Papillomas on the neck (thread warts) are the result of an infection with the human papillomavirus, which is already caused in the cells by the absorption or activation of the human papillomavirus (HPV). This point of localization of neoplasms is often found. Experts call such papillomas filiform warts (acrochord). They can appear not only on the neck, but also in the armpits, behind the ears and under the mammary glands.
Identifying the causes and choosing methods of treating papillomas on the neck is the job of specialists. An infection with human papillomavirus is harmful to health and can lead to the growth of malignant tumors, especially in combination with genital warts and urogenital diseases.
Disease development mechanism
Papillomavirus is detected in the majority of sexually mature people. HPV enters the body through damage, cracks, during massage, with the use of hygiene products, other people's shoes, and through unprotected sexual intercourse. For several months or even years the papillomavirus has not manifested itself in any way, which indicates a chronic carrier. When viruses multiply in the surface layers of the skin, tissue hyperplasia occurs, filamentous outgrowths appear on the neck and other parts of the body.
Important! HPV is not persistent in the environment. The virus dies quickly on household items. Infection occurs mainly through direct contact.
During shaving, manicure, self-infection is possible if a dormant virus is activated. The disease enters the stage of active clinical manifestations, then hyperplastic processes appear in the skin.
Causes of papillomas on the neck
It is almost impossible to say exactly why papillomas appear on the neck. Experts identify the following predisposing factors:
- Transmission of serious infectious diseases, surgical interventions that weaken the immune system, reduce the body's adaptability;
- frequent damage to the skin from clothing, hygiene and care products;
- Performing a massage in low-quality salons by non-compliance with infectious safety techniques by workers infected with HPV;
- hormonal disorders, endocrine pathologies;
- Presence of other types of papillomas, genital warts and warts on the body and genitals.
Experts believe that the causes of papillomas on the neck may be linked to hormonal changes in the body. This confirms the fact that filamentous warts often appear after endocrine pathologies, during pregnancy and during climacteric changes, when the activity of sex hormones decreases.
In young women, the cause of a papilloma on the neck is often a malfunction of the ovaries. However, HPV must first be in an inactive form in the body. The hormonal surge is just a provoking factor.
Clinical manifestations
Neck papillomas have practically no clinical manifestations. Outwardly, they resemble small filamentous outgrowths of yellowish or flesh-colored. The neoplasms have a fairly dense consistency. Their size rarely exceeds 6 mm. Most often, filamentous papillomas are found on the neck in small groups, they can grow together and form foci that resemble a cockscomb or cauliflower.
Papillomatous growths of this type are not prone to magnetization, but if they are damaged, there is still a risk of malignant tissue disease. Neoplasms can become inflamed and often cause the papillomavirus to spread to healthy skin with the appearance of new warts.
Examination for papillomas on the neck
During a comprehensive examination, the causes of papillomas on the neck and the methods of treatment can be determined. If filamentous outgrowths appear, you should consult a dermatologist.
The main diagnostic methods for papillomas on the neck, armpits and other parts of the body:
- PCR;
- dermatoscopy;
- biopsy of neoplasmic tissues;
- histological examination.
Papillomas on the neck are different from warts, fibroids, and birthmarks. The virus can be determined during the PCR study. This method allows you to identify the DNA of the virus, assess the degree of oncogenicity of formation and the amount of HPV. The most dangerous HPV types 16 and 18 that cause cervical cancer.
If a malignant process is suspected, a papilloma tissue biopsy is performed. Chronic papillomavirus infection contributes to tissue hyperplasia and often leads to magnification. That is why it is so important to timely identify viruses with a high risk of oncogenic diseases and remove papillomatous outgrowths.
Treatment methods
The treatment regimen for papillomas on the neck is selected individually. This takes into account:
- the number of neoplasms, their shape and size;
- general health of the patient;
- Degree of risk of malignancy from neoplasms;
- the presence of concomitant diseases, including external and internal tumors, urogenital infections.
To understand how to get rid of papillomas on the neck, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive examination. Be sure to determine the type of HPV. Other tactics depend on it. Papillomas are the result of active replication of the virus and require antiviral therapy.
Therapeutic treatment
Medicines against human papillomavirus infections are only used after consultation with the treating doctor. Such agents inhibit the further growth of HPV, prevent complications, including malignancy of the neoplasm.
Most often, experts prescribe a drug with antiviral activity, which also has an immunomodulatory effect. Especially with frequent relapses, it is extremely important to increase the activity of the immune system in order to reduce the number of exacerbations per year.
The therapeutic treatment of the infection with the human papillomavirus takes several months. While taking medication, it is recommended to monitor laboratory parameters, donate blood and urine,
, in order to timely detect an increase in the load on the liver and kidneys.
If, for some reason, specialists postpone the surgical treatment of warts on the neck, then you will have to abandon clothing that will injure the neoplasm. If the damage is only minor, the risk of the papillomavirus spreading to healthy areas of the body increases significantly.
In addition to antiviral drugs, you can use ready-made drugs to remove papillomas. However, this method of treatment is traumatic. With an increase in oncogenic risk, it can not be used.
Pharmacy products for removing papillomas
Ready-made preparations for removing papillomas on the neck contain acids and aggressive components that destroy neoplasmic cells. It is recommended to use such funds according to the attached instructions and after consulting your doctor.
