Warts on fingers. Why do they appear and how to get rid of them?

Warts are one of the types of benign neoplasms, the appearance of which is associated with infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The localization of growths covers all parts of the body. Most often they appear between the fingers, on the feet, on the legs, on the face, and neck.

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Papillomavirus, which is the main cause of neoplasms, has more than a hundred strains. While attacking the human body, the virus may not manifest itself in any way from several months to several years. Decreased immunity due to previous respiratory viral or bacterial infections, exacerbation of chronic diseases, seasonal allergies and hormonal changes in the body (puberty in adolescents, pregnancy and lactation in women) provoke the activation of HPV. The virus penetrates the DNA of cells, provoking their increased growth.

Most strains of papillomavirus do not pose a threat to human life. Only certain types of HPV lead to the transformation of skin cells into cancer.

Why do warts appear on fingers?

The main cause of wart formations is infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The pathogen penetrates the epidermis through small cracks, wounds and irritated surfaces. Infection occurs even when a healthy person comes into contact with a carrier of the virus, for example, greeting with a handshake. Hidden, the harmful agent sleeps for some time. But once the immune system weakens, the body loses resistance and allows the strain to spread within itself.

What contributes to the weakening of the immune system and why warts appear, how to protect yourself from such problems? Doctors say that the risk of contracting HPV is high for those people who neglect the rules of personal hygiene, have bad habits, eat poorly and lead an immoral lifestyle. Warts can appear on the hands when the palms are too sweaty or hormonal fluctuations occur in the body, or the nervous system is often exposed to stress.

The papillomavirus spreads quickly in crowded areas where warm, humid conditions prevail. Thus, you can become infected with HPV in saunas, swimming pools, and sports complexes, the staff of which violate sanitary standards.

In teenagers and sometimes in adults, warts on the hands may disappear on their own. But most often people turn to dermatologists with a request that the growths be removed. When a tumor is present on the hand, there is always a threat of infection of the immediate environment, because the limb comes into contact with the skin of other people and with the personal belongings of the HPV carrier, which can be used by household members.

The relevance of the issue of wart removal increases if there is a baby in the family. The difficulty of their treatment in children lies in the fact that not all effective antiviral drugs are suitable for patients of early and preschool age.

Those warts that undergo pathological changes are subject to immediate removal:

• The growths grow, become deformed, and become a different shade.
• The skin in the affected area is itchy, cracked, or wet.
• The element is often injured and slows down performance when performing manual labor.
• The viral infection progresses, causing multiple warts to form not only on the fingers, but also on different parts of the body.

If there is at least one abnormal symptom, you must urgently consult a doctor and choose the best way to remove the papilloma.

Causes of warts

But why do warts appear on hands? The main cause of such growths is the papilloma virus. It affects the skin, causing the appearance of warts. This infection can be transmitted through contact with other affected people, as well as through household contact, through skin wounds.

This virus can live in the human body for a long period. But some factors influence the fact that it begins to progress. This is influenced by the following reasons:

• deterioration of immunity;
• hormonal disruptions;
• stress, depression, fatigue;
• failure to comply with simple hygiene rules;
• poor nutrition, when a person does not receive enough vitamins and essential elements;
• increased sweating;
• contact with a person who already has growths;
• influence of chemical emissions from factories.

There is another reason for the appearance of warts. They occur when a person spends a long period in rooms where the air is too warm and the humidity is high. Such places include:

• saunas;
• swimming pools;
• baths;
• Sport halls.

You can often see warts on people who work with meat and fish. Processing these products leads to the formation of build-up. This is another reason why warts appear on the hands. Their occurrence can also be observed in children who often bite the nail plate and scratch growths.

Contrary to popular myth, toads and frogs have nothing to do with the appearance of papillomas.

What do warts on fingers look like, photo

The main signs of human papillomavirus infection will help doctors and ordinary people determine the nature of the skin growth. A viral wart on the finger resembles a rounded nodule or papilla that disrupts the smoothness of the skin. The structure of the element is fleshy, rough and uneven. Black dots are visible in the center of the nodule. Its color either matches the shade of the dermis, or the papilloma has a gray, yellowish or brown color.

