of ultraviolet rays on human skin. Frequent and long exposure to the sun or tanning beds contribute to increased growth of age spots.
- Pregnancy As mentioned above, this is due to the fluctuation of sex hormones.
- Menopause.
- Acceptance of contraceptives.
- Inflammatory and allergic skin diseases (e.g., acne, dermatitis, various rashes).
Papillomatous warty nevus on the head
What makes papillomatous nevus different from others? This is a benign formation that protrudes above the skin, which very much resembles a papilloma. Most often, such a protrusion is located on the head. It can be congenital or acquired.
Due to the fact that the risk of transformation of the papillomatous nevus into a melanoma is small, this type of birthmark is classified as melanoma-hazardous. What is the cause of its occurrence? Experts say that such an education is a genetic feature of a person.
The warty nevus located on the head has uneven outlines and a tuberous surface. It rises above the skin and can be covered with hairs.
The color of this formation is brown or brown. Sometimes it may not differ from healthy areas of the skin. It should also be noted that this formation is single or multiple and often reaches very large sizes.
Intradermal Nevus
Such a warty nevus is a kind of congenital moles and almost never converts to a malignant neoplasm.
So far, experts have not identified the cause of this type of birthmark. Although there is a hypothesis that claims that such a protrusion above the skin occurs due to genetic disorders.
The intradermal nevus has a domed appearance. Sometimes it can be located on the "leg" and in its shape resemble a blackberry.
The color of this formation varies from light to brown or completely black. Its size reaches no more than a few centimeters.
This type of nevus is multiple and single. Most often it is located on the neck and face. In rare cases, such a protrusion appears on other areas of the skin.
Melanocytic dysplastic nevus
Such a formation is often called an atypical birthmark. It is a precursor to a malignant tumor, that is, melanoma.
It is found in the same percentage of representatives of both sexes. Arising in 12-15 years, the protrusion continues to grow on the body until old age, forming new spots.
A person’s age, gender and individual perception of UV rays do not affect the appearance of this formation. They are inherited via the autoimmune channel. With strong exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet radiation, such warts degenerate into melanoma.
Also, there is a high risk of converting this nevus into a malignant tumor in those who take immunosuppressants.
A typical symptom of this formation is its dual structure. Melanocytic warty nevus very often occurs on the scalp. It has the appearance of a rounded spot with blurry borders, the central part of which is slightly elevated.
Such a formation can be red-pink or even black-brown. Its size reaches 5 mm.
Most often, this protrusion manifests itself in multiple ways. In most cases, such spots are located on areas of the skin that are closed from sunlight (for example, the scalp, lower limbs, back, chest, genitals and buttocks). Very rarely considered melanocytic nevus is formed on the face.
Treatment methods
How to cure a warty nevus? Removal - this is the method that traditional medicine and cosmetology offer.
The most popular and affordable way to treat this formation is to use a surgical scalpel resection . The main disadvantage of this procedure is that after its implementation, scars and scars remain. In addition, such an operation is quite painful. Although in some cases, including with malignant dysplastic nevus, this method is most effective.
Another way to remove moles is cryotherapy. It involves the use of refrigerants such as liquid nitrogen or dry ice. Under the influence of low temperature, neocytes first freeze, and then die.
The opposite cryotherapy method of getting rid of birthmarks is electrocoagulation. Its principle of action is based on cauterization of pigment cells. Such an operation is extremely painful, therefore, it requires the use of anesthesia.
Other treatments
There are also other ways to treat nevus. These include laser removal and spot irradiation. The advantages of such methods are painlessness, speed of the procedure, lack of anesthesia, scars and scars.