Warts around the anus are an unpleasant but fairly common problem. Patients are embarrassed to contact a dermatologist or proctologist and try to cure the disease on their own. And in vain, because the wrong treatment can lead to the growth of warts over a larger area. What causes warts on the anus, and is it possible to get rid of them completely and forever?
Why do genital warts form?
The reason for the formation of warts is the human papillomavirus. In the modern world, it is very common, it can be infected in various ways. If the patient's immunity is reduced and the body's ability to resist external negative influences is suppressed, infection with the human papillomavirus provokes the appearance of warts on the anus and the area around it.
One or two warts in the absence of adequate treatment grow and soon (after a month or two) may form a conglomerate. It covers a fairly large area of the skin, inin some cases, it can become an obstacle to the act of defecation.
If the patient's immunity is suppressed by any chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, human immunodeficiency virus), then the likelihood of warts growing into conglomerates is much greater.
What is human papillomavirus?
After WHO studies, the following statistics appeared: HPV infected a total of about 60% of the world's population. In most cases, the virus is dormant and waiting in the wings, some kind of catalyst to start its destructive activity in the body.
Such a catalyst can be hypothermia, experienced severe stress, physical activity, reduced immunity. After such tests, the body cannot properly resist viruses, and warts and papillomas form on the surface of the skin.
There is no specific vaccine that targets HPV. Therefore, there is no such medicine that would cure warts around the anus once and for all. You can only strengthen the general state of immunity, and against itching and burning on the area affected by warts, use topical preparations.
Where can you get infected with the human papillomavirus?
Here is a list of the most likely routes of infection:
- through sexual intercourse (and the use of a condom in this case will not help - it will be enough to contact the mucous membrane of the skin of a sick partner with the mucous epithelium of a he althy one). Especiallyanal sex is dangerous in this regard - after it you can catch not only HPV, but also some more serious diseases;
- microtrauma of papillomas and warts and subsequent slight bleeding;
- during the passage of the birth canal by the baby, with a high degree of probability, he will inherit HPV and other viruses carried by the mother (the exception is if the child was born by caesarean section, in which case infection usually does not occur);
- HPV is often transmitted when using shared hygiene items, along with food, when eating from a common table and from the same dishes.
Human papillomavirus is not necessarily the cause of an anus wart. Often skin lesions can be observed in other parts of the body: back, armpits, fingers. But the area of the genitals and anus is the most problematic, since this area of \u200b\u200bthe skin is constantly protected by synthetic tissue, which prevents the supply of oxygen to the infected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. This makes recovery difficult and contributes to the growth of warts into conglomerates up to ten square centimeters.
Symptoms of anal warts
This unpleasant disease is easy enough to self-diagnose. Symptoms of warts on the anus:
- formation of a hard, rough growth on the area around the anus;
- growth can be both flat and cone-shaped;
- itching, burning is felt in the area of the growth (the patient is constantly haunted by the desire to alleviate this sensation, forhe frequently takes cold showers and cold compresses);
- cracks and suppuration in the anus;
- problems with rectal prolapse may worsen (if the patient suffers from hemorrhoidal disease).
Varieties of anal warts
Depending on the shape and discomfort caused to the patient, warts near the anus are of the following varieties:
- Genital warts. They are cone-shaped, slightly elongated and pointed. Cause serious inconvenience to the owner. When several warts are concentrated in one place, they look like a cockscomb.
- Papules. These are tiny warts that are present in many men (less often in women). Most patients simply don't notice them.
- Common warts. These growths are rough to the touch, dense, round or slightly elongated. Classic warts occur in 65% of cases when HPV appears on the skin in the intimate organs and anus.
- Buschke-Lovenshtein condylomas. Symptoms of such warts are quite rare. Their main difference is a large, almost gigantic diameter. One such wart can reach three to four centimeters in diameter.
- Bowen's disease. With this diagnosis, neoplasms affect the entire area of the mucous membrane in the anus. The medical name for such a delicate problem is intraepithelial neoplasia.
Which doctor should I contact?
Given the rather delicate nature of the location of warts, many patientsembarrassed to go to the dermatologist.
And in vain, if you start the disease, then the warts can grow and form a conglomerate that will prevent the act of defecation. In this case, you will have to go not to a dermatologist, but to a proctologist, the treatment itself will be longer and more expensive.
When diagnosing a wart on the anus (photo above), the following diagnostic methods are used:
- Detailed objective examination of the affected area with warts using an anoscope.
