The appearance of warts in the hair or on the head can go unnoticed for a person, they are already detected when this neoplasm reaches a large size. Their growth can be harmless, but during combing, dyeing and haircuts, papillomas are often damaged. That is why it is so important to fix the problem in a timely manner and turn to specialists for help.
Reasons for the appearance
Warts appear on the body after the penetration of the human papilloma virus , which is present in the blood of half the inhabitants of our planet. They can be infected by contact or sexually. Warts on the head are most often formed after using someone else's comb. Only with low immunity does the virus activate and then multiply. A strong protective system can independently determine a foreign organism and control its amount, preventing infection.
Causes of immunodeficiency
When immunodeficiency states develop, infection occurs. They arise after:
- prolonged physical or mental fatigue;
- patient-borne colds;
- hormonal treatment;
- constantly recurring attacks of exacerbation of chronic type pathologies;
- the beginning of the development of HIV and oncology.
Other provoking factors
Heavy sweating, increased functioning of the sebaceous glands, infrequent shampooing, bowel and stomach diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, prolonged use of antibiotics - these factors cause the growth of warts, increase their number and increase in size. The reason for the occurrence of black keratomas is the elderly person.
Types and features of diagnosis
Not all warts on the head are the same in appearance. They have differences in size, color and shape. Based on these parameters, doctors subdivide neoplasms, highlighting:
- flat papillomas - growths are low, growing in breadth, and not up;
- vulgar warts that look like round balls with a hard crust;
- hanging condylomas - nodules with a leg, soft to the touch;
- keratomas are warts of a dark brown color, their edges are uneven: growth can often be accompanied by burning and itching.
The appearance of papillomas of these types on the head mainly has a positive prognosis. The probability of transformation of a benign formation into a malignant one is not high, however, it increases if warts are injured.
Types of blood tests
Determine whether you need to worry about the onset of growth of warts on the head, you can, if you donate blood for analysis. There are three methods that allow you to determine the presence of the virus in the patient in the blood, its type, concentration and oncogenicity. These include:
- enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, by which the presence or absence of antibodies to the human papilloma virus is determined in the blood;
- amplification test performed by scraping from the urethra or vaginal mucosa;
- PCR is a method that is based on the detection of viral DNA. For analysis, they take blood or a smear from the mucous membrane, urine (if the woman is pregnant, then amniotic fluid).
The implementation of all tests for a person is not inconvenient, pain does not occur. To get an accurate picture, you need to stop drinking antibacterial agents and use personal hygiene products three days before the procedures. You do not need to wash yourself on the day of delivery, it is best to donate blood on an empty stomach. Two days before the analysis, it is advisable to follow a light diet, avoid spicy and fried foods, alcohol.
A photo of the wart on the head in the hair is presented below.
How does a wart in appearance differ from other formations?
It is difficult to distinguish an outwardly ordinary wart on the head in the hair from a neoplasm of a malignant nature. However, an experienced specialist is able to do this for several reasons.
In most cases, flat or simple warts grow on the scalp. Their sizes are small (from five to ten millimeters), hair can grow through them, and this factor allows the growths to perfectly mask. They can be found only if the wart grows to a large size, due to frequent combing of hair, it can be injured. If the integrity of the wart is constantly violated, then the likelihood of malignancy increases.
An ordinary wart on the head (pictured) has differences from genital warts. The latter resemble multiple growths, similar in shape to the pyramids. Their color is brown or flesh, grow up to five millimeters in height.
Flat warts
Flat warts are single formations, in their structure they resemble small platforms that rise 1-2 millimeters above the skin, flat warts are similar in structure to those collected from a large number of neoplasms.
With a slow growth of a wart that has reached a certain size, do not worry. The uniform structure and color, the absence of discharge of pus from the growth make it possible to make positive forecasts.
Dangerous Warts
Dangerous are warts on the head under the hair, rapidly growing, from which blood or watery discharge is released. Determination of the uneven structure of irregular shape or color, the presence of additional growths, due to which the wart resembles a head of cauliflower, should be the reason for the patient to contact a dermatologist.
