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 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 belongs to the Papovaviridae family.There are more than 100 serotypes of this pathogen, each of which is responsible for the appearance of a different clinical picture of the disease (papilloma, condyloma, warts - these concepts are synonyms, different names are associated with the peculiarities of localization in a particular area).

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

Pathogen Information

1. It has a high prevalence regardless of sex (however, it occurs in women somewhat more often 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 the case of permanent lesions.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 stage, it is in 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 stage, the virus implants itself in the cell's genome (the first step towards cellular degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasm).The first stage 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.As long as the virus is in the germinal layer, as it grows, the normal differentiation of cells in all layers of this area is altered; the alterations are especially strong at the level of the spinous layer.
6. It has a tendency to be a long-term asymptomatic carrier in the body (several months to a year).It is rarely possible to identify the specific time of infection;This is the reason why treatment begins during the period of intense clinical manifestations and not at the first vague signs.
7. To prevent infection, bivalent and tetravalent vaccines are used, especially effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

1. Failure to comply with hygiene standards.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 on a shirt collar) are enough for the virus to penetrate.
3. Immune system dysfunction.In case of immunodeficiencies of any origin, favorable conditions arise 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 by scratching the skin.
5. Systematic lifestyle violations (stress, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet).These factors affect the functioning of all metabolic processes in the body and cause a decrease in the skin's barrier function.
6. Environmental factors that influence the reduction of the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays).

External manifestations of the disease.

Cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

1. The growth is usually located at a wide base and protrudes 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 soft and clear.
3. The color does not differ from that of the surrounding skin.In rare cases, the adjacent tissue may be slightly paler or darker.
4. The surface is usually flat and smooth.Sometimes growths may occur on the top of the papilloma, making its surface ribbed.
5. The diameter varies widely, from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (small diameter papillomas are more common).
6. Location in any area of the neck (posterior, lateral, frontal).Sometimes there is a face 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);
• change in edge (blurring, loss of clarity);
• the appearance of asymmetry (when drawing a line through the conditional middle of the formation, it is impossible to obtain two equal halves);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (a nonspecific sign, since it is also typical of simple trauma to a neoplasm);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• Projections (small daughter formations are formed around the central one).

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

How to get rid of papillomas on the neck.

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

You can fight in several ways:

Method	Description
Medication methods	The use of cytostatics and immunomodulators aims to suppress the replication of the viral agent in the affected area and reduce its concentration in the blood.Some medications (keratolytics) are applied topically directly to destroy skin growth (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 areas and eliminate the viral reservoir, the skin tumor itself, but do not completely eliminate the virus from the body.
Combined therapy	It combines the two previous options and is therefore the most effective.

Treatment of papillomas with popular folk remedies (celandine juice, for example) is ineffective and often dangerous;In any case, a necessary 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 exposure to concentrated acid solutions.	A 1.5% solution of zinc chloropropionate in 50% 2-chloropropionic acid is used, a combination of nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic acids and copper nitrate trihydrate, etc.The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist) in accordance with surgical standards.The product is applied pointwise with a spatula until the color of the formation changes to a lighter color (as soon as this happens, the application should be stopped immediately).To completely cure papilloma, on average it is necessary to carry out 1-2 treatments.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, selective excision of the formations is performed without affecting the underlying tissues (the impact on healthy skin cells is minimal).The method is most convenient 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.In this way it is good to eliminate formations with a wide base.The duration of action of nitrogen is selected by a specialist (1-5 minutes).After cauterization, a burn is formed that heals in an average of 10 days.
laser removal	The most modern and delicate approach, which allows you to eliminate 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 with other methods (5-7 days).The technique is associated with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues due to the high precision of the impact.
Classic surgical removal (scalpel excision)	It is used very rarely, only in case of large lesions or suspected malignancy.The reason is that the lesions are usually multiple, scattered throughout the neck, and too small to remove;In addition, after surgical excision, scars may remain, which in turn create a cosmetic defect.