- Blood sampling for biochemical analysis.
- A histological study designed to check the likelihood of oncology in patients (with neoplasms, immunity is weakened, and warts appear especially actively).
- Survey smear to diagnose STDs that are frequently associated with HPV.
Physiotherapy Therapy Methods
Treatment of anus warts is on the minds of many doctors, since the HPV vaccine has not yet been invented. The most popular and effective methods are physiotherapy methods:
- Laser therapy. This is a point thermal effect of the laser on warts. With such exposure, they leave the skin without a trace in two or three sessions. Already after the first session, the patient relieves itching, pain, burning.
- Electrocoagulation. The destruction of the wart occurs with the help of low-intensity electrical discharges, which are generated by a special medical device. The procedure is quite painful, so it is often necessary to perform it under local anesthesia.
- Excision with a radio wave knife. The wart is simply cut off. Immediately, the resulting wound is cauterized with the help of a special composition. The method is very fast and requires only one visit to the medical office.
- Cryodestruction. This method consists in exposing warts and growths to liquid nitrogen. To completely get rid of the disease, it is enough to visit a medical office and go through the procedure two or three times.
- Treatment with chemicals. The essence of the operation is to burn out (up to necrosis) areas of skin affected by warts with the help of products based on triacetic acid.
Ointments and creams to reduce the symptoms of burning and itching
This method is most often not a treatment in the truest sense of the word, it removes the symptoms of warts on the anus. Most often, patients are worried about the constant painful sensation of itching, burning, pain. These symptoms interfere with normal daily activities. This is where a variety of ointments, creams and compresses come to the rescue.
Here is a list of the most effective creams and ointments for warts near the anus:
- "Solcoseryl" quickly softens the skin, relieves swelling, burning, itching.
- "Bepanthen" is an excellent emollient cream that relieves itching.
- Salicylic ointment (available from several manufacturers) relieves swelling and prevents the growth of warts.
- Ichthyol ointment (available from several manufacturers) has a local anesthetic effect and helps to reduce itching andburning.
Salicylic ointment for the treatment of warts in the intimate area
This is a cheap and popular remedy. The cost of one bottle with such an ointment is from fifty to two hundred rubles. The tool is very popular and is produced by several companies, hence the variation in price. Can be produced under the names "Ultra-salicil", "Salicisil", "Salicylic ointment".
It is best to use the product at night, while if possible you should leave the affected area of the skin uncovered and leave free access to oxygen.
Ichthyol ointment for warts
Ichthyol ointment is also available under several trade names, and its cost is low. It has mild anesthetic properties, relieves swelling, burning.
Patients like to use this remedy for warts not only in the area of the intimate organs and anus, but also on the whole body. Already ten minutes after application, the burning sensation disappears. The ointment should be applied four to five times a day, you can alternate it with other means and compresses.
Sulfur ointment for the treatment of warts in the intimate area
Sulfur ointment is based on sulfur and is available under several trade names. Using it to treat a wart on the anus (which is caused by HPV) is a rather controversial point.
Given the fact that the skin in such a delicate area is thin and prone to irritation, usesulfuric ointment can provoke even more burning and itching. However, some patients successfully use sulfuric ointment to treat warts on such a delicate area of \u200b\u200bthe body, this allows them to quickly remove growths. If the patient decides to try sulfur-based ointments, an allergy test should be done first to avoid skin burns.
"Solcoseryl" for the treatment of warts
This cream does not have a therapeutic effect on growths, but effectively relieves negative symptoms. Already five minutes after applying the cream to the affected area, the patient experiences relief: itching and burning go away.
The cost of "Solcoseryl" is higher than the price of the above ointments. This is due to the fact that expensive components are used in its production. Some patients, having learned that this cream does not have a therapeutic effect, refuse to use this remedy.
Prevention of the formation of warts in the intimate area
Disease is always easier and cheaper to prevent than to treat it. Here is a list of simple rules that allow you to avoid the appearance of warts:
- you should allow intimacy only with a trusted partner, with whom there have already been acts and no growths, rashes and other ailments occurred after that;
- even if HPV is present in the blood, with a high level of immunity, it will not manifest itself in any way. Therefore, it makes sense two or three times a yeara course of drinking immunomodulatory drugs and immunostimulants;
- proper nutrition will help prevent the appearance of warts, as it can indirectly increase immunity and body resistance to viruses and infections;
- constant hygiene of the area around the anus and genitals will serve as an excellent prevention of the formation of warts and papillomas.
