When you take a bath, you may find that you have some “small fleshy particles” on your neck, armpits, backs of hands, etc., which are commonly known as “warts”.
The scientific name for warts is “warts”, which are caused by the proliferation of epidermal cells after the human body is infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Warts are contagious, and some bad habits can accelerate their spread.
Life Times(Search “LT0385” in WeChat to follow) to interview authoritative experts to remind you which warts are related to HPV infection, and teach you how to do it Good prevention.
Experts Interviewed
Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Zhang Jing Physician Liu Yidan
Chen Yong, Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
Guo Fangfang, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University
5 types of bodywartslinked to HPV infection
HPV is a large family, including more than 200 different subtypes, of which low-risk types are the majority, and generally only lead to the production of “warts”; there are more than a dozen high-risk types of HPV , it has been found that HPV16 and 18 are related to 70% of cervical cancers.
Due to the different subtypes of the virus in the human body and the different parts of the infection, the shape of the wart is also different, and the treatment methods are also different.
Common warts: more common on hands, elbows, knees, and face
Common warts are often associated with HPV types 1, 2, 4, and 7. They occur in vulnerable areas, such as fingers, elbows, knees, and face, and can spread to any part of the body. part.
Warts are gray-brown, brown, or skin-colored papules with a rough surface that can appear singly or “self-inoculation” of the wart by scratching, in a linear arrangement; usually not conscious Symptoms resolve spontaneously within 2 to 4 years.
Filiform warts: most common on the head and neck
It is a specific subtype of common wart that occurs on the eyelids, around the mouth, and on the neck. The wart is a filamentous or slender structure with a narrow root and finger-like protrusions on the surface, resembling a Flammulina velutipes.
Filar warts are treated with excision, curettage, and freezing with liquid nitrogen. They can also be treated with antiviral drugs or retinoids.
However, when liquid nitrogen is frozen, patients with dark skin may leave lasting hypopigmentation spots after treatment, which should be used with caution.
Planar Warts: Plantar
Lesses start as small, shiny papules that grow to the size of soybeans or larger, with a central depression resembling an anthill, presenting as single or multiple “mosaic” lesions , Large or deep plantar warts can cause pain from pressure when walking.
Due to the hypertrophy of the stratum corneum of the feet, it is difficult to treat plantar warts, and it is difficult for drugs to effectively reach the deep layers. You can try external application of corrosive acid, liquid nitrogen freezing and other methods.
Those with many and thick rashes can be treated with tretinoin, antiviral, immune regulation and other systems.
Flat warts: Facial
Flat warts are associated with HPV types 3, 10, 26-29, and 41. They occur in children and adolescents, most often on the back of the hands, arms, and face, and are shaped like a grain of rice to the size of a soybean round or oval in shape and may be light brown, pink or skin tone.
For the treatment of flat warts, commonly used topical drugs include 0.05%~0.1% tretinoin ointment, 5% imiquimod cream, etc., but it needs to be comprehensively considered according to the characteristics of the skin lesions and the site of the disease. Don’t use it blindly.
For example, some drugs can cause pigmentation, so it should be used with caution in facial flat warts. If the number of skin lesions is small, physical therapy can be applied, and the face should also be used with caution.
Condyloma acuminatum: near the genitals
Condyloma acuminatum, also known as anogenital warts, occurs at the junction of the external genitalia and perineum, perineum, or mucous membranes. It is a sexually transmitted disease that can also be transmitted through the birth canal or through direct contact.
Lesses are usually discrete, sessile, smooth-surfaced warts, or large confluent plaques that appear skin-colored, brown, or whitish (especially in moist areas).
Patients need to remove the wart as soon as possible to eliminate the infection around the wart as much as possible and reduce recurrence; 0.5% podophyllotoxin tincture (pregnant women is prohibited) can be used externally, or physical methods or combined light Dynamic therapy treatment.
One habit accelerates the spread of warts
Warts are spread by contact, such as accidental direct contact with a patient’s rash, or indirect contact through towels, clothing, etc. But not everyone who has been exposed to the virus will develop warts.
Whether warts can develop from a virus on the skin depends on two conditions:
1
Skin damage
Even minor damage to the skin, such as scrubbing or scratching, can destroy the integrity of the skin. If the skin remains intact without trauma or damage, and the infected virus cannot be “inoculated” into the skin, there will be no warts.
2
The strength of human immunity
If the immune system of the human body is normal, even if it is infected with the virus and the skin is damaged and the virus is “inoculated” into the skin, the immune system of the human body will suppress and kill the virus, and it will not grow. wart.
Scratching or rubbing can speed the spread of warts
A patient’s own infection is more common and serious than infecting others. If the patient often scratches the wart and the skin breaks down, the virus will grow more warts along the scratches, which we call the “isomorphic reaction”.
Therefore, the infected person must avoid scratching (including taking a bath), do not give the virus a chance to spread and inoculate, and avoid sharing bath towels and towels with family members as much as possible.
How to treat warts?
Don’t be nervous if you find warts on your body. The following three topical medicines have good results. Because of drug safety, it must be used under the guidance of a doctor, and do not buy, use, or even use multiple drugs without authorization.
Topical drugs generally need to be used for 2 to 4 weeks before they can take effect, and they need to be used consistently.
Retinoic Acid Cream
Tretinoin can promote the proliferation, differentiation and keratolysis of human epidermal cells. Applying retinoic acid to the affected area can not only make warts fall off, but also promote the growth of new epidermis.
It is normal for symptoms such as local redness, scaling, and slight pain to appear on the skin after using tretinoin. Try to use sunscreen after using it to avoid hyperpigmentation.
Contraindications: Not for pregnant women, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers; patients with severe liver and kidney damage and those allergic to this product are not allowed to use it.
Fluorouracil ointment
Fluorouracil is a drug that affects nucleic acid production. One of the key steps in cell division and proliferation is nucleic acid generation. Without the raw materials needed for cell division, the abnormal proliferation of skin cells cannot proceed, thereby causing the wart to fall off and necrosis.
Contraindications: Patients who are allergic to fluorouracil, patients with chickenpox or herpes zoster, pregnant mothers and breastfeeding mothers should not use this product medicine; children should use it with caution under the guidance of a specialist.
Imiquimod cream
Imiquimod is an immunomodulator that can promote the production of various cytokines in the body, effectively enhance the antiviral effect of cells, regulate local abnormal keratin proliferation, and can treat warts from the root cause .
Common imiquimod preparations include Aida, Mingxin Lidi, etc. When using, pay attention to avoid the mucous membranes, eyes, mouth, nose, etc., 1-2 times a day, 5 days a week, for more than 4 weeks.
Contraindications: So far, no contraindications to imiquimod have been found in pregnant and lactating women, but special groups should still be under the guidance of doctors Use with caution.
In order to prevent warts from growing on the skin, it is recommended to do the following in life:
Timely vaccination against HPV;
When the skin is damaged, avoid using public items that directly touch the skin, such as towels, bath towels, bath towels, etc.;
Swimming choose a swimming pool with qualified disinfection indicators;
When performing invasive cosmetology, choose a regular medical institution to prevent HPV infection due to incomplete disinfection of equipment;
Pay attention to the cleanliness of bathing equipment and underwear. ▲
Editor of this issue: Zheng Ronghua
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