Skin lesions similar to warts, what is it?

Warts are one of the most common types of benign neoplasms that can appear on the human body, regardless of age.

They differ from each other in size, color and shape, but they are united by the nature of the origin – papillomavirus. Often, warts are not difficult to distinguish from other types of growths, but sometimes it is very difficult to understand exactly which tumor began to develop on the skin.

Varieties of growths

All existing types of growths are divided into several categories:

• malignant (cancer) tumors, which are characterized by a large depth of germination in the skin and the spread of metastases in the internal organs;
• benign neoplasms that do not cause a person any problems and do not pose a serious threat to health;
• vague growths that are initially completely harmless, but under certain conditions can trigger the development of oncology.

Cancer

The most famous malignant tumor, which is often mistaken for a wart, was basal cell carcinoma. It consists of cells of the basal layer of the skin and resembles a nodular papilloma of mushroom shape. If such a tumor is damaged, a non-healing ulcer remains on the surface of the epidermis.

The place of its localization in most cases is the eyelids, the area behind the auricles and the skin of the nose. Unlike other cancerous growths, basal cell carcinoma does not provoke the appearance of metastasis and does not require long treatment. With timely medical attention, the tumor is removed, and a small fossa remains in its place.

Another common malignant neoplasm is melanoma. This is not a separate type of growths, but a transitional form of an ordinary mole or pigmented nevus into a cancerous tumor. In this case, it can be confused with a blackened flat wart, and such a mistake often costs a person life. According to statistics, every third patient dies from melanoma and therefore it is very important to diagnose cancer at the initial stage.

Also, inexperienced doctors become the cause of deaths from melanoma, who try to cure the patient, not oncology, but a damaged, in their opinion, flat wart. As a result, with improper treatment, a person has cancerous metastases in the brain and other organs, which in 2-3 months leads to death.

Benign growths

Benign growths on the skin in the form of warts are non-dangerous neoplasms that rarely cause discomfort and are only a cosmetic defect. The main reason for their appearance is papillomavirus.

All papillomas are divided into several types:

• nevi;
• moles;
• warts (fibromas, neurofibromas).

The appearance of one or another type of benign growths is due to several factors:

• weakening of the immune system;
• skin lesions through which the papillomavirus enters the body;
• non-observance of personal hygiene;
• contracting a virus from another person through personal items, handshakes, or sexual intercourse.

You can get rid of small papillomas and large wart growths with the help of alternative medicine, cosmetic surgeries or medical treatment.

In addition to papillomas, atheromas – dense tubercles that look like warts – may appear on the body. The reason for their development is blockage of the sebaceous glands. Usually, atheromas do not require special treatment and after a while they resolve on their own. In case of suppuration, they are cut out surgically.

Undetermined neoplasms

Undetermined skin lesions, similar to warts, or borderline growths are harmless at the initial stage of development and only after transition to a precancerous state without the necessary treatment become the cause of oncology.

The most common borderline neoplasms that are easily confused with warts are:

• senile keratoma;
• skin horn.

Senile keratoma appears in the elderly and has the appearance of a black wart with a keratinized upper layer. Such growths can be either group or single, and their size depends on the stage of development. You can get rid of senile keratoma with the help of laser destruction, but in some cases surgical intervention is required to remove it.

The skin horn appears due to the rapid growth of epidermal cells, forming a small tubercle on the skin. At the initial stage of the appearance of the growth, it looks like a conical wart, which lengthens over time.

You can get rid of the skin horn in the same way as with any type of papilloma. For this, it is recommended to use one of the modern methods:

• cryodestruction;
• electrocoagulation;
• laser surgery;
• radio wave destruction.

Prevention of neoplasms

Despite the fact that all varieties of growths have a different nature of appearance, their development can be prevented by observing preventive measures. The main preventive measures include:

• protection of the skin from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
• compliance with personal hygiene;
• thorough shoe shine;
• avoid skin damage;
• strengthening the immune system.

It is also very important to regularly inspect your body for any neoplasms. This event is the main preventive procedure that allows to detect malignant tumors at the initial stage of their development.

If, for some reason, strange growths still appear on the body, then you should not delay the visit of a dermatologist. The specialist will prescribe a number of necessary examinations that will help determine the type of neoplasm and select the necessary treatment.

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