Papillomas are a problem that many people face. They can appear on different parts of the body, in some cases they are extremely painful, in others they do not cause discomfort. Either way, they become cosmetic flaws that bring a lot of anxiety. The excitement is not unfounded, as a virus that causes the development of skin formations can lead to oncology.
Most of the world's population carries HPV. This does not mean that we are threatened by a massive epidemic of cancer and other diseases that can occur against the background of a weakened immune system and the appearance of warts, condylomas and other skin defects. The main task of the patient is to reduce the oncogenic risk. This is possible with regular visits to a dermatovenereologist, carrying out the necessary examinations and the timely removal of formations.
Why do papillomas appear on the body
There are many reasons that lead to the activation of the virus. The most common is decreased immunity, which causes uncontrolled cell reproduction. That's how innovations come about.
Also at risk are people who are promiscuous, often change partners, do not use reliable contraceptives. If a woman has HPV, she will pass it on to her baby during delivery.
The ways the virus enters the body can be different. This is the aforementioned unprotected sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact with the carrier. That's why it's important to follow the simplest hygiene rules: wash your hands after traveling on public transport, don't walk barefoot in swimming pools and saunas, where it's humid and hot - it's high humidity that creates a favorable environment for infection.
Human papillomavirus: what is it and how is it transmitted
HPV is a virus whose activity manifests itself in a change in the nature of tissue growth. Enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes:
- mouth - during oral sex;
- genitals - during unprotected intercourse;
- rectum - during anal sex.
As long as a person's immunity is strong enough, the infection does not manifest itself - in this case, it is called latent. As soon as defenses are lowered, it activates, causing cells to multiply. The result of unbalanced tissue growth is the appearance of neoplasms - benign, threatening to turn into malignant.
The appearance of growths of different shapes and sizes on the skin is the main symptom of human papillomavirus. Most often, condylomas and other types of warts appear in areas subject to mechanical stress, places characterized by increased sweating (armpits, palms). They can also occur on the genitals, around the anus.
Main routes of infection
- Sexual - occurs during sexual contact with a person with HPV. The virus can be contracted through oral and anal sex.
- Household - It's much less common, but it's still one of the main ones. The infection can be obtained in baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers. It penetrates through wounds, cracks and other skin damage.
- Transmission during childbirth - transmission of HPV from mother to child is the rarest case. But it is also one of the most dangerous because of the threat of damage to the respiratory tract.
- Self-infection is also possible - it happens when the infection is transferred from one part of the body to another (shaving the legs with a machine, removing unwanted hair).
Oncogenic viruses in the body do not indicate the development of cancer. However, they can cause the occurrence of malignant neoplasms. The main factors of carcinogenesis are:
- Promiscuous sex life, many partners - including those with lesions of the genitals with papillomas, condylomas.
- The presence of venereal and fungal diseases.
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device.
- Some gynecological diseases (endometriosis).
Papillomas are transmitted, why do they grow and are they dangerous? We have answered all these questions above. Should the tumors be removed? Yes, for several reasons:
- These are cosmetic flaws, which, unlike moles, do not add charm, but cause serious discomfort - both psychological and physical.
- As growths most often occur in places subject to constant friction, mechanical stress from tight shoes, tight clothes, underwear, there is a high risk of damage. And this leads to the introduction of new infections.
- The accumulation of HPV causes a pathological change in the cell genome, which can lead to oncology and other complications.
Earlier, we told you what a papilloma is and why these neoplasms appear on the body. We advise you to respond to any changes in skin condition. At the same time, you should not try to get rid of the problem to avoid the risk of skin infection and the transformation of a benign wart into a malignant tumor. Modern medicine has effective non-surgical methods of treatment that will help you forget about cosmetic defects forever and reduce the risk of developing oncology.
Varieties of papillomas: main types and their characteristics
- Flat warts are most often round or oval. They practically do not rise above the surface of the epidermis, similar to the burns obtained after contact with nettle leaves. Most often they occur during puberty. Location places: neck, hands, face, shins. The color is pinkish to yellowish. Often, these formations itch, cause discomfort.
- Vulgar - the most common variety. Most often they appear on the feet, hands, they rise above the skin by 3-10 mm. An entire colony of warts can arise - from both mother and daughter.
- Pointy - occur most often in the anogenital area, they are small bumps with a single nodule or many small formations. Color - pink or red. All neoplasms of different sizes. They are located directly on the skin or attached to it with a "leg", they cause itching and discomfort and require timely removal. These warts are called warts and are transmitted through sexual contact.