In some cases, growths form near the nails or under the plates. Subungual warts are very difficult to remove, because their roots are located deep in the upper phalanx under the nail bed. But most often, viral formations appear on the fingers, and doctors classify them as ordinary and flat.

Flat warts

Often such warts are called juvenile warts, since they most often occur in adolescent children and young adults. Such formations have a yellowish tint, their surface is smooth, they are practically invisible, since they protrude slightly above the skin. Such growth does not exceed 3 mm.

Flat warts appear on the back of the finger. Only one growth may appear, but often the formations are located in groups. They also do not provoke pain, but they are accompanied by itching.

Flat warts may harden after a while.

How to remove and treat

Modern dermatology suggests getting rid of warts on the finger in one of five ways:

1. Surgical.
2. Physiotherapeutic.
3. Immunomodulatory.
4. Chemical with the use of special preparations.
5. Unconventional using folk recipes.

Let's take a closer look at several basic techniques so that you can decide how to remove warts on your fingers in your case.

Diagnostics

If you doubt what kind of growth you have formed, consult a specialist.

• Diagnosing warts isn't usually difficult, but you'll know exactly what you're dealing with.
• First, the doctor will examine the growth and perhaps ask a few questions (plantar warts are usually brought from a swimming pool or bathhouse).
• A dermatoscope will allow you to see the formation in an enlarged form. Already during the visual examination, the doctor can make a diagnosis.

Photo: dermatoscopy
But sometimes additional studies are required:

• PCR - this method allows you to accurately identify the cause of the growth by isolating the DNA of the virus in its cells, and also determines the benign quality of the neoplasm;
• histological examination - sometimes required to confirm the benign quality of the growth, a smear is taken from the surface or a biopsy (small part, several cells);
• Digen test is a modern type of research for the presence of human papillomavirus, it provides the most complete and accurate information on all main parameters (virus strain, benignity, prognosis).

In the case of warts on the hands, an examination using a dermatoscope is usually sufficient for the doctor to understand the picture of the disease.

Surgical intervention

The surgical method for treating flat and vulgar warts on the fingers involves scraping and removing the body of the growths with a scalpel. The doctor ensures that the procedure is painless by applying local anesthesia. But the surgical method is not widely used in medical practice, since the manipulation is still painful for the patient. The rehabilitation period after surgery is long and there is always a risk of complications when microbes get into the wound.

Causes of childhood pathology

Unpleasant growths in children are also of viral origin, as in adults. The age at which children's fingers and toes are affected varies greatly: from infancy to 17 years. But most often they appear in adolescence. Warts have a round shape, often do not protrude sharply on the skin, but go somewhat deeper into the dermis.

There are many reasons that cause warts.

The main ones can be named:

• Heredity, transmission of infection from mother to newborn.
• Lack of vitamins and minerals necessary for the functioning of all vital systems of the child.
• Poor environmental conditions.

Removing tumors in children is more difficult than in adults. The method must be painless and effective.

The child may not agree to a second operation if the warts appear again. The growth of tumors deep into the dermis complicates treatment. Therapy is slow and difficult. The return of growths in children changes the size and shape of the warts. If a relapse occurs, the number of growths increases. The main direction in treating a child is to increase immunity.

Pharmacy drugs

If you are looking for information on how to remove warts from your hands, you will probably come across a list of drugs containing alkalis and acids. Caustic substances destroy tumor tissue and accelerate the regeneration of skin affected by the virus.

