Papilloma 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 formations of the skin.

Causes of papillomas on the neck

There is an etiological reason why papillomas begin to grow on the neck or in any other area 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 concepts are synonymous, different names are associated with the features of localization in a certain area).

The main routes of transmission are through family contact and sexual contact (condylomata 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 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. Contains double-stranded, circular, twisted DNA that can integrate into the human genome.
3. Infection with some strains is associated with a high risk of cancer, especially in the case of permanent damage.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 viral particles also occurs.This phase is reversible (long-term remission occurs after treatment).In the second stage - integrative - the virus is implanted in the cellular genome (the first step towards cell degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasia).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 virus replication occurs.In the remaining layers, the pathogen can persist, but not divide.Provided that the virus is in the germinal layer, with its growth, the normal differentiation of cells of all layers of this area is disrupted, the disturbances are especially strong at the level of the spinous layer.
6. There is a tendency for long-term asymptomatic carriage in the body (from several months to a year).It is rarely possible to identify the specific moment of infection - this is why treatment begins during 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-compliance with hygiene rules.Since the virus is able to maintain 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 immunodeficiencies of any origin, favorable conditions are created for the development of any infection.For example, frequent colds and infectious diseases lead to a weakening of immunity and the appearance of papillomas on the skin.
4. Self-infection with itching of the skin.
5. Systematic lifestyle violations (stress, lack of physical activity, unhealthy food).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 protection (hypothermia, excessive exposure to ultraviolet).

External manifestations of the disease

Cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

1. The growth is most often located on a wide base and extends significantly 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).In 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, adjacent tissue may be slightly paler or darker.
4. The surface is often flat and smooth.Sometimes growths are possible on the upper part of the papilloma, which makes its surface striped.
5. The diameter varies greatly - from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (small diameter papillomas are more common).
6. Location in any area of the neck (back, side, front).Sometimes a face is involved.

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

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 type 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 you draw a line through the conditional middle of the formation, it is impossible to get two equal halves);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulcers (a non-specific sign, as it is also typical for simple trauma of a neoplasm);
• itching, burning, skin;
• shows are formed (formations of little girls around the central one).

The appearance of such signs does not necessarily mean degeneration of the papilloma, but it means that it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo a differential diagnosis, finding out whether it is a regular inflamed mole or skin cancer.

How to get rid of papillomas on the neck

Treatment of papillomas 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 itself in the blood.

You can fight in several ways:

method	Description
Treatment methods	The use of cytostatics and immunomodulators aims to suppress the reproduction 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 growths (they cauterize and cause tissue necrosis).
Physical methods	Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation.The goal is to remove papillomas on the neck and other parts of the body.These methods make it possible to restore the aesthetic appearance of open areas 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 more effective.

Treatment of papillomas with folk remedies at home (for example, celandine juice) is ineffective and often dangerous;in any case, 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 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 the direction of the point with a spatula until the color of the formation changes to a lighter color (as soon as this happens, further application must be stopped immediately).To completely cure the papilloma, on average, you need to do 1-2 treatments.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, a targeted removal of formations is carried out without affecting the underlying tissues (there is minimal impact on healthy skin cells).The method is more suitable when the formation has a long stem and small size.
Cryodestruction	The lesion is exposed to liquid nitrogen;ultra-low temperature leads to tissue necrosis.It is best to remove broad-based formations in this way.The duration of nitrogen action is chosen by a specialist (1-5 minutes).After cauterization, a burn is formed that heals on average within 10 days.
Laser removal	The most modern and subtle 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 a continuous manner.The recovery 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 impact.
Classic surgical removal (scalpel excision)	It is used extremely rarely, only for large lesions or for suspected malignancy.The reason is that the lesions are often multiple, scattered around the neck, and too small for excision;in addition, after surgical removal, scars may remain, which themselves create a cosmetic defect.