Dell warts, also known as molluscs, are among the most common skin diseases caused by viruses worldwide. The number of dell warts on the body is variable, ranging from single nodules to several hundred growths.
What are dell warts?
Dell warts are benign nodules, the size of a pinhead to a pea, that occur predominantly in childhood. They have a smooth, often shiny surface and are characterized by a depression in the center, the eponymous “dent.” Dell warts are usually arranged in groups and can be found preferentially on the upper body and on the arms, hands and fingers. Adults are mainly affected by molluscum warts if they suffer from neurodermatitis, are on cortisone therapy or have an immune deficiency. In them, the nodules usually appear in the genital area or on the lower abdomen. Dell warts are harmless, but occasionally produce itching, preferably in people with dry skin.
Causes
Dell warts are caused by infection with the molluscum contagiosum virus, which is a member of the poxvirus family. All other types of viral warts are produced by human papillomaviruses. Thus, dell warts form a special group among warts. The viruses enter the body through tiny lesions in the skin and multiply in the cells of the epidermis, the uppermost layer of the skin. These enlarge as a result and produce a growth, the wart. Decel warts are transmitted either by direct skin contact and sexual intercourse or by smear infection. This is infection by indirect contact, i.e. by touching objects contaminated with pathogens, for example towels or toys. Colloquially, dell warts are also referred to as swimming pool warts, although experts consider transmission through the water to be impossible. The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and the appearance of the first dell warts, is about two to seven weeks. Pressing on the wart leads to the discharge of a granular, whitish secretion containing a large number of newly formed virus particles. Consequently, if you scratch the dell warts, the risk of self-infection is very high, as you very quickly transfer the viruses to other areas of the skin with your fingers.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Dell warts usually do not cause serious symptoms. However, the skin elevations itch, and in some cases they can cause bleeding and pain. A molluscum can be identified by its characteristic shape. It is usually a few millimeters in size and has a small dent in the center. The nodule is whitish or yellowish and looks waxy. In many cases, it has a smooth surface. Dell warts deflate when pressure is applied, and a mushy, usually odorless mass comes out. The skin lesions can occur all over the body. In children, mollusks occur mainly on the face, neck, and arms and hands. In some cases, the feet or intimate areas are also affected. In adults, the small warts often appear in the genital area, but they can also occur on the face and in the neck and throat area. If they are scratched open, there is severe pain and occasionally bleeding. Dell warts usually form rather singly. Patients who suffer from a weakened immune system often have several molluscum warts that occur in groups and are distributed over different areas of the body. The skin nodules usually disappear after several months to years, even without treatment.
Diagnosis and progression
Due to the characteristic appearance, the diagnosis of dell warts usually does not cause any problems for the physician. For final diagnostic clarification, in cases of doubt, a skin sample can be taken under local anesthesia and examined for fine tissue. In the majority of those affected, the dell warts regress spontaneously within six to nine months. If the dell warts persist longer, dermatologists recommend their removal due to the high risk of infection.
Complications
With molluscs, patients usually suffer from warts and papules. If these break open, a secretion may ooze from them. In this case, the diagnosis can be made relatively quickly by the physician, since the molluscs have a very specific appearance and are thus easy to diagnose. This means that treatment can also be carried out at an early stage.In most cases, no particular discomfort or complications occur for those affected. Although the warts do not necessarily have to be removed, it is advisable to remove them due to their risk of infection. In most cases, however, the symptoms disappear after a few months. The treatment itself can also be done directly by the patient. Only in severe cases, the doctor can remove them with the help of cold or heat procedures. They can also be dried out. After the treatment, there is no further discomfort. However, there is no guarantee that the mollusks will not reappear on the patient. Often they are a cosmetic problem and lead to decreased self-esteem in the patient. This is especially the case when there are a very large number of dell warts.
When should you go to the doctor?
Dell warts are initially a harmless viral disease. Treatment is also possible with home remedies, so not every dell wart needs to be examined by a doctor. However, it should also be noted that it is a contagious disease. In most cases, it takes several years for it to heal on its own. For this reason, the possible risk of infection should also be taken into account when deciding to see a doctor. Furthermore, it should be noted that dell warts occur mainly in children. In principle, a visit to the doctor is advisable if many dell warts are present. Also, if the affected child has siblings or is otherwise in regular contact with other children, a doctor must be consulted. Of course, a doctor should also be consulted if the child feels affected by the dell warts. If they itch or hurt, a doctor can provide relief. Medical treatment is also necessary if the dell warts are inflamed. Consultation with a doctor can therefore be dispensed with if there are only isolated dell warts that do not cause any discomfort and contact with other children is limited. Since this is rarely the case, it is usually advisable to see a doctor.
