Papillomas and condylomas are small growths on the skin of a viral nature. You must be able to distinguish between them in order to notice potentially dangerous formations in time and take the necessary measures. The most important thing that distinguishes papilloma from condyloma is the type of viral pathogen.
Causes of neoplasms
The human papillomavirus (HPV) has more than a hundred different strains. HPV enters the body through household contact or through unprotected intercourse. It is possible for the baby to become infected from the mother as it passes through the birth canal.
The growth formation indicates the rapid division of cells in the basal layer of the skin. This happens under the influence of a virus, the activation of which in most cases is associated with a decrease in the immune system. Depending on the strain, papillomas or condylomas appear on the body.
Characteristic features of papillomas
Papilloma is a benign neoplasm that does not cause discomfort except aesthetically. Characteristic features of papillomas:
- soft homogeneous structure;
- the presence of a leg;
- small size (up to 10 mm in diameter);
- moderate pigmentation.
Papillomas are localized on every part of the body except the mucous membranes of the genitals. As a rule, the color of growth varies from a natural skin color to shades of pink-red, but highly pigmented papillomas are not a pathology either. The growth of hair on the body of a papilloma is a variant of the norm.
Papillomas are not dangerous if they do not disturb the patient and do not hurt in everyday life. The formation of growths of this type is due to the action of 2, 7 and 28 virus strains. You can be infected with these types of HPV in everyday life and during intercourse.
Features of genital warts
Warts are of two types - pointed growths and broad. The first type appears with HPV infection, and wide growths are one of the symptoms of syphilis.
The localities for localization of genital warts are mucous membranes, mainly in the urogenital area, as well as skin folds that are exposed to friction against clothing.
The structure of genital warts is papillary. The formations are attached to a thin stem, the plants are fed through small vessels and capillaries. Unlike papillomas, condylomas are often inflamed, ulceration of the growth body is possible.
Genital warts are caused by 16, 18, 54 strains of the virus. These types of HPV are potentially dangerous, especially for women. There is a direct link between these types of viruses and the development of cervical cancer. Infection occurs during intercourse.
How to distinguish papilloma from genital warts?
The external difference between the growths is easy to notice in the picture - papillomas are homogeneous, while condylomas have a fine papillary structure.
- The difference between papilloma and warts lies in the color of the growth. Papillomas can be highly pigmented, the color of the warts is usually light and does not differ from the mucous membranes.
- HPV, which causes the development of papillomas, is transmitted by household contact, using personal hygiene products and even through a handshake (in the presence of skin microtraumas). Warts are only sexually transmitted.
- Warts become inflamed. Papillomas can grow in size, acquire signs of inflammation and pain, but only as a result of a traumatic effect.
- The shape of papillomas is predominantly a round or oval "head" placed on a soft stem. Condyloma has irregular contours, can be arranged in clusters. For genital warts, narrowing from the trunk to the end is characteristic, making it possible to distinguish them from papillomas.
- The appearance of growths of different types is due to different strains of the virus.
It is important to remember the biggest difference between papillomas and warts - growth on the genitals and mucous membranes must be removed.
Why are plants dangerous?
Papillomas and condylomas are conventionally considered safe neoplasms on the skin, but the risk of degeneration of benign cells into malignant cells is higher in the second case.
Condylomas are cutaneous manifestations of the action of oncogenic types of the virus. Years of research have identified a link between HPV and cervical cancer. Timely diagnosis with further removal of genital warts helps reduce the risk of cancer in women significantly.
The growths can be located not only on the skin and external genitalia, but also in the vagina and on the cervix. Due to the peculiarities of the blood circulation in the genitals, condyloma receives enough nutrition and can grow rapidly. In gynecology, there are cases where condyloma placed on the wall of the vagina grew up to 10 cm in diameter.
Indications for removal
Warts should be removed even if they do not cause discomfort. This is primarily due to the risk of infection in the sexual partner.
Removing papillomas located on the skin or not is a personal matter for each patient. The risk of degeneration of benign papillomas into an oncological neoplasm increases when the growth body is damaged. This may be due to rubbing of clothes, accidental damage from nails or a washcloth during hygiene procedures.
You should contact a dermatologist if:
- papilloma is greatly increased in size;
- when pressed, discomfort is felt;
- bleeding or purulent discharge is noted;
- the skin around the growth becomes inflamed.
Removing the build is a matter of five minutes. The procedure is almost painless. It is important to understand that timely diagnosis will allow timely detection of the onset of cell degeneration and stop the development of oncology.
How to remove builds?
Any skin growth should be removed by a professional. Self-cauterization of papillomas using folk remedies is not always effective. Removal of genital warts at home is strictly prohibited.
Before the procedure, a number of examinations are necessary. First, the patient's blood is examined to determine the type of virus that caused the occurrence of neoplasms.
For several condyloma patients, the patient is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This allows you to stop the spread of the virus and set the immune system to fight HPV. To get rid of genital warts, ointments help with an immune-stimulating agent in the composition (for example, drugs based on interferon). Such drugs are available in the form of suppositories, which allow you to successfully combat growth on the walls of the beard.
Methods for removing structures:
- cryodestruction;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser burning;
- removal with a radio knife;
- carving with a scalpel.
When genital warts are removed, the tissues obtained as a result of the procedure are sent for histological analysis. For this purpose, surgical excision or laser removal is indicated.
Electrocoagulation is a cauterization of neoplasms. The method has worked well for removing small papillomas.
Cryodestruction is used to remove neoplasms on the skin but not on mucous membranes. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the growth, causing cell necrosis, as a result of which the papilloma simply disappears.
Removal of radio waves or radio knife is an effective and almost painless method of removing genital warts. Under the influence of radio waves, the cells in the neoplasm are destroyed. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Laser burning of genital warts is indicated in the presence of a large number of growths. The advantages of the method are the cauterization of the vessels and capillaries feeding the formation. Due to exposure, no traces remain on the skin, the risk of bleeding is ruled out. Complete restoration of the epidermis after removal is done within 5-7 days.
To remove genital warts, folk remedies are not used due to the high risk of damage to the mucous membranes of aggressive components of the composition. Alkaline pharmaceutical preparations are also prohibited.
To find out how warts differ from papillomas, a photo helps. It is recommended to consult a doctor if formations appear on the genitals, and do not try to remove them yourself.