There are a lot of opinions about why warts occur and how they are transmitted. However, some of them are devoid of any logical meaning. Therefore, in order to dispel groundless speculation, it is necessary to identify the real causes of neoplasms on the epidermis. In fact, they are papillomas, which are considered benign tumors that do not pose a particular threat to human health and life. However, in the absence of therapy, neoplasms will grow and spread throughout the skin. Most often, warts on the fingers begin (the causes and treatment will be discussed in detail later in the article), but then they appear on other parts of the body. Therefore, if you notice a neoplasm, it is better to start therapy immediately. You will learn about the most effective methods from this article.
Main reasons
Let's look at them in more detail. Many people are interested in the question of whether a wart is contagious. To answer it, you need to understand a little about the etiology of these benign neoplasms. The causative agent of warts is the human papillomavirus. It is present in the body of each of us, but is in a sleeping form. However, due to certain negative factors, HPV can be activated.
Among the most common, the following can be distinguished:
- malfunction of the immune system;
- constant stay in mental and emotional stress;
- hormonal imbalance;
- increased sweating of the palms;
- non-observance of personal hygiene;
- hypothermia;
- violation of the integrity of the skin of the upper limbs;
- malnutrition;
- violation of the regime of work and rest.
Are warts sexually transmitted? The answer is yes. If you have an erratic sex life, then the likelihood of developing the disease is quite high. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid accidental relationships or use contraceptives.
Clinical manifestations
Now it’s clear whether warts are transmitted from person to person. If infection occurs, then the first symptoms appear in about a month. What can they be? Unlike other diseases, HPV does not have any pronounced clinical manifestations, which is why it is very difficult to identify it in a timely manner. In addition, warts are similar to some types of cancer, which can pose a serious threat to life, so they need to be able to distinguish.
The characteristic features of a wart are:
- completely painless;
- oval or round shape;
- the shade of the neoplasm can be from flesh to brown;
- smooth shiny or rough surface;
- dense structure;
- black dot in the central part.
The size of the neoplasms may be different depending on the stage of the course of the disease. Are warts on the hands transmitted when touched in a neglected form? If in a healthy person the skin on the palms is not damaged, then this probability is excluded.
HPV classification
Warts on the fingers (causes and treatment are very different) are divided into several types. In modern medicine, more than 100 varieties of the virus are known, some of which can lead to the development of oncology. Each species has certain features, so it is necessary to consider in more detail the main types of warts.
Common
The main place of localization is the upper limbs. They have a round shape and resemble dense nodules. According to medical statistics, this type of human papillomavirus is diagnosed in almost seventy percent of people. Is a wart on this type of finger contagious? No. It is not transmitted and does not pose any threat to health. It is easy to treat, and it also happens that after a certain period of time it disappears on its own, provided that the person has strong immunity.
The color of ordinary warts can be from light pink to gray. In diameter can reach two centimeters. If you look closely at them, you can notice dark spots on the surface.
Genital warts
Neoplasms of this species can occur on the upper and lower extremities, decollete, neck, face, mouth, armpits and genitals. Papillomas are very elongated, so they are often injured by clothing, as a result of which an inflammatory process can develop. Genital warts located on the genitals are considered the most dangerous, since they pose a high risk of developing a malignant tumor.
This variety is most often diagnosed in people aged 17 to 40 years. Is the wart contagious? Unlike ordinary, genital warts can be transmitted from person to person, but at risk are people who have an erratic sex life. According to doctors, approximately 75 percent of women and men have this type of HPV virus.
Neoplasms can be red or brown. When localized in intimate areas, they most often have a flesh tint. Papillomas that appear on the hands and fingers respond well to treatment and almost never lead to the development of cancer.
Flat
What are they? They got this name because they resemble flat plaques with a diameter of 5 millimeters, flesh-colored in appearance. Papillomas can be localized both individually and in groups. Such warts are very difficult to remove at home. Their root penetrates deep into the skin, therefore, qualified medical care is required here.
