What is the difference between a spine and a wart?

1. Why do spines appear?
2. How is it different from a wart?
3. Features of treatment

The difference between a wart and a thorn is just different manifestations of the activity of the same virus in the human body. In fact, both of them are papilloma, which, under the influence of various factors, became covered with the stratum corneum of the epidermis and became rough. The principles of treatment for these tumors are absolutely identical.

Why do spines appear?

Thorn is one of the many external manifestations of human papillomavirus infection. This tumor is caused by HPV of various strains.

The pathogen is transmitted in various ways, but, as a rule, through close personal contact between people, as well as through the use of other people's personal hygiene items. The virus is transmitted especially quickly when visiting public places with high humidity. Sometimes infection occurs during childbirth from a sick mother to her child.

There are several factors that increase the chances of a person becoming infected and developing tumors. These are various skin damage, the presence of chronic infectious and autoimmune diseases, a weakened immune system.

If a malfunction occurs in the human body, the virus becomes active and begins to develop. This leads to the appearance of spines. These growths occur on the feet and toes. They have a root (shaft) that goes deep into the layers of the skin. There it penetrates the circulatory system and affects the nerve endings. Therefore, when palpating a tumor or systematic pressure when walking, the patient may experience discomfort or pain.

1. See also the main causes of papillomas

What is the difference between a spine and a wart?

Patients often ask doctors how to distinguish a thorn from a wart. But in fact, these are just different names for the same neoplasm. The only difference is that warts can be of various types and appear on many parts of the human body.

The difference between a spine and a wart is that it appears only on the feet and big toes. Warts are a broader concept that includes flat growths that usually affect the hands and face, as well as nodular vulgar growths.

Plantar warts that have a deep core are called thorns. Over time, the tumor becomes covered with a dense layer of dead skin cells. They give roughness to the growth. It changes color, becoming yellow or dirty gray.

1. Read also: how to distinguish a wart from a pimple

Features of the treatment of spines and warts

As a rule, the same products and techniques can be used to treat all types of warts and spines. However, when choosing a method for removing the latter, you should take into account that they have a deep root. Therefore, it is necessary to select methods that will influence it. If the spinal shaft is not removed, a relapse will occur and the tumor will appear again.

You can eliminate thorns and warts using the following methods:

1. Cosmetological instrumental procedures. Methods such as cryodestruction, laser coagulation, electrocoagulation, and radio wave removal are popular.
2. Topical chemicals. Various salicylic acid patches, creams, gels, and liquids are widely used. They are highly aggressive and burn out the tumor.

Young spines can usually be removed using chemicals. If the growth is old and has developed roots, then an instrumental procedure will be mandatory, which can precisely influence the required depth of germination of the rod.

If the size of the spine exceeds 3 cm, then the doctor may prescribe surgical excision of the tumor. This is a painful procedure that is accompanied by severe bleeding and prolonged healing. However, laser, electric current, radio waves or liquid nitrogen may not be able to cope with large growths.

Also, the process of physical removal of the tumor must be accompanied by drug therapy. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a thorn or a wart in front of you, it’s a viral formation. And to ensure that there is no risk of relapse, care must be taken to suppress viral activity. To do this, doctors prescribe a course of antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. Such drugs help to effectively reduce the viral load in the body and introduce HPV into a latent state.

The difference between a spine and a wart is very relative. In fact, these are different names for the same pathology, which has the same “roots” - the human papillomavirus. Such neoplasms require medical supervision, as they can penetrate into the deep layers of the dermis and cause severe pain. Spines should also be removed by a specialist, without self-medication.

1. Related article: Wart and papilloma: main differences