Papillomas of the neck

Papillomas of the neck are one of the manifestations of an infectious disease caused by the human papilloma virus. Refers to benign skin formations.

Causes of neck papillomas

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

The main routes of transmission are contact-domestic and genital (condyloma of the perianal area). The virus is able to penetrate the skin only in the presence of microdamages or open wounds, in other cases it is not able to cross the protective barrier of the skin.

Pathogen information

1. It has a high prevalence, regardless of gender (however, it occurs more often in women than in 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 is able to integrate into the human genome.
3. Infection with some strains is associated with a high risk of carcinogenicity, especially in the case of permanent injury. Neck papillomas are caused by non-oncogenic strains of the virus.
4. The virus goes through two main stages in the separation process. In the first stage it is in episomal (free) form and in the same period the main separation of the viral particle occurs. This phase is reversible (long-term remission occurs after treatment). In the second - integrative - stage, the virus is implanted in the genome of the cell (the first step towards the transformation of cells and the formation of a malignant neoplasm). The first stage is transient and passes relatively quickly, while the second is latent and explains the existence of carriers.
5. The basal layer of the epidermis, where the virus replicates, is affected. In the other layers, the pathogen may continue but not divide. Provided that the virus is in the germ layer as it grows, the normal differentiation of cells in all layers of this area is disrupted, especially at the level of the prickly layer.
6. There is a tendency for prolonged asymptomatic transmission in the body (from several months to one year). It is rarely possible to identify a specific moment of infection - this is the reason why treatment is started in a period of intense clinical manifestations, and not at the first vague signs.
7. Bivalent and tetravalent vaccines are used to prevent infection, which are particularly effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

1. Lack of hygiene. As the virus is able to maintain vital activity in the external environment for a long time, it is necessary to carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene when visiting public places (swimming pool, bath, gym).
2. Traumatic skin injuries. Microcracks or scratches on the skin (for example, caused by rubbing the neck with the collar of the shirt) are enough for the virus to penetrate.
3. Impaired immune system function. In immunodeficiencies of any genesis, favorable conditions arise for the development of any infections. 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. Systemic lifestyle disorder (stress, lack of physical activity, improper 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 affecting the reduction of the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive ultraviolet exposure).

External manifestations of the disease

The papillomas of the cervix in the photo look like this:

1. The growth is most often located on a broad base and protrudes significantly above the surface of the skin. Less often, the base of the papilloma is represented by a thin leg (in this case, the formation occupies a hanging position). In the second option, the risk of injury is much higher.
2. The boundaries of education are equal and clear.
3. The color is no different from the surrounding skin. In rare cases, it may be slightly paler or darker than neighboring tissues.
4. The surface is often flat, smooth. Sometimes growths are possible in the upper part of the papilloma, which makes its surface ribbed.
5. The diameter varies widely - from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (papillomas with a small diameter are more common).
6. Location of any area of ​​the neck (back, side front). Sometimes the face turns on.

As a rule, there are many lesions located along the skin folds.

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

Signs that may indicate a malignant transformation are the following:

• color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
• border change (blur, loss of definition);
• the appearance of asymmetry (when drawing a line through the conditional environment of the formation, two equal halves cannot be obtained);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (non-specific symptom, as it is also characteristic of a simple neoplasm injury);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• dropped out (small daughter formations around the central one) are formed.

The appearance of such signs does not necessarily mean degeneration of the papilloma, but it means that you should consult a doctor and undergo a differential diagnosis to find out whether we are talking about a common inflamed mole or skin cancer.

How to get rid of papillomas on the neck

The treatment of papillomas of the neck is performed only in a complex way with a simultaneous impact on the pathological focus on the skin and on the pathogen itself in the blood.

There are several ways to fight:

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

Treatment of papillomas with folk remedies (celandine juice for example) is ineffective and often dangerous, in any case a mandatory condition is consultation with a doctor.

Physical methods of destruction

It is possible to effectively reduce formations using the following physical methods:

Method	Description
Local action with solutions of concentrated acids	1. 5% solution of zinc chloropropionate in 50% 2-chloropropionic acid, a combination of nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic acid and copper nitrate trihydrate, etc. are used. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist) in accordance with the surgical rules. . . The agent is applied in spots with a spatula until the color of the form changes to a lighter color (as soon as this happens, the next application should be stopped immediately). For a complete cure of papilloma on average you need to do 1-2 treatments.
Electrocoagulation	With the help of a special electric knife, point formations of the formations are performed without affecting the underlying tissues (there is a minimal effect on healthy skin cells). The method is most convenient when the formation has a long trunk and small size.
Cryodestruction	The focus is on liquid nitrogen, ultra-low temperature leads to tissue necrosis. It is good to clean this way of education with a broad basis. The time of action of nitrogen is chosen by a specialist (1-5 minutes). After burning, a burn is formed, which heals in an average of 10 days.
Laser Removal	The most modern and delicate approach to removing growths in prominent places such as the neck. There are the most positive reviews. With the help of a light guide from 5 seconds to 3 minutes in continuous mode, they act on the focus. The treatment period is much shorter than with other methods (5-7 days). The technique is associated with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues due to the high precision of action.
Classic surgical removal (scalpel cutting)	It is used very rarely, only with large lesions or with suspected malignancy. The reason is that the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck and too small to excise, in addition, after surgical excision may remain scars, which in themselves create a cosmetic defect.