When nipple-like growths appear on the trunk, limbs or face, it is always an unpleasant surprise for a person. These are benign formations on the skin, which can be either multiple or single. Papillomas on the body, unfortunately, are a very common disease that develops due to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), but its treatment in modern conditions is not a problem.
What are papillomas on the body
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows from the tissues of the squamous epithelium. It acts as a drop or papilla on the skin, mucous membranes, and can affect the internal organs of a person. There are more than 30 types and subspecies of HPV that can easily enter the human body. Depending on the type of pathogen, different groups of papillomas are formed on the body. They differ in growth rate, appearance, location.
Papillomavirus can be detected anywhere on the body:
- natural folds: groin, armpits, mammary glands, lower abdomen;
- face: eyelids, near the eyes, near the mouth;
- torso: back, abdomen, neck, hands, feet;
- genitals: vagina, penile area;
- internal organs: intestines, stomach, bladder, esophagus, larynx, trachea.
What a papilloma looks like
HPV can look different on the outside. As a rule, these are oval growths on the body or rounded processes on the skin that resemble a papilla.
They can be small (1-5 mm), medium (1 cm), large (1-3 cm) and giant (over 3 cm) in size. The texture of the papules is relatively loose and soft. Intersperses of blood vessels are often visible on the surface.
The color is mostly flesh and all varieties of brown. There are cases when papillomas had a blue, violet and even black-and-coal shade.
Why papillomas appear
These growths on the body are of a viral nature. The infection is transmitted by contact with a carrier of a healthy person. Both men and women are equally susceptible to infection, but are affected in different ways by the virus. The weaker sex may feel burning and itching in the genital area, bleeding and other extraneous discharge from the vagina. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by syphilis, chlamydia, herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Men are not afraid of certain types of the virus that are dangerous for women (16, 18). However, the stronger sex is a carrier of infections. As for the papillomas on the genitals, frenulum and glans penis or in the urethra, these are painless benign neoplasms of type 6 and 11 that must be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Infection Methods
The infection is especially active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, baths. Other reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the body are sexual intercourse, childbirth (from mother to child).
Here are some more ways to get infected with human papillomavirus:
- when kissing, because the virus is contained in saliva;
- when using personal items of the infected;
- in case of insufficient processing of medical instruments.
Types and types
The number of types of neoplasms on the body is estimated in dozens, so doctors divided them into 5 groups, combining them by color, symptoms and risk of malignant degeneration of skin cells:
- Simple papillomas.They are also called vulgar warts. Has the widest prevalence. The first sign of HPV is a small growth on the skin. In the process of development, it is transformed into a dark keratinized tubercle. It is localized both in groups and singly. Favorite places of localization are hands, lower part of the face.
- Flat papillomas.A characteristic feature is a group accumulation of growths. Flat papillomas do not have a bulge, but are painted in a dark color. The main place of distribution is the upper body, genital area.
- Genital warts. The location is the mucous membranes of the body and genitals. These strains are at risk of oncogenicity. The main cause of genital warts is sexual intercourse.
- Filiform papillomas.In the scientific world, they were given the name "acrochords". A characteristic feature of this species is the leg that supports the mole. Acrochords are senile growths, as they mainly appear on the body of middle-aged and elderly people.
- Internal papillomas.This subgroup includes all neoplasms that develop on the internal organs. It is impossible to independently recognize genital warts of this group; this requires special diagnostics. The presence of a disease can give out symptoms.
Virus Danger
Human papillomavirus infection is generally not a major health hazard. However, some species are capable of degenerating into a malignant tumor. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also create a lot of inconvenience if they begin to grow, for example, on the back, in the mouth or in the groin area. They are often injured, after which ulcers and wounds remain on the body, open for infections. Condylomas of the bladder often provoke an inflammatory process, and growths in the uterine cavity sometimes lead to female infertility.
Diagnostics
If you notice a papilloma on your body, you should consult a dermatologist. After the initial examination, the doctor will send the patient for a cytological examination and a blood test (tumor markers, HPV, DNA). This is necessary to determine pathological processes and to determine the type of viral infection in relation to oncogenic risk. If a tumor of the cervix appears, then a colposcopy is required.
How to get rid of papillomas on the body
There are many methods for treating growths. It is better to stop the growth of papillomas on the body during complex therapy. It is impossible to completely expel the human papillomavirus from the body, but it is possible to reduce its activity for a long time by increasing immunity. The proliferation of papules is treated with surgical and therapeutic methods. Folk recipes also help during HPV infection.
How to get rid of HPV with medication
When HPV first appears, doctors prescribe medication to reduce the chances of infecting others. Various medications are used to combat viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser Removal
Often people resort to surgical removal of growths if they look unaesthetic or cause discomfort, for example, if they are in intimate places, in the neck area or natural folds of the skin. Laser removal of papillomas takes several minutes. Its essence lies in the use of a device that burns out a neoplasm. There is no contact with the skin, which guarantees high safety of the procedure. The advantages of the technique include the absence of blood loss, painlessness, and quick recovery.
Cons of laser treatment:
- high cost;
- impossibility to study a remote growth.
Liquid nitrogen
Removal of neoplasms with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) is no less effective. Although the procedure is simple, it requires preparation: thoroughly wash the areas of the skin that will be frozen, shave off the hair, if present. To apply nitrogen, the specialist uses a metal swab with a cotton tip, which is dipped into a container with a transparent liquid. After that, contact with papilloma occurs within 1-5 seconds. Recovery takes place within 2-3 days. The advantages of the procedure are simplicity and speed of the procedure, high efficiency.
Disadvantages of the method:
- the likelihood of damage to surrounding tissues;
- pain during conduction;
- failure to remove large growths,
Treatment of papillomas by radio wave method
The essence of the technique is to influence the build-up of high-frequency radio waves, which are completely harmless to health. To remove the papilloma, the doctor fixes the beam for a few seconds at the problem point. After the procedure, drug therapy is prescribed. The advantage of the radio wave method lies in its versatility - different types of warts, moles, papillomas on any part of the skin easily disappear. It can be used even for difficult areas such as the eye area. There are no scars after the procedure.
Disadvantages of the method:
- high cost;
- is not effective for removing large growths.
Electrocoagulation
A medical procedure in which benign growths are removed with precisely coordinated electrical current. Electrocoagulation is performed with an apparatus equipped with a loop and an electrode, which are heated to high temperatures. The manipulation is done under local anesthesia. For children, removal is performed under general anesthesia. After burning off the tumor, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes.
The advantages of the method include the safety and effectiveness of removing a skin disease, preventing the likelihood of infection, and the possibility of histology.
Disadvantages of electrocautery:
- risk of residual scarring;
- relative soreness;
- long recovery period (up to 10 days);
- at the site of removal, relapses are possible.
How to remove moles and papillomas with folk remedies
According to the reviews of patients who were carriers of HPV, the use of alternative recipes after drug therapy and / or any removal methods helps to remove the virus faster.
At home, in case of external manifestations of papillomas, the following methods are effective:
- Celandine.It is necessary to lubricate the skin with a neoplasm with freshly squeezed plant juice several times a day.
- Banana.To accelerate therapy, it is necessary to apply the fruit pulp to the neoplasms. Banana is especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
The following preventive measures are shown to prevent relapse:
- to do periodic examinations for HPV;
- avoid casual sexual contact;
- maintain immunity: eat right, temper;
- control the growth and changes in the shape of untreated papillomas;
- vaccinate with 2% serum (three times within six months).