Papillomas on the neck

Cervical papillomas are a manifestation of an infectious disease caused by the human papillomavirus. Refers to benign skin formations.

Causes of papillomas on the neck

There is an etiological reason why papillomas start to grow on the neck or any other area of ​​the human body - an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a member of the Papovaviridae family. This pathogen has more than 100 serotypes, each of which is responsible for the appearance of different clinical images of the disease (papilloma, condyloma, warts - these terms are synonymous, different names are associated with the specifics of the localization of a given area).

The main routes of transmission are the contact household and the genitals (condylomas of the perianal region). The virus can only penetrate the skin in the presence of micro-damage or open wounds, in other cases it cannot pass through the skin's protective barrier.

Pathogen information

1. High prevalence, regardless of gender (however, more common 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, stranded ring DNA that can integrate into the human genome.
3. Infection with certain strains carries a high risk of carcinogenicity, especially in the case of permanent injury. Cervical papillomas are caused by non-oncogenic strains of the virus.
4. The virus goes through two main stages of the division process. In the first stage, it is in episomal (free) form, and during the same period, the main division of the virus particle occurs. This stage 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 towards cell degeneration and the development of a malignancy). The first stage is transient and progresses relatively rapidly, while the second is latent and explains the existence of carriers.
5. This affects the basal layer of the epidermis where the virus replicates. In the remaining layers, the pathogen may persist but not be distributed. Provided that the virus is present in the germ layer during growth, normal cell differentiation is impaired in all layers of this area, especially at the level of the prickly layer.
6. Prone to long-term asymptomatic carrying of the body (from several months to a year). The specific moment of infection can rarely be identified - this is the reason why treatment starts at the time of intensive clinical manifestations and not at the first vague signs.
7. Divalent and tetravalent vaccines are used to prevent infection and are particularly effective against 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, the rules of personal hygiene must be carefully observed when visiting public places (swimming pool, spa, gym).
2. Traumatic skin injuries. Microcracks or scratches on the skin (for example, due to rubbing the neck shirt with a collar) are sufficient for the virus to penetrate.
3. Impaired immune function. In the immunodeficient state of any genesis, favorable conditions develop for the development of any infection. For example, frequent colds and infectious diseases lead to a weakened 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, poor diet). These factors affect the work of all metabolic processes in the body and lead to a decrease in the inhibitory function of the skin.
6. Environmental factors affecting the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive ultraviolet exposure).

External manifestations of the disease

The cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

1. Growth is most often located on a broad base and stands out significantly above the surface of the skin. Less commonly, the base of the papilloma is represented by a thin leg (in which case the formation becomes dependent). The second option has a much higher risk of injury.
2. The boundaries of education are even and clear.
3. The color is no different from the surrounding skin. In rare cases, it may be slightly fainter or darker than adjacent tissues.
4. The surface is often smooth and smooth. Occasionally, growths are possible at the top of the papilloma, making its surface ribbed.
5. The diameter varies on a wide scale - from 1 to 3 mm to several centimeters (small-diameter papillomas are more common).
6. Place in any area of ​​the neck (back, side anterior). Sometimes the face is affected.

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

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

Signs of a malignant transformation include:

• color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
• boundary change (blur, loss of definition);
• the appearance of asymmetry (when a line is drawn in the conditional middle of the formation, two equal halves cannot be obtained);
• intense growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (not a specific symptom as it is also characteristic of a simple injury to the neoplasm);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• dropouts develop (small daughter formations around the middle).

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

How to get rid of papillomas of the neck

The treatment of papillomas in the neck is done in a complex way, simultaneously affecting the pathological focus of the skin and the pathogen in the blood itself.

There are several ways to fight:

Method	Description
Medication	The use of cytostatics, immunomodulators, is designed to suppress replication of the viral agent in the affected area and reduce its concentration in the blood. Certain drugs (keratolytics) are applied directly topically to kill skin growth (cauterize and cause tissue necrosis).
Physical Methods	Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation. Their goal is to get rid of papillomas both on the neck and the rest of the body. These methods make it possible to restore the aesthetic appearance of open areas and remove the virus reservoir - the skin itself is cancerous, but it does not completely remove the virus from the body.
Combination therapy	Combines the two previous options, so it is the most effective.

Treatment of papillomas with folk home remedies (such as celandine juice) is ineffective and often dangerous, in any case a prerequisite is to consult a doctor.

Physical methods of destruction

Effective reduction of formations is possible by the following physical methods:

Method	Description
Local effect with a solution 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 is used. The procedure is performed by an outpatient specialist (dermatovenerologist, beautician) following the surgical rules. . . . The active substance should be applied straight with a shovel until the color of the formation becomes lighter (as soon as this has taken place, further application must be stopped immediately). You will need an average of 1-2 treatments to fully recover your papilloma.
Electrocoagulation	With the help of a special electric knife, the points are cut out without affecting the base tissues (it has a minimal effect on healthy skin cells). The method is most convenient when the formation is long-stemmed and small in size.
Cryodestruction	Focus is exposed to liquid nitrogen, ultra-low temperature leads to tissue necrosis. It is good to clean this teaching method with a broad foundation. The time of nitrogen action is selected by a person skilled in the art (1-5 minutes). After moxibustion, burns occur, which heal within an average of 10 days.
Laser Removal	The most modern and delicate approach to removing growth in visible areas such as the neck. Most positive opinions. They act on the focus using a continuously guided light guide for 5 seconds to 3 minutes. The healing period is much shorter than with other methods (5-7 days). The technique involves minimal trauma in the surrounding tissues due to the high accuracy of the action.
Classic surgical removal (excision with scalpel)	Extremely rarely used, only with major lesions or suspicion of malignancy. This is because the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck, and too small for excision, and scars may remain after surgical excision, which in themselves causes a cosmetic defect.