The danger of the appearance of diseases that threaten life increases if spontaneous parts of the growth disappear spontaneously, erosion, ulcers and other defects form on its surface. After all the necessary tests, the doctor will prescribe the proper treatment, which will make it possible to maintain human health and get rid of a cosmetic defect that is unpleasant for a person.
What should I do if a wart appears on my head?
Treatment
In case of inflammation, it is better to remove it. This can be done in many ways. The safest are medical procedures that have a high percentage of good reviews and low rates of future complications. To remove a benign growth, a specialist can suggest the following procedures:
- Cryodestruction, during the implementation of which they affect the nodule by means of liquid nitrogen. The wart cells are frozen, then the growth turns black, dries and falls off on its own. With a small growth size, one procedure is enough. If the roots of the neoplasm sprouted deep into the skin layers, for its removal, repeated manipulation will be required after two weeks. After this, no scars or marks remain on the head. Thanks to the metered use of nitrogen, hair follicles are preserved on the head.
- Laser removal is a method that is often chosen to remove small multiple papillomas. The use of a laser makes it possible to both excise a neoplasm and seal the vessels that feed it, and therefore the likelihood of bleeding is minimized. There are no traces left on the head after the operation, the follicles due to the laser are not destroyed, therefore, in the future, hair growth is not interrupted. The laser is not used to remove warts on the head if the formation is too large.
- Thermoregulation. A method for removing warts when they are exposed to them using a high-frequency current. It is used quite widely because of its ease of use, it makes it possible to ensure high performance, however, after the effect, scars remain on the dermis, hair no longer grows on the resection site.
- Surgical excision is an intervention that is performed using a scalpel. When it is carried out, not only the papilloma itself is excised, but also the skin layers under it. Then the wound is sutured. This method of removal is selected in the case when it is necessary to get rid of a large wart. After the operation, in any case, a scar will remain, and hair will no longer grow in its place.
What other head wart treatment is used?
There are also pharmacy solutions with which warts are cauterized. The most popular among them is the drug Ferezol. It is a caustic substance that helps get rid of a wart with a single cauterization. It can be used if the size of the neoplasm is not more than two millimeters. Such a tool can not be used to remove warts in pregnant women and young children.
A milder drug is Verrucacid. Thanks to its use, it is possible to eliminate a neoplasm of a benign nature in two to three cauterizing procedures. The most affordable way to chemically eliminate a wart is iodine solution. They need to cauterize the wart once or twice a day for a week. Any chemicals should be applied directly to the growth, trying to avoid getting the drug on healthy areas of the skin. Before using the substance, hair should be smeared with petroleum jelly and covered with a film.
Traditional medicine methods
Traditional medicine also has many methods that allow you to burn warts on the scalp at home. However, their use becomes possible only after diagnostic studies that prove the absence of the transition of the neoplasm into malignant.
For these goals, the following tools are best suited:
- Potatoes. To prepare the drug, young shoots are taken, they fill half a can with a capacity of one liter, fill the other half with celandine grass and thuja shoots. Pour all this with alcohol, leave for two weeks in a dark place. After this period, a means will be obtained by which warts are smeared three times a day. They must turn black.
- Celandine. Extracted juice from fresh stems, which is applied directly to the papilloma three times a day. After some time, it begins to blacken and dry. Then it surely falls.
- Apple vinegar. Mix 200 grams of vinegar with salt (50 grams), apply the mixture to the wart, fixing with a patch. It is necessary to make applications until the formation blackens.
The safest is cabbage juice extracted from leaves. It is necessary to lubricate the growth three times a day every day. This method requires a lot of time, however, the result will be noticeable.
Can I dye my hair?
If there is a benign neoplasm on the head, hair can be dyed, however, this is undesirable. When bleeding from a wart after staining, severe itching and the appearance of pain, you should immediately consult a dermatologist.