- Filamentous - these are the same papillomas that we started talking about at the beginning of the article. Most often they appear in people over 35 years of age, their growth increases with age. This phenomenon has another name - acrochords. These are thread-like growths on the skin that look like a small lump, gradually growing and becoming oval, increasingly elongated. This type of wart occurs in areas with thin skin that easily forms wrinkles, as well as in places characterized by excessive sweating - on the neck, under the armpits, under the breasts, in the groin, near the eyes, on the eyelids, etc. .
- Papillomas of the bladder and urethra - most often, neoplasms of this type appear in men. Symptoms: pain when urinating, pain in the lower abdomen, hematuria. Large growths can be removed by surgical excision. In this case, it is not the dermatovenereologist who deals with the diagnosis and treatment, but the urologist.
- Defeat of the larynx, trachea, oral cavity - in this case, warts look like papillae, which gradually grow, which leads to a decrease in the lumen of the airways. If the vocal cords are affected, speech impairment is possible. This type of outbreak of the virus is especially dangerous for babies, who can become infected with it during childbirth from a mother who has passed the infection to her newborn.
We examine the types of papillomas and the reasons for their appearance on the body, we find out why and where unsightly neoplasms arise, why they are dangerous. It remains to understand how to get rid of a cosmetic defect that can lead to serious complications.
Diagnostic features
To find out which method will be most effective, consult a dermatovenerologist. He will prescribe an HPV test (PCR). The method used is one of the most informative. This will help identify infection DNA in samples of various secretions, as well as determine the type of virus.
You may also need:
- Colposcopy.
- smear for cytology.
- Histological analysis.
What methods remove papillomas
- Cauterization - is produced by special preparations, which include highly purified chemicals - active components that affect neoplasms.
- Removal with liquid nitrogen - exposure to the affected area of the skin at low temperatures. There is instant freezing of the damaged area, as a result of which the site of neoplasm formation loses its sensitivity, from pink or reddish to white. After a few weeks, the nitrogen-treated area heals. The disadvantage of this method: the difficulty of determining the depth of exposure.
- Laser removal - in this case, the papillomas are burned off with a laser beam. After the session, a small wound remains on the skin, which must be treated regularly. Heals within a few weeks after cauterization. There is no rehabilitation period, as the regeneration processes take place without the intervention of specialists. At the same time, no scars and scars remain at the location of the warts. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not prescribed for various lesions of the epidermis, herpes and infectious diseases. Pregnancy is a contraindication to laser cauterization.
- Electrocoagulation is another method based on exposure to electrical current. The high temperature causes the destruction of the papillomas. However, when treating the skin in this way, healthy areas are inevitably injured, which increases healing time.
- Surgical removal - is prescribed if the neoplasms grow to large sizes and other methods are ineffective. The doctor uses local anesthesia. After the operation, sutures are applied. They are removed one week after the wart is removed.
- Folk methods - most often from papillomas they use celandine juice, vinegar, garlic. This is believed to help burn off the neoplasm. These methods are not safe and cannot reduce the risk of relapse. They often cause damage to healthy areas of skin around the growth. We advise you not to engage in self-treatment, but to consult a doctor in time - only he can determine which of the listed methods is most effective in dealing with the problem.
Often, patients of a dermatovenereologist ask if it is possible to permanently get rid of HPV, which causes unsightly rashes. We remind you that the virus itself, which is in the human body and causes uncontrolled cell reproduction, cannot be removed - it remains in it and will manifest itself at times of weakening of the immune system, during hormonal interruptions, during stress. As such, the treatment of the infection itself has yet to be invented. Only their external manifestations are eliminated - warts, papillomas and other types of warts.
The main task of an HPV carrier is to reduce the risk of relapse. For that you need:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene - including intimate.
- Use condoms during sexual contact, avoid promiscuity.
- Maintain the body's defenses.
- Avoid direct contact with carriers of the infection.
Among the means whose action helps to get rid of papillomas and reduce the risk of their recurrence is a drug that contains anti-inflammatory cytokines that block the synthesis of viral proteins. You can use this cream at home - it is applied once a day during the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Filiform warts are a phenomenon that signals the need for a thorough examination of the body. Do not forget about this and go to the doctor in time. Delay increases the risk of developing cancer. Do not try to remove neoplasms yourself - folk methods are not very effective and cannot guarantee the complete disappearance of the accumulation. Also, they can cause severe skin irritation, damage it, which will cause secondary infection and make the situation worse. Only use the methods the expert advises. In combination with preventive measures, they will help prevent relapses and forget about the problem for many years to come.