Papilloma is a growth on the skin in the form of a cylinder on a pedicle, often almost invisible. In many cases, it does not manifest itself in any way, but with a weakening of immunity and in the heat, it unexpectedly appears. As a rule, it is first one papilloma (the so-called "mother"), and then she breeds "babies" that are sprinkled on different parts of the body. Many people simply try not to notice this defect, but is it so harmless? Do I need to remove papillomas? We will tell you in detail what papillomas are, and how to deal with them, as well as the most effective removal methods.
What is papilloma
To understand how to deal with papillomas on the skin of the body, you need to figure out what it is all about. The medical name for papilloma is human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a sexually transmitted disease. Also, infection with this ailment can occur through a contact-household method (through damage to the skin upon contact with some objects that an infected person has touched).
Papillomas can be "recognized" by the shape of the papilla or bump. As a rule, they have a so-called "leg". Such growths can be located in a chaotic manner in different parts of the body - on the arms, feet, neck, elbow and knee bends, face, lips, chest. Sizes can be different - both very small and large. The hue of the papilloma ranges from light flesh-colored to dark brown and reddish. Because of this, some people mistake them for moles.
In fact, papilloma is a benign neoplasm that can appear not only on the skin, but also on mucous membranes. The difference between papillomas and warts is as follows - they are softer, they do not have a keratinized layer, while warts have a harder texture.
One of the varieties of papillomas is the so-called "genital warts", which has an elongated conical shape and appears on the genitals. Under mechanical action, such growths itch, hurt and even bleed. Determine whether a patient has papilloma or condyloma can only be a doctor, who, if necessary, prescribes additional examinations and tests.
Why do papillomas appear?
Let's figure out why papillomas appear and how to treat them. The most common causes of papilloma:
- changes in hormonal levels (including pregnancy, abortion);
- hypothermia;
- installation of an intrauterine device;
- depletion of the body;
- bad habits (smoking, alcohol).
Papillomas often appear, disappear, and then reappear, as they are a manifestation of a viral infection. This means that their presence determines the body's immunity at a particular moment. HPV often occurs in people who have had unprotected sex with an infected person, as well as in women taking hormonal birth control pills.
The factor of the "launch" of the virus is any stress that the body has suffered: a banal cold, prolonged use of medications, hypothermia. All this weakens the immune system and makes it vulnerable to human papillomavirus.
It is very easy to get infected - it is enough to be in close contact with an infected person, or live with a carrier of papilloma, or simply visit a public beach, swim in a common pool, or visit a sauna. By the way, this virus is a "lover" of heat and high humidity.
Why is papilloma dangerous?
Some types of HPV virus are dangerous because they can provoke the development of cervical cancer in women. This applies primarily to genital warts, which usually appears on the genitals. Due to the fact that a viral disease passes without symptoms, a person does not consult a doctor for a long time. Therefore, it is important for women to visit a gynecologist every six months, and once a year to be tested for cytology, so that precancerous changes, if any, in the cervix can be detected in time.
Even if a person does not have genital warts, in any case, papillomas speak of the body's dysfunction. Tiny growths signal that you should see a doctor and exclude the presence of gynecological diseases, kidney problems, colitis. And after the examinations, it is imperative to remove the papilloma, since this is a benign neoplasm, which can one day develop into a malignant one. In addition, papillomas look unattractive, this is an aesthetic defect. But how to properly remove papillomas so that there are no complications? This will be discussed further.
How to remove papillomas: popular methods
Noticing papillomas in ourselves, we immediately start looking for information on the Internet on how to remove a papilloma. There are many home methods, but they can be not only ineffective, but also dangerous and traumatic. Better to see a specialist!
How to remove papillomas is categorically impossible:
- Tear off.
- Tie up with thread.
- Needle.
These actions will only provoke the virus to "capture" other territories, and it will "move" to other areas. But how to get rid of papilloma so that it does not appear again?
If you have a papilloma, your doctor will tell you how to treat it, based on the type of growth. But we will still consider the most popular and effective methods for removing papillomas:
- Excision with a surgical scalpel. . . This is the easiest way, but quite painful. Today, there are more gentle techniques that do not leave traces.
- Cauterization with liquid nitrogen. . . Papillomas simply freeze, and the vital activity of their cells stops.
- Electrocoagulation. . . In this case, the build-up is removed by electric current. Before papillomas on the body are removed by this method, the patient is given minimal local anesthesia.
- Radio wave surgery. . . The method is non-contact, it provides for the removal of a flaw by exposing it to radio waves. In this case, local anesthesia is also used.
- Laser removal. . . It is considered the most effective and safest method of dealing with papillomas. The laser beam penetrates to the required depth, clogs the vessel that feeds the growth, and as a result, the neoplasm dies and disappears. As a rule, the papilloma disappears after a few days.
How best to remove papillomas
How best to remove papillomas, the doctor will tell you who will see your papilloma and be able to determine its type. But now, in most cases, laser removal is recommended, since it has a lot of advantages:
- Non-contact procedure - there is no physical contact between the skin and the instrument, while the laser beam in parallel has a bactericidal effect.
- Bloodlessness, absence of painful sensations.
- The absence of such side effects as burns, scars, hyperpigmentation after the procedure.
- Ability to remove several papillomas at once.
Before the appointment of the procedure, the cosmetologist tells the patient how to remove papillomas with a neodymium laser, and also finds out if he has any contraindications. If everything is in order, the session takes no more than 15 minutes. Laser removal occurs without traces and various complications. In parallel, the doctor prescribes drugs to the patient to increase immunity.
We hope we helped you figure out what papilloma is and how to treat it. The main thing is not to self-medicate in order to prevent unpleasant consequences in the form of burns or injuries, and also not to doubt that everyone needs to remove papillomas.