List of the most effective means of non-invasive wart removal:

1. Supercleaner is a colorless, odorless medicine based on sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide. The drug destroys the growths due to a chemical burn. To treat a wart with Superclean, the surrounding skin is first lubricated with a rich cream, and then a little medicine is dropped onto the surface of the element using the applicator attached to the bottle. Burning and soreness are mild side effects, you just have to endure it. Discomfortable sensations indicate that the drug is working. The treated papilloma is sealed with a plaster, and the procedure is repeated the next day. Over 5 days, the growth will gradually turn black, dry out and eventually fall off on its own. You can't cut it off. Supercleaner is inexpensive - 30–50 rubles.
2. Verrucacid - the drug has a local necrotizing effect. With its help, any papilloma, condyloma, callus or wart can be easily removed. A pink oily liquid containing phenol and metacresol burns the growths and destroys their structure. How to remove a wart on a finger with Verrucacid? Using an applicator, the solution is applied to the viral element 3–7 times with an interval of several minutes. The adjacent skin is lubricated with zinc paste in advance. The treated growth turns into a dry crust, which falls off without outside help after a few days. It is prohibited to pick it with nails or sharp instruments.
3. Solcoderm is a powerful antiviral medicine consisting of organic acids - nitric, acetic, lactic and oxalic. The combined work of aggressive substances provokes dehydration and necrosis of tumors. After a few days, the dry scab peels off and healthy epidermis is visible in its place. The skin healing process occurs without scarring or residual scars. Usually the price of Solcoderm is 500 rubles.
4. Cryopharma - judging by the reviews of people who have used this product to remove warts at home, it is the simplest and most effective of all those tested. The drug is an alternative to salon cryotherapy, the principle of which is based on freezing out growths with refrigerated gases (t -60 °C). The bottle of Cryopharm medicine is filled with a gas mixture and equipped with applicators. One package is enough for 5 sessions. The tumor is treated with a freezing drug for 30–40 seconds, not paying attention to the burning sensation and mild pain. The sensations indicate tissue freezing. The frequency of use of the product is determined by the type and size of the papilloma. It is possible that it will have to be frozen more than once. But the result will still come quickly, and it will be sustainable. The skin will renew itself in about half a month. The cost of Cryopharma starts at 600 rubles.
5. Salicylic acid is a component found in many skin treatments. It has also found wide application in the elimination of keratomas, warty elements and corns. If warts appear on your hand, you must use Galmanin powder or Urcogor or Mozolin patches as soon as possible. They are treated regularly for several weeks (the course of therapy and specifics of use are described in the instructions).

You should not buy medications for warts without consulting a doctor. The safest and most effective drug for a patient can only be selected by a dermatologist or infectious disease specialist, who will determine the type of formation and the cause of its appearance during the examination. You cannot remove warts from a child yourself, since childhood is a contraindication to the use of many medications.

To strengthen the immune system, a specialist may additionally prescribe Interferon or Amiquinod. The first drug makes the body immune to papillomatosis and increases the effectiveness of the defense system. The second agent activates the synthesis of cytokines - immune proteins that can destroy a viral infection.

Physiotherapy

When people think about how to remove warts on their hands, they often lean toward physical therapy. This method of treatment has become widespread. There are 3 methods of physiotherapy:

• laser removal;
• cryotherapy;
• electrocoagulation.

Many people who want to remove a wart on their hand are inclined to use the laser method. The laser procedure causes virtually no pain, it is carried out quickly, and shows excellent results.

Ultimately, there will be almost no scars on the skin, and after a while there will be no trace of warts left.

Such removal of growths should be carried out by an experienced doctor. It is he who monitors the intensity of the laser. The finger recovers quickly after this treatment. Laser wart removal is indeed considered one of the best procedures, but its price is rather high, so not all people can easily afford it.

Cryotherapy involves a procedure by which tumors are removed under the influence of liquid nitrogen. This is an effective remedy, but it causes pain. If the procedure is performed by an experienced doctor, then there will be no scars left from the growths.

But there are situations when a person is forced to repeat cryotherapy because it was not possible to completely remove the growth. After treating the formation with liquid nitrogen, a bubble will appear on your finger. It should be lubricated with potassium permanganate for several days.

Electrocoagulation is another method of physiotherapy that does not provoke the appearance of blood. Warts are removed using high frequency current.

This method is ideal in situations where the roots of the growth are shallow. In this case, the tumors will be quickly and easily removed.