Basic principles for removing warts and papillomas with ready-made products:
- Before applying the topical preparation, healthy skin must be treated with zinc paste or vegetable oil.
- It is forbidden to use products for the treatment of children under 10-12 years old and adults with sensitive skin and chronic allergic diseases.
- Do not use medication on birthmarks.
If part of the drug gets on healthy skin or mucous membranes while using a papilla remover, the skin must urgently be washed with running water and soap to neutralize acids and alkalis.
Common medications for removing papillomas:
- The drug in tablets that belongs to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents. Reduces the amount of virus, which gradually reduces the size of the neoplasm. Recommended to combine with local treatment.
- A preparation used to freeze papillomas to the base. There is a slight tingling sensation and burning sensation while using the product. The skin turns white and then reddens with a blister. Complete tissue regeneration occurs in 2-4 weeks.
- The application of the product is based on the cold effect on the papilloma. Low temperatures destroy neoplasms, cause serious disorders in the metabolism and nutrition of tissues, leading to their death.
- Celandine products. Similar drugs are used to remove papillomas on the neck at home. In addition to celandine juice, they also contain other aggressive ingredients, including alkalis. Before using the product, it is necessary to protect healthy skin with a fatty cream, vegetable oil or an ointment with zinc.
Pharmaceutical products to combat papillomas are used in accordance with the official instructions for use. Some drugs are harsh in composition that can cause inflammation, irritation, and even burns to tissues. With high skin sensitivity, such agents are contraindicated. It is better to use minimally invasive surgical methods of removing papillomas on the neck.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment of papillomas is the gold standard. All neoplasms that appear on the skin and mucous membranes against the background of infection with the human papillomavirus must be removed. No specialist can guarantee that sooner or later the neoplasm will not lead to magnification and the growth of a malignant tumor.
The main methods of surgical removal of papillomas on the neck:
- laser coagulation;
- cryodestruction;
- radio wave mode;
- electrocoagulation;
- surgical removal of the neoplasm with a scalpel.
The doctor will choose a specific method of removing papillomas based on the data of a comprehensive examination. Surgical removal of skin neoplasms is performed with a large tumor size and risk of malignancy. In other cases, specialists try to use minimally invasive techniques that do not leave scars and spots on the skin.
Laser coagulation
The laser effectively combats excesses on the skin and mucous membranes. The method offers the most precise and targeted effect on a controlled tissue depth. There are no painful sensations during the procedure. Most often, specialists use injection anesthesia or application anesthesia.
High-energy lasers vaporize viral neoplasms with a highly targeted laser beam. In this case, blood vessels coagulate at the same time. Exposure to high temperatures prevents the papillomavirus from spreading with blood flow to healthy areas of the skin.
A scab forms at the site of the destroyed papilloma, which disappears by itself after about a week. A slight reddening of the skin persists for 2-3 months and then disappears completely.
Cryodestruction
The cryodestruction is based on the cold effect on skin neoplasms. Liquid nitrogen freezes papillomas and leads to their destruction. The tissues then die, forming a small crust.
During the procedure, the cytoplasmic and intercellular fluid is frozen, the cell structures of the papilloma are damaged, which makes the neoplasm unprofitable. At a low temperature, lymph circulation and blood flow in the tissues of the papillomatous tumor are stopped.
During the application of liquid nitrogen, the skin turns white, swells slightly and turns red after the procedure with an inconspicuous blister. Complete tissue regeneration occurs in a few weeks.
Radio wave removal of papillomas
The radio wave method of removing papillomas is characterized by availability and moderate trauma. When radio-frequency waves penetrate the skin, heat is released, which can be used to remove neoplasms through evaporation from cells. During the procedure, the tissues move apart like a scalpel. The method is suitable for those who need histological analysis after surgical removal of the papilloma.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation is a modern method for removing papillomas. During the electrosurgical procedure, the doctor cuts off the stem of the neoplasm and then uses an electric current to burn out the base of the tumor. The procedure is more suitable for removing small papillomas because the electrocoagulator has a small working loop size.
Important! Surgical treatments are combined with antiviral therapy and immune stimulating agents.
The growth of neoplasms is linked to the activity of the immune system. Specialists pay special attention to increasing immunity both with the help of drugs and with safer methods (swimming, hardening, balneotherapy).
Traditional methods
The alternative treatment includes both local agents for removing papillomas and formulations for internal use that increase immunity. Echinacea has immune stimulating properties. Tincture from this plant with prolonged use increases the activity of the immune system and resistance to contact with virus carriers.
The most common local remedy is celandine juice. It is applied selectively to the neoplasm several times a day. The duration of treatment is no more than 5-7 days. Due to the high risk of burns, the use of celandine juice to remove large papillomas is not recommended. The product is not used on slimy and sensitive skin areas.
At home, you can try removing small papillomatous growths on the neck with salicylic acid. Garlic applications can be used to stop HPV from growing and reduce the risk of the pathogen spreading to healthy tissues. To do this, several cloves of garlic are rubbed on a grater, the resulting mass is applied to skin neoplasms. This method should not be used for cuts and damage, as well as removing papillomas on the mucous membranes.