When nipple-like growth appears 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 simple. Papillomas on the body are unfortunately a very common disease that develops due to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), but its treatment under modern conditions is not a problem.
What are papillomas on the body
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows from the tissue of the squamous epithelium. It acts as a drop or papilla on the skin, mucous membranes and can affect a person's internal organs. 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 form on the body. They differ in growth rate, appearance, location.
Papillomavirus can be detected anywhere on the body:
- natural folds: groin, armpits, mammary glands, abdomen
- face: eyelids, near eyes, near 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 may look different from the outside. These are usually 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 structure of the papules is relatively loose and soft. Spaces of blood vessels are often visible on the surface.
The color is mostly meat and all varieties of brown. There are cases where papillomas had a blue, violet and even black-and-charcoal shade.
Why do papillomas appear
These growths in the body are of a viral nature. The infection is transmitted by contact with a healthy person. Both men and women are equally susceptible to infection, but are affected differently by the virus. The weaker sex may feel burning and itching in the genital area, bleeding and other discharge from the vagina. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by syphilis, chlamydia, herpes and other sexually transmitted pathologies.
Men are not afraid of certain types of virus that are dangerous to women (16, 18). However, the stronger sex is a carrier of infections. As for papillomas on the genitals, frenulum and glans penis or in the urethra, these painless benign tumors of type 6 and 11 are to be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Methods of Infection
The infection is especially active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, baths. Other causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body are 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 from the infected;
- in case of insufficient treatment 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 that combined them by color, symptoms and risk of malignant degeneration of skin cells:
- Single papillomas.They are also called vulgar warts. Has the widest occurrence. The first sign of HPV is a small growth on the skin. In the developmental process, it transforms into a dark keratinized tubercle. It is located both in groups and individually. Favorite places for 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 most important distribution site is the upper body, the genital area.
- Genital warts.The location is the mucous membranes of the body and the genitals. These strains are at risk of cancer. The main cause of genital warts is intercourse.
- Filiform papillomas.In the scientific world, they were named "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 older people.
- Internal papillomas.This subgroup includes all neoplasms that develop on the internal organs. It is impossible to independently recognize the genital warts in this group; this requires special diagnostics. The presence of a disease can cause symptoms.
Virus Danger
Human papillomavirus infection is generally not a significant health hazard. However, some species are capable of degenerating into a malignant tumor. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also cause a lot of discomfort if they start to grow, for example on the back, in the mouth or in the groin. They are often wounded, after which wounds and ulcers remain on the body, open to infections. Bladder condylomas often induce an inflammatory process, and growth in the uterine cavity sometimes leads to female infertility.
Diagnostics
If you notice a papilloma on your body, consult a dermatologist. After the initial examination, the doctor will send the patient for a cytological examination and a blood sample (tumor markers, HPV, DNA). This is necessary to determine pathological processes and determine the type of viral infection in relation to oncogenic risk. If a tumor in the cervix appears, a colposcopy is necessary.
How to get rid of papillomas on the body
There are many methods of treating growth. 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. Scattering 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 risk of infecting others. Various drugs are used to fight viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser Removal
People often 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 in 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 during the procedure. The benefits of the technique include the absence of blood loss, pain relief and rapid recovery.
Disadvantages of laser treatment:
- high cost;
- impossibility to study a distant growth.
Liquid nitrogen
Removal of neoplasms with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) is no less effective. Although the procedure is simple, it requires preparation: Wash the areas of the skin that need to be thoroughly frozen, shave the hair off if present. To apply nitrogen, the specialist uses a metal stick with a cotton swab dipped in a container with a clear liquid. Thereafter, contact with the 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 using 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 attaches the beam to the problem for a few seconds. 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 disappear easily. It can be used even in difficult areas such as the eye area. There are no scars after the procedure.
Disadvantages of the method:
- high cost;
- is not effective in removing large growths.
Electrocoagulation
A medical procedure in which benign growths are removed with precisely coordinated electric current. Electrocoagulation is performed with an apparatus equipped with a loop and an electrode that are heated to high temperatures. The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia. For children, removal is performed under general anesthesia. After burning the tumor, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes.
The benefits 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 tenderness;
- long recovery period (up to 10 days)
- at the site of removal, relapse is possible.
How to remove birthmarks and papillomas with folk remedies
According to reviews from patients who were HPV carriers, the use of alternative prescriptions after drug therapy and / or any removal methods will help remove the virus more quickly.
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 speed up the treatment, it is necessary to apply fruit pulp to the neoplasms. Banana is especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
The following preventive measures are shown to prevent relapse:
- to conduct periodic HPV studies;
- avoid casual sexual contact;
- maintain immunity: eat right, temper;
- controls growth and change in the form of untreated papillomas;
- is vaccinated with 2% serum (three times within six months).