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 human papillomavirus (papillomavirus, HPV), which represents the family Papovaviridae.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, warts, warts - these concepts are synonymous, different names are associated with the peculiarities of localization in a particular area).

The main routes of transmission are domestic contact and sexual contact (warts of the perianal area).The virus is able to penetrate the skin only in the presence of microdamage or open wounds;in other cases it is unable to penetrate the protective barrier of the skin.

Information about the pathogen

1. It has a high prevalence regardless of gender (however it occurs a little 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 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 phases.In the first phase 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 phase, the virus is implanted into the cellular genome (the first step towards cellular degeneration and the formation of a malignant neoplasm).The first stage is transitory and passes relatively quickly, while the second is latent and explains the existence of carriers.
5. The basal layer of the epidermis is affected, where the replication of the virus occurs.In the remaining layers the pathogen can persist, but not divide.Provided that the virus is located in the germinal layer, as it grows, the normal differentiation of cells of all layers of this area is disrupted, disorders are especially strong at the level of the stratum spinosum.
6. It 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 time 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 more oncogenic strains 16 and 18.

Predisposing factors

1. Failure to comply with hygiene standards.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 on the skin (caused for example by the neck rubbing with the 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 a weakening of 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 that influence the reduction of the body's defenses (hypothermia, excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays).

External manifestations of the disease

The cervical papillomas in the photo look like this:

1. The growth is often located on a broad 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 on 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, the adjacent tissue may be slightly lighter 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 (small diameter papillomas 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 following infection with an oncogenic strain of HPV.

Signs that may indicate malignant degeneration are the following:

• color change and heterogeneity (polymorphism);
• change in boundary (blurring, loss of clarity);
• the appearance of asymmetry (when drawing a line through the conditional center of the formation, it is impossible to get two equal halves);
• intensive growth;
• bleeding or ulceration (non-specific sign, since it is also typical of a simple trauma to a neoplasm);
• itching, burning, scaling;
• retinas 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, 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 on the skin and the pathogen itself in the blood.

You can fight in several ways:

Method	Description
Dressing methods	The use of cytostatics and immunomodulators is aimed at suppressing the replication of the viral agent in the affected area and reducing its concentration in the blood.Some drugs (keratolytics) are applied directly topically to destroy skin growth (cauterize and cause tissue necrosis).
Physical methods	Cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation.The goal is to eliminate papillomas on the neck and other parts of the body.These methods allow you 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.

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

You can 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. are used.The operation 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 becomes lighter (as soon as this happens, further application should be stopped immediately).To completely cure papilloma, on average 1-2 treatments are needed.
Electrocoagulation	Using a special electric knife, targeted removal of 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 dimensions.
Cryodestruction	The lesion is exposed to liquid nitrogen;ultra-low temperature leads to tissue necrosis.It is best to remove large-based formations in this way.The duration of nitrogen action is selected by a specialist (1-5 minutes).After cauterization, a burn forms which 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 thanks to the high precision of the impact.
Classic surgical removal (scalpel excision)	It is used very 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;furthermore, after surgical excision, scars may remain which in turn create an aesthetic defect.