Papillomas on the neck

Papillomas on the neck are one of the manifestations of an infectious disease caused by the human papillomavirus.They belong to benign skin formations.

Causes of papillomas on the neck

There is one etiological reason why papillomas begin to grow on the neck or any other part of the human body - infection with the human papillomavirus (papillomavirus, HPV), which represents the Papovaviridae family.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, condyloma, wart - these terms are synonymous, different names are associated with the peculiarities of localization in a certain area).

The main ways of transmission are household contact and sexual contact (condylomas of the perianal area).The virus can penetrate the skin only in the presence of microdamages or open wounds;in other cases, it is unable to penetrate the skin's protective barrier.

Pathogen information

1. It has a high prevalence regardless of gender (however, it occurs somewhat more often in women than in men), age or region (according to some data, 2/3 of the planet is infected with this virus).
2. It contains double-stranded, circular, twisted DNA that can integrate into the human genome.
3. Infection with some strains is associated with a high carcinogenic risk, especially in case of permanent injury.Papillomas on the neck are caused by non-oncogenic strains of the virus.
4. During the division process, the virus goes through two main stages.In the first phase, it is in an episomal (free) form, and in the same period, the main division of the viral particle occurs.This phase is reversible (long-term remission occurs after treatment).In the second - integrative - phase, the virus is implanted in the genome of the cell (the first step towards cell degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasm).The first phase is transitory and passes relatively quickly, and the second is latent and explains the existence of carriers.
5. The basal layer of the epidermis is affected, where the virus multiplies.In the remaining layers, the pathogen can survive but not divide.Provided that the virus is in the germ layer, as it grows, the normal differentiation of cells of all layers of this area is disturbed, and the disturbances are especially strong at the level of the spinous layer.
6. It has a tendency to be asymptomatically carried in the body for a long time (from several months to a year).It is rarely possible to identify a specific moment of infection - this is the reason why treatment begins in the period of intense clinical manifestations, and not at the first vague signs.
7. To prevent infection, bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines are used, which are particularly effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

1. Non-observance of hygiene rules.Since the virus is capable of maintaining vital activity 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, sauna, gym).
2. Traumatic skin injuries.Microcracks or scratches in the skin (for example, caused by rubbing the neck with a shirt collar) are enough for the virus to penetrate.
3. Dysfunction of the immune system.With immunodeficiency of any origin, favorable conditions are created for the development of any infection.For example, frequent colds and infectious diseases lead to weakened immunity and the appearance of papillomas on the skin.
4. Self-infection by scratching the skin.
5. Systematic violation of lifestyle (stress, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet).These factors affect the functioning 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 reduction of the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation).

External manifestations of the disease

Papillomas of the cervix look like this in the photo:

1. The growth is most often found on a wide base and significantly protrudes above the surface of the skin.Less often, the base of the papilloma is represented by a thin stalk (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 smooth and clear.
3. The color does not differ from the surrounding skin.In rare cases, the adjacent tissue may be slightly paler or darker.
4. The surface is often flat and smooth.Sometimes growths are possible on the top of the papilloma, which makes its surface ribbed.
5. The diameter varies greatly - from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (small diameter papillomas are more common).
6. Location on any part of the door (back, side, front).Sometimes a face is involved.

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

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

Signs that may indicate malignant degeneration are the following:

• color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
• boundary change (blurring, loss of clarity);
• the appearance of asymmetry (when drawing a line through the conditional middle of the formation, it is impossible to get two equal halves);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (a non-specific sign, as it is also typical for simple neoplasm trauma);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• screenings 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 means that it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo a differential diagnosis, in order to determine whether it is an ordinary inflamed mole or skin cancer.

How to get rid of papillomas on the neck

Treatment of papilloma on the neck is carried out only in a comprehensive way with a simultaneous effect on the pathological focus on the skin and on the pathogen in the blood itself.

You can fight in several ways:

Method	Description
Medicine methods	The use of cytostatics and immunomodulators is intended to suppress the replication of the viral agent in the affected area and reduce its concentration in the blood.Some drugs (keratolytics) are applied locally directly to destroy skin growths (cauterize and cause tissue necrosis).
Physical methods	Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation.The goal is to get rid of papillomas on the neck and other parts of the body.These methods make it possible to restore the aesthetic appearance of open surfaces and remove the viral reservoir - the skin tumor itself, but do not completely remove the virus from the body.
Combined therapy	It combines the two previous options and is therefore the most effective.

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

Physical methods of destruction

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

Method	Description
Local exposure to concentrated acid solutions	A 1.5% solution of zinc chloropropionate in 50% 2-chloropropionic acid, a combination of nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic acid and copper nitrate trihydrate etc. is used.The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist) in accordance with surgical rules.The product is applied in spots with a spatula until the color of the formation changes to a lighter color (as soon as this happens, further application should be stopped immediately).For the complete healing of papilloma, it is necessary to do 1-2 treatments on average.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, targeted excision of formations is performed without affecting the underlying tissues (minimal impact on healthy skin cells).The method is most suitable when the formation has a long stem and a small size.
Cryodestruction	The lesion is exposed to liquid nitrogen;ultra low temperature leads to tissue necrosis.In this way, it is good to remove formations with a wide base.The duration of nitrogen action is chosen by the expert (1-5 minutes).After cauterization, a burn occurs that heals in an average of 10 days.
Laser removal	The most modern and delicate approach, which allows you to remove formations in prominent places such as the neck.It has the most positive reviews.Using a light guide, the lesion is exposed for 5 seconds to 3 minutes in continuous mode.The healing period is much shorter than other methods (5-7 days).The technique is associated with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues due to the high accuracy of the shot.
Classic surgical removal (scalpel excision)	It is used extremely rarely, only for large lesions or suspected malignancy.The reason is that the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck and too small for excision;in addition, after surgical excision, scars may remain, which in themselves create a cosmetic defect.