Treatment and therapy
The curette, the so-called sharp spoon, can be used to scrape off the dell warts. Likewise, they can be squeezed out by the doctor with specially bent tweezers. It is important to disinfect the corresponding skin area afterwards to prevent the spread of any viruses still present. In children, pre-treatment with a local anesthetic ointment is recommended for painless removal of the dell warts. In cryotherapy, dell warts are iced by an applicator cooled very strongly with liquid nitrogen or another refrigerant, thus destroying the diseased tissue. The laser method does not work with cold, but with heat: Here, the diseased tissue is vaporized at temperatures of up to 300 degrees. It is also possible to treat the dell warts yourself with drying and peeling solutions; vitamin A acid is usually the key ingredient here. Furthermore, a patch containing salicylic acid can be applied to soften the dell warts. However, both after successful treatment and after spontaneous healing, dell warts can reappear.
Outlook and prognosis
Dell warts have a good chance of healing. In people with a healthy immune system, the warts often heal within several months, even without treatment. After an average of six to nine months, freedom from symptoms often sets in. In some cases, regression of the dell warts without seeking medical care does not occur for several years. This is usually related to the strength of the body’s own defense system. With medical treatment, the healing path is shortened immensely. The warts are usually iced and fall off after a few days or weeks. If no further complications or wounds occur, recovery is subsequently given. Affected persons with dry skin or skin diseases should undergo treatment. This is especially true for neurodermatitis sufferers. They are at increased risk of the dell warts spreading further on the body and leading to complications. Spontaneous healing usually does not occur in these patients. Despite the generally very good prognosis, the warts can develop again at any time. This applies to patients who do not seek treatment as well as to people who do.If recurrence occurs, the prognostic outlook does not change.
Prevention
To prevent dell warts, it is advisable not to share hygiene items such as towels or washcloths with other family members. Similarly, it is recommended to strengthen the immune system, whether through a balanced diet or regular physical activity. Individuals affected by atopic dermatitis tend to be more susceptible to dell warts. They should make sure to use a greasy cream regularly to stabilize the natural skin barrier. However, if dell warts are already present, lotion should be avoided to prevent their transmission.
Aftercare
After dell wart treatment, consistent professional aftercare is essential. Patients should consult their dermatologist for this, who can prescribe cooling ointments and other preparations, effectively contributing to complication-free healing of the sores. Regular medical examinations are not necessary for isolated molluscs. As long as the wound heals without complications after the wart is removed, routine annual examinations are sufficient. In case of inflammation and other complications, the doctor should be consulted. In this case, closer monitoring of the patient may be necessary. In which cases close monitoring is necessary, the doctor can decide on the basis of a detailed examination of the wart. For example, bleeding or inflammation may indicate that there are still pathogens in the blood that need to be treated with antibiotics. Such antibiotic treatment can last several weeks to months, always depending on the course of recovery. Basically, a good observation of the affected skin area is necessary in case of dell warts. Targeted follow-up care becomes necessary if the dell warts occur in the context of a serious skin disease or have already recurred. Then, if necessary, another specialist should be involved so that another treatment approach can be tried with an individually tailored aftercare.
What you can do yourself
Dell warts do not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. Most of the time, the skin lesions can be treated by yourself with some home remedies and measures. First, the warts can be covered with a plaster. After a week, the tissue should be softened and can then be removed with a pumice stone or sandpaper. For best success, this procedure should be repeated weekly over a period of two to three months. Apple cider vinegar or garlic, which are also applied directly to the dell wart, are said to have a faster effect. Oily plants and herbs, as well as podophyllum and other plant extracts, can also quickly dissolve warts. In addition, methods such as icing or cauterizing the wart are also available. Less painful is curettage, in which the wart is scraped off with the help of a special instrument. To prevent the wart from becoming infected, the affected area should be washed regularly. Special care products from the pharmacy are available for this purpose, but even simple tap water washes out the harmful pathogens. If these measures do not achieve the desired effect, a dell wart must be taken to a doctor.
