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 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, condylomas, warts - these concepts are synonymous, different names are associated with the peculiarities of localization in a particular area).

The main routes of transmission are through household contact and sexual contact (condylomas 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 penetrate the protective barrier of the skin.

Pathogen information

1. It has a high prevalence regardless of gender (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. 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 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.At 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).At the second - integrative - stage, the virus is implanted into the cell genome (the first step towards cell degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasm).The first stage is transient 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 may persist, but not divide.Provided that the virus is in the germinal layer, as it grows, 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. Has a tendency to 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 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 quadrivalent vaccines are used, which are especially effective against the most oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

1. Failure to comply with 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 injuries to the skin.Microcracks or scratches in the skin (for example, caused by rubbing the neck with a shirt collar) are sufficient for the virus to penetrate.
3. Immune system dysfunction.With immunodeficiencies of any origin, favorable conditions arise for the development of any infections.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 lifestyle violations (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 influencing the reduction of the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive ultraviolet exposure).

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 protrudes significantly above the surface of the skin.Less commonly, 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 at the top of the papilloma, which makes its surface ribbed.
5. The diameter varies widely - from 1-3 mm to several centimeters (papillomas of small diameter are more common).
6. Location on any area of the neck (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:

• change and heterogeneity of color (polymorphism);
• change in the border (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 for simple trauma to a neoplasm);
• itching, burning, peeling;
• screenings are formed (small daughter formations around the central one).

The occurrence of such signs does not necessarily mean the degeneration of papilloma, but it does mean that it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo 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 manner 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:

Way	Description
Medication 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 topically directly to destroy the skin growth (they 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 remove the viral reservoir - the skin tumor itself, but do not completely remove the virus from the body.
Combination therapy	It combines the two previous options and is therefore most effective.

Treating papillomas with folk home 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, a combination of nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic acids and copper nitrate trihydrate, etc. are used. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis by a specialist (dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist) in compliance with surgical rules.The product is applied pointwise 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).To completely cure papilloma, on average you need to do 1-2 treatments.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, a targeted excision of formations is performed without affecting the underlying tissues (there is minimal impact on healthy skin cells).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.It is good to remove formations with a wide base in this way.The duration of action of nitrogen is selected by a specialist (1-5 minutes).After cauterization, a burn is formed that heals within an average of 10 days.
Laser removal	The most modern and most delicate approach, allowing you to remove formations in prominent places such as the neck.Has the most positive reviews.Using a light guide, the lesion is exposed for 5 seconds to 3 minutes in a continuous mode.The healing period is much shorter than other methods (5-7 days).The technique is associated with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues due to the high precision of the impact.
Classic surgical removal (excision with a scalpel)	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 themselves create a cosmetic defect.