Papillomas are classified as benign neoplasms that have the form of warts protruding on the skin. Such formations not only cause cosmetic discomfort, but under certain circumstances can harm human health and even become malignant.
Why do papillomas appear and how to get rid of them without harming your own health?
What papillomas look like: varieties and types
Small benign formations (up to several millimeters in diameter) can appear on the skin and mucous membranes, which are popularly called "warts" and in medicine - papillomas. The growths are soft to the touch, have a slightly convex shape and are somewhat hanging, and their surfaceis heterogeneous and varies depending on the type of papillomas.
Where can papillomas appear:
- On the legs and arms;
- On the face and neck;
- On the mucous membranes of the genital organs;
- In the nasopharynx and oral cavity;
- In the area of the armpits;
- In the urethra.
Most often, papillomas are localized and spread over the genitals.
important! The main and only cause of papillomas is the human papilloma virus (HPV).
According to the degree of risk to human health, papillomas are divided into two types:
- Low level– papillomas caused by HPV virus types 6 and 11;
- With a high level- neoplasms that appear under the influence of HPV virus type 18, 31, 16, 35 and 33; the risk of developing dysplasia and cancer with such tumors is quite high.
Papillomas are quite common and appear equally often in both men and women. With a healthy immune system and a healthy lifestyle, the papilloma virus can "live" in the human body for many years without being detected. But when the body weakens under the influence of certain factors, HPV begins to manifest itself externally - growths appear, redness and irritation of mucous membranes may occur.
important! Papillomas are not malignant, but some varieties can create favorable conditions for the development of precancerous conditions and cancer .
There are many types of papillomas, depending on the type of HPV that has entered the body.
What the main types of papillomas look like:
- The nipples are flat– round or oval warts that rise above the skin by 1-2 mm. They are found in adolescents and young people, which is why they are also called "juvenile warts".
- Warts are simple ("vulgar")– rise about 2-3 mm above the skin and most often appear on the feet, palms and hands and are rough to the touch.
- Pointed condylomas– looks like a rooster's comb or cauliflower. They are most often located on the mucous membranes - the urethra, genitals, as well as in the mouth.
- Filamentous warts- most often this type is called "papillomas" and they are characteristic of people over 35-40 years old. They are most often located in the armpits, on the face and neck, as well as under the breasts in women. The sizes do not exceed 3-5 mm andthey look like round or thread-like growths.
Papillomas in the urethra and bladder are less common - usually in men and in combination with genital warts. A separate group includes papillomas in the larynx, trachea and oral cavity, becauseSuch neoplasms cause many problems for the patient and in some cases even pose a threat to life.
Why do papillomas appear?
The cause of papillomas in humans is HPV, which, penetrating the blood, begins to multiply actively, affecting mainly the upper layers of the skin. With strong and strong immunity, the external manifestations of the virus may not be observed for quite a long time, but under favorable conditions, pathological growth of the epithelium begins.
Usually, the incubation period does not exceed 2-3 months, but it happens that the latent course lasts several years.
Provocative factors for the appearance of papillomas are:
- Reduced immunity- under the influence of past infections, stress, long-term illnesses, lack of vitamins.
- Bad habits– Smoking and alcohol abuse quite often cause tumor processes.
- Promiscuity– papillomas are often sexually transmitted, and concomitant diseases of the reproductive system only increase the development of HPV.
Indirect causes of the development of HPV can be long-term treatment with antibacterial drugs for viral and infectious diseases and gastrointestinal pathologies.
important! HPV infection occurs during sexual contact in 50% of cases. Therefore, doctors believe that every person who leads an active sexual life is at risk.
Papillomas often appear in adolescence and young adulthood, which coincides with the onset of sexual activity. Young people are more likely to have unprotected sex and change sexual partners. In this case, HPV can enter the body through vaginal, oral and anal routes.
In women, the provoking factors for the appearance of papillomas are: a general weakening of the immune system (with long-term illnesses, frequent stress), the use of oral contraceptives and menstrual irregularities.
In men, papillomas appear as a result of promiscuous and active sex life, refusal of condoms, addiction to nicotine and alcohol.
How you can get infected:
- Sexually- the most common route of infection. Using a condom does not eliminate the risk of infection, especially if the growths are located in the perineum or anus.
- During pregnancy and childbirth– if a mother is infected with the HPV virus, it will pass to the child during birth or through breast milk.
- With everyday means- when using common hygiene products, in violation of sanitary norms.
Self-infection with the papilloma virus often occurs in places with high humidity - on beaches, in swimming pools, saunas. With minor damage to the skin or when the mucous membrane comes into contact with a source of HPV, infection occurs.
Penetrating the body, the virus finds the most favorable habitat for itself, but it is more often localized in those parts of the body that are most often subject to microtraumas. The virus becomes infectious as soon as it enters the human body. HPV does not spread to other organs, but it is quite difficult to get rid of it and it is almost impossible to completely eliminate the virus.
How to get rid of papillomas
Papillomas usually do not require treatment if they do not cause cosmetic discomfort and are not subject to permanent injury. Some rashes can disappear completely on their own when a person's immune power increases, but with any provoking factor, they appear again.
Treatment of papillomas is necessary only in case of large growths of growths and in the presence of risk factors for their degeneration into malignant tumors.