How to remove using folk remedies

If you have learned how to get rid of warts with medications, but do not want to use them because of the chemicals they contain, we suggest that you pay attention to alternative medicine recipes. In the warm season, fresh celandine juice can be used to treat the skin. The grass blooms in May - June; this period is the best for preparing folk remedies for warts on the fingers containing celandine.

You can burn papillomas with the juice of celandine, onion, garlic, as well as with acetic acid and decoctions of medicinal herbs. Kalanchoe will also help remove growths. The small leaves of the plant are cut until the liquid is released, they are applied to the new growths and bandaged. The dressing is changed every 4 hours.

Tea tree oil has powerful antiseptic properties. Let's look at how to remove a wart on a finger with this drug. 1 l. Heat the water and dissolve 1 spoon of soda and 1 drop of tea tree oil in it. The hand affected by the virus is dipped in the solution for 15 minutes.

You can destroy the roots of warts hidden inside the epidermis with castor oil. 3 drops of the drug are carefully applied to the warty element daily. To diversify the treatment, the growths are treated at other times of the day with fir, hemp and pine oils. They are sold at the pharmacy.

Immunotherapy

To improve immunity, an effective remedy called Interferon is used. If you use this drug, then the cells will stop responding to the effects of the virus, and they will develop protection.

Amiquinod is used to combat growths. It will help cure any skin disease associated with infection. When a person starts taking this drug, his body produces a cytokine that kills papilloma. But this remedy should be used carefully; it is better to consult a doctor in advance. When it damages the skin, a person develops cold symptoms, the area where the growth is located becomes inflamed, then the dosage needs to be reduced.

When a tumor appears on a person’s body, including on the hands, this may indicate that the person’s immunity has decreased. For this reason, it is recommended not only to take medications that strengthen the immune system, but also to reconsider your lifestyle.

A person should actively engage in sports, eat right, consume healthy foods, and strengthen his body.

Doctors also advise taking vitamins, taking long walks in the air, and getting proper rest at night. Treatment at home should include all these rules.

Types and symptoms of warts

All warts are benign skin tumors that are formed from cells of the epithelial layer of the dermis.

Such rapid division is provoked by the papillomavirus, which has settled in the human body.

Medical publications offer several different classifications of growths.

There are two types:

1. Ordinary.
2. Flat.

Common (also called vulgar) warts

How to recognize

• A dermatologist can make a diagnosis of papillomatosis during an initial examination, based on the external characteristics of the neoplasm, as well as by performing dermatoscopy - examination of the wart under a special magnifying device.
• To confirm the viral origin of a skin growth, PCR diagnostics may be prescribed. Only in rare cases is a biopsy of tumor tissue necessary. This procedure is prescribed if the doctor suspects malignancy of the tumor.

Since a growth on the skin that at first glance resembles a wart may turn out to be the initial stage of a malignant tumor, you should consult a doctor at the first manifestations of papillomatosis.

In rare cases, self-medication of skin tumors without prior consultation with a specialist can cause them to become malignant.

Diagnosing warts is not difficult, it's not rocket technology. Just look at the clinical manifestations of these unwanted growths. Plantar warts are distinguished from common calluses by the papillary structure of the former, genital warts from condylomas lata, which are a sign of secondary syphilis, by their denser consistency, wide base and moist surface of the latter.

Treatment

Any skin problem requires consultation with a dermatologist or a visit to a certified medical cosmetology center. The diagnosis is made both on the basis of an external examination and anamnesis, as well as additional studies, in particular, microscopic and histological analysis.

In most cases, the specialist recommends radical treatment - removal of the wart under local anesthesia, which can be carried out using:

• surgical excision (a rather painful and traumatic method, used in rare cases);
• cauterization with liquid nitrogen (quickly, but followed by a painful period);
• electrocoagulation (suitable only for warts located shallowly);
• curettage, that is, scraping with a curette knife, which is often carried out together with an electrical procedure;
• laser (performed quickly, creating a depression that heals in two weeks).