The main reason for the development of flat warts is hormonal imbalance. Most often, adolescents and pregnant women suffer from them, in the body of which large-scale changes and rearrangements occur. The main symptom is severe itching in the area of damage to the skin. Is this wart contagious? She is not only not transmitted, but also does not need any therapy. Over time, they simply disappear.
Keratomas
The exact causes of their appearance in medicine are not known. Doctors managed to establish only that they are of viral origin.
Among the main provoking factors, the following can be distinguished:
- disruption of the sebaceous glands;
- excessive accumulations of animal fat in the body;
- negative effects of ultraviolet rays on the epidermis;
- unbalanced nutrition;
- wrong lifestyle;
- genetic predisposition.
The disease develops gradually. First, a dark spot of small size with a smooth surface appears on the skin, after which, over time, a rough nodule forms in its place, which, if untreated in the later stages, is converted into a dense formation. Are warts on the hands of this group contagious? No, but they are considered one of the most dangerous, since they very often provoke the development of cancer.
Periungual Warts
Another common variety. Papillomas are small formations that occur under the nail plate or in the immediate vicinity of it. They can be localized both on the upper and lower extremities. They have a hemispherical shape and a rough surface.
How to reduce the likelihood of HPV?
Answering the question whether the wart is contagious, it is worth noting that there are both completely harmless and safe varieties, as well as papillomas that are transmitted from person to person. In the case of infectious neoplasms, infection occurs through physical contact with the patient. Although the probability of transmission of HPV is low, it does exist nonetheless. The risk is especially high when visiting various public places, for example, baths, saunas, pools and others.
The following tips will help protect yourself from this disease:
- if you regularly go to baths and saunas, then take along replacement shoes;
- when wet cleaning, add bleach to the water;
- try to be as careful as possible when cutting nails;
- rinse cuts immediately with hydrogen peroxide and treat with antibacterial agents;
- try not to contact people who have warts on their hands;
- periodically sanitize shoes.
If the virus enters your body, this does not mean that papillomas will begin to appear on your body or you will become its carrier. If you have a strong immune system, then it will be able to defeat pathogenic microorganisms on its own.
The main methods of therapy
Many people are interested in the question of how to get rid of warts on the face, hands, chest and other parts of the body. There are many adherents of alternative medicine, however, as practice shows, it is not effective. Moreover, in the case of some varieties of HPV, self-medication can be dangerous, since there is a likelihood of developing oncology. The only sure way is a medication.
The following drugs and agents are considered the best:
- Solkoderm solution;
- Verrucacid;
- patch "Urgokor";
- lapis pencil;
- any solutions containing salicylic acid;
- spray "Cryopharm".
In addition, lotions, compresses and moxibustion must be combined with taking medications aimed at strengthening the immune system, for example, Amiquidon or Aldara. At the later stages of the disease, when a large area of the epidermis was damaged, more radical methods of therapy are used - electrocoagulation or cauterization of warts with liquid nitrogen.
Today, one of the best drugs to combat the human papillomavirus is Wartner Cryo. Despite the fact that it appeared on the market relatively recently, this medication has earned many positive reviews. The manufacturer of the drug is the Irish pharmaceutical company Omega Teknika.
"Wartner Cryo" has a freezing effect and allows you to get rid of most varieties of warts in just thirty seconds. With strict observance of the instructions for use, no side effects are observed. If the papillomas are large or deeply rooted in the skin, then at least two freezes are required.
The drug is available in the form of an aerosol, so it is very simple to use. You need to attach the applicator to the neoplasm, press on it and hold for a certain period of time, which is indicated in the instructions for use. As a rule, one procedure is enough to completely get rid of papillomas.
Conclusion
Warts are a very common problem that a huge number of people face. But many people do not give them due attention, which is a very big mistake, because, in addition to aesthetics, there is a risk of developing oncology. Therefore, if you find a papilloma on your body, it is best to immediately consult a doctor who will select the most suitable treatment for you.