Treatment at home is best done after consultation with a doctor - most often papilloma removal is done by a dermatologist; if the formations are located in the genital area, a dermatovenerologist (for men), a gynecologist (for women).
important! In no case should you cut, scratch or squeeze tumors yourself!
Therapy for papilloma is carried out in a comprehensive way - first, drugs that increase immunity and antiviral agents are prescribed. Usually, this is enough for the growths to disappear on their own.
But if the papillomas interfere with a person's normal life or the doctor believes that the virus poses a danger to the patient's health and life, surgical removal of the papillomas is recommended.
Note! It is impossible to completely get rid of the papilloma virus, but you can remove papillomas at home or in the clinic, thus preventing the dangerous development of the disease.
An infected person will need to take preventive measures to prevent growths, adhere to a healthy lifestyle and increase immunity.
Treatment in the clinic
Treatment in the clinic includes removal of the papilloma by surgical methods, and the method of elimination is chosen by the doctor based on the type of tumor and after diagnostic procedures.
Removal of the tumor is usually recommended if the diameter of the tumor is more than 1 cm or if cancer is suspected. During the operation, the growths and a certain amount of surrounding tissue are removed, after which cosmetic stitches are applied.
Surgical methods for removing papillomas:
- Laser removal.The most affordable and common method consists in removing the growth with a laser after anesthesia with an anesthetic. The procedure takes approximately 20-30 seconds per tumor. After cauterization, a crust remains on the skin, which cannot be removed - after a few days it will fall off by itself. In this way, it is suggested to remove papillomas on the neck, face, armpits, under the mammary glands, where the skin is very delicate and easily injured.
- Radiosurgical treatment.According to the principle of implementation, this method is similar to laser excision, but its distinctive advantage is that radio wave therapy is not so dangerous for human eyes and is therefore preferable for removing papillomas on the eyelids and face.
- Cryodestruction– cold burning with cotton wool soaked in liquid nitrogen (liquid nitrogen has a temperature of minus 15 degrees). The frozen growth falls off on its own after a few days. The procedure does not require anesthesia, but it is not recommended to be performed on the face, because liquid nitrogen treatment can cause temporary reddening of the skin.
- Electrocoagulation– an outdated method using an electric knife that burns tumors using high-frequency currents.
- Scalpel excision– a previously common method for removing papillomas, is now not used in almost any clinic due to the high risk of skin injury.
The excised growth is sent for histology to rule out the presence of malignant cells.
The treatment does not end after the operation - the doctor prescribes the patient immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs and gives recommendations for conducting medical procedures at home.
To increase immunity, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes, immunomodulators, diet, walks in the fresh air and hardening.
After surgical removal, recurrences usually do not occur; regrowth may occur at the site of excision if the area has not been thoroughly cleaned.
Treatment at home
Some types of papillomas can be eliminated at home with the help of folk and pharmacy remedies.
Removal of papillomas at home can be done using pharmaceutical products that have cauterizing properties.
These drugs are compounds of alkalis and acids, i. e. they eliminate papillomas by burning tissues on the skin. Therefore, before cauterizing a papilloma at home, it is recommended to consult a doctor and use such products with caution so as not to harm the skin, especially if the growths are located on the face or neck.
Removal of papillomas at home should be done in compliance with three basic rules:
- You cannot remove genital warts on your genitals by yourself.
- It is impossible to remove growths of an unknown nature with signs of bleeding, inflammation or excessive growth.
- You cannot remove tumors on the face - a scar or scar may remain that the doctor will not be able to remove later.
How to get rid of papillomas at home:
- Garlic.Cut a piece of garlic and apply fresh juice to the growth, secure with a band-aid. Repeat twice daily for 2-4 weeks.
- Jaundice juice.Make an incision from the stem of the scallions and apply the sap to the new growth. You can do the procedure 2-3 times a day, from 14 to 30 days. This method allows you to quickly and painlessly remove papillomas on the face at home.
- Laundry soap.Lather the skin several times a day in the area where there are formations. Treatment is not effective in old and multiple tumors.
- Castor oil.The area around the papillomas is lubricated 1-2 times a day for 1-1. 5 months.
- Vinegar.You can mix 70% vinegar and glycerin in equal proportions and apply to the growths three or four times a day. Or use ordinary 5% vinegar to lubricate the papilloma every day.
You can remove eyelid papilloma at home using kalanchoe or aloe juice, while simultaneously using antiviral ophthalmic drugs. But if the growth is located near the mucous membrane of the eye and inside the eyelid, it is better not to do home treatment, you should consult an ophthalmologist or dermatologist.
The most gentle method of removing papillomas under the armpits at home is the use of ordinary egg white: the white is applied to the papilloma in a thick layer and left in this state for several hours, after which another layer is applied on top. Within a few days, if the procedure is repeated daily, the small papillomas dry up and fall off on their own.
Traditional medicine offers many ways to remove papillomas at home, but it should be borne in mind that different methods will be effective for different types and varieties of growths, so each method is purely individual and it is recommended to use it after consulting a doctor.
important! Various nutritional supplements for papillomas, monastery tea, tea for parasites and papillomas - do not help in the treatment of papillomas!
It is almost impossible to avoid getting infected with HPV - even with strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, avoiding casual sex and visiting public places for use, there is no guarantee that the virus will not enter the body through contact with household items thathave previously been touched by an already infected person.
Therefore, the main preventive measure for the appearance of papillomas can only be considered to increase immunity, maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid stress and infectious diseases, take vitamins and give up bad habits.