Papillomas on the neck

Neck papillomas are one of the manifestations of an infectious disease caused by the human papillomavirus. Refers to benign skin formations.

Papillomas on the neck

Causes of papillomas on the neck

There is an etiological reason papillomas begin to grow on the neck or other area of ​​the human body - an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a member of the Papovaviridae family. There are more than 100 serotypes of this pathogen, each of which is responsible for the appearance of a different clinical picture (papilloma, condyloma, warts - these concepts are synonymous, different names are associated with the peculiarities of localization in a certain area).

The main routes of transmission are contact household and genital (condylomata of the perianal region). The virus can only penetrate the skin in the case of microscopic damage or open wounds; in other cases it cannot pass the protective barrier of the skin.

Information on pathogens

  1. It has a high degree of prevalence regardless of gender (but it manifests more often in women than men), age, or region (according to some sources, 2/3 of the planet is infected with this virus).
  2. Contains double-stranded twisted ring DNA that can be integrated into the human genome.
  3. Infection with some strains is associated with a high risk of carcinogenicity, especially in the case of permanent injuries. Throat papillomas are caused by non-oncogenic strains of the virus.
  4. A virus goes through two main phases in the process of division. In the first stage it is in an episomal (free) form, and it is during the same period that the main division of the virus particle occurs. This phase is reversible (long-term remission occurs after treatment). In the second - integrative - stage, the virus is implanted into the genome of the cell (the first step in the transformation of cells and the formation of a malignant neoplasm). The first stage is temporary and relatively rapid, while the second is latent and explains the existence of carriers.
  5. The base layer of the epidermis, in which the virus replicates, is affected. The pathogen can persist in the remaining layers, but not divide. Provided that the virus is in the germinal layer during growth, the normal differentiation of cells in all layers of this area is impaired, especially at the level of the prickly layer.
  6. Tends to have long-term asymptomatic transport in the body (from several months to a year). It is rarely possible to identify a specific point in time of infection - this is the reason why treatment begins at a period of intense clinical manifestations, and not at the first vague signs.
  7. To prevent infection, divalent and tetravalent vaccines are used, which are particularly effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

  1. Poor hygiene. Since the virus is able to sustain vital activities in the external environment for a long time, it is necessary to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene when visiting public places (swimming pool, bathhouse, gym).
  2. Traumatic skin injuries. For the virus to penetrate, it is sufficient to have micro-tears or scratches on the skin (for example, by rubbing the neck with the collar of a shirt).
  3. Impaired function of the immune system. With immunodeficiencies of any origin, favorable conditions for the development of infections arise. For example, frequent colds and infectious diseases lead to a weakening of the immune system and the appearance of papillomas on the skin.
  4. Self-infection when scratching the skin.
  5. Systematic lifestyle disorder (stress, lack of exercise, poor diet). These factors affect the work of all metabolic processes in the body and lead to a decrease in the barrier function of the skin.
  6. Environmental factors that affect the decrease in the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive UV exposure).

External manifestations of the disease

Cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

  1. The growth is usually on a broad base and clearly protrudes above the skin surface. Less often, the base of the papilloma is represented by a thin leg (in this case the formation takes a hanging position). With the second option, the risk of injury is much higher.
  2. The boundaries of education are even and clear.
  3. The color does not differ from the surrounding skin. In rare cases, it may be slightly paler or darker than the adjacent tissues.
  4. The surface is often flat and smooth. Sometimes growths are possible on the top of the papilloma, which rips its surface.
  5. The diameter varies widely - from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (papillomas with a small diameter are more common).
  6. Position in any area of ​​the neck (back, front side). Sometimes the face is involved.

There are usually many lesions along the folds of the skin.

In very rare cases papillomas on the neck can become malignant, ie degenerate into a skin tumor. This can occur as a result of infection with a strain of oncogenic HPV.

The following signs can indicate a malignant transformation:

  • Color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
  • Edge change (blurring, loss of definition);
  • the appearance of asymmetry (if a line is drawn through the conditional center of the formation, two equal halves can not be obtained);
  • intense growth;
  • bleeding or ulceration (a non-specific symptom as it is also typical of simple trauma to the neoplasm);
  • itching, burning, peeling;
  • Dropouts are formed (small daughter formations around the central one).

The appearance of such signs does not necessarily mean the degeneration of the papilloma, but it does mean that you need to consult a doctor and undergo a differential diagnosis to find out if it is a common inflamed mole or skin cancer.

How to get rid of papillomas on the neck

The treatment of papillomas on the neck is carried out only in a complex way, with a simultaneous effect on the pathological focus on the skin and on the pathogen itself in the blood.

There are different ways to fight:

method

Description

Medicines

The use of cytostatics and immunomodulators is designed to suppress the replication of the virus in the affected area and reduce its concentration in the blood. Some drugs (keratolytics) are topically applied directly to destroy (cauterize and cause tissue necrosis) the growth of the skin.

Physical methods

Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation. They aim to get rid of papillomas on both the neck and other parts of the body. These methods allow you to restore the aesthetic appearance of open areas and remove the reservoir of virus - the skin neoplasms themselves, but they do not completely remove the virus from the body.

Combination therapy

Combines the two previous options and is therefore most effective.

Treating papillomas with home remedies (e. g. celandine juice) is ineffective and often dangerous. Consultation with a doctor is required in any case.

Physical methods of destruction

The following physical methods can be used to effectively reduce formations:

method

Description

Local effect with solutions of concentrated acids

A 1. 5% solution of zinc chloropropionate in 50% 2-chloropropionic acid, a combination of nitric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid and copper nitrate trihydrate, etc. is used. The procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenerologist, beautician) in accordance with the surgical prescriptions. . . The agent is applied selectively with a spatula until the color of the formation takes on a lighter color (as soon as this has happened, further application should be stopped immediately). For a complete healing of the papilloma, you need to do an average of 1-2 treatments.

Electrocoagulation

Using a special electric knife, point removal of formations is performed without affecting the underlying tissue (there is minimal impact on healthy skin cells). The method is most convenient when the formation has a long stem and a small size.

Cryodestruction

The focus is exposed to liquid nitrogen, extremely low temperatures lead to tissue necrosis. It is good to have a broad base cleanse of this type of formation. The time of nitrogen action is selected by a specialist (1-5 minutes). After moxibustion, a burn forms that heals within an average of 10 days.

Laser removal

The most modern and delicate approach to remove growths on prominent places like the neck. Has the most positive reviews. With the help of a light guide for 5 seconds to 3 minutes in continuous operation, they act on the focus. The healing time is much shorter than other methods (5-7 days). The technique is associated with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissue due to the high precision of the action.

Classic surgical removal (removal with a scalpel)

Very rarely used, only for large lesions or when malignancy is suspected. This is because the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck, and too small to be removed. In addition, after surgical removal, scars may remain, which in themselves cause a cosmetic defect.