Papillomas are a problem that many people face. They can appear on different parts of the body, in some cases they are extremely painful, in others they do not cause discomfort. In any case, they become cosmetic defects that bring a lot of anxiety. The excitement is not unfounded, because a virus that causes the development of formations on the skin can lead to oncology.
Most of the world's population carries HPV. This does not mean that we are threatened by a massive epidemic of cancers and other diseases that can occur against the background of a weakened immune system and the appearance of warts, condyloma and other skin defects. The main task of the patient is to reduce the oncogenic risk. This is possible with regular visits to a dermatovenereologist, conducting the necessary examinations and removing formations in a timely manner.
Why papillomas appear on the body
There are many reasons leading to the activation of the virus. The most common is a decrease in immunity, which causes uncontrolled cell reproduction. This is how innovations appear.
Also at risk are people who are promiscuous, often change partners, do not use reliable contraceptives. If a woman has HPV, she will pass it on to her baby during childbirth.
The ways in which the virus enters the body can be different. These are the previously mentioned unprotected sex and skin-to-skin contact with the wearer. That is why it is important to follow the simplest rules of hygiene: wash your hands after traveling on public transport, do not walk barefoot in swimming pools and saunas, where it is humid and hot -it is high humidity that creates an environment conducive to infection.
Human papillomavirus: what is it and how is it transmitted?
HPV is a virus whose activity is manifested by a change in the nature of tissue growth. It enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes:
- mouth - during oral sex;
- genitals - during unprotected sex;
- rectum - during anal sex.
As long as a person's immunity is strong enough, the infection does not manifest itself - in this case it is called latent. As soon as the defenses are reduced, it activates, causing cells to multiply. The result of unbalanced tissue growth is the appearance of neoplasms - benign, threatening to turn into malignant.
The appearance of growths of different shapes and sizes on the skin is the main symptom of the human papillomavirus. Most often, condyloma and other types of warts appear in areas subject to mechanical stress, places characterized by increased sweating (armpits, palms). They can also occur on the genitals, around the anus.
Main routes of infection
- Sexual - occurs during sexual contact with a person who has HPV. The virus can be contracted through oral and anal sex.
- Household - is much less common, but still one of the main ones. Infection can be obtained in baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers. It penetrates through wounds, cracks and other skin damage.
- Transmission during childbirth - transmission of HPV from mother to child is the rarest case. But it is also one of the most dangerous because of the threat of damage to the respiratory tract.
- Self-infection is also possible - this occurs when the infection is transferred from one part of the body to another (shaving the legs with a machine, removing unwanted hair).
Oncogenic viruses in the body do not indicate the development of cancer. However, they can provoke the appearance of malignant neoplasms. The main carcinogenic factors are:
- Promiscuous sex life, many partners - including those with lesions of the genital organs with papillomas, condyloma.
- The presence of venereal and fungal diseases.
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device.
- Certain gynecological diseases (endometriosis).
Are papillomas transmitted, why do they develop and are they dangerous? We have answered all of these questions above. Should the tumors be removed? Yes, for several reasons:
- These are cosmetic defects that, unlike moles, do not add charm, but cause serious discomfort, both psychological and physical.
- Since the growths most often occur in places with constant friction, mechanical stress caused by tight shoes, tight-fitting clothes, underwear, the risk of damage is high. And this leads to the introduction of new infections.
- The accumulation of HPV causes a pathological modification of the cellular genome, which can lead to oncological and other complications.
Earlier we told what papilloma is and why these neoplasms appear on the body. We advise you to respond to any changes in the condition of the skin. At the same time, you should not try to get rid of the problem yourself, in order to avoid the risk of skin infection and the transformation of a benign wart into a malignant tumor. Modern medicine has effective non-surgical methods of treatment that will help you forget about cosmetic defects forever and reduce the risk of developing oncology.
Varieties of papillomas: main types and their characteristics
- Flat warts are most often round or oval. They practically do not rise above the surface of the epidermis, similar to burns obtained after contact with nettle leaves. Most often they occur during puberty. Locations: neck, hands, face, shins. The color is pinkish to yellowish. Often such formations itch, cause discomfort.
- Vulgar - the most common variety. Most often appear on the feet, hands, rise above the skin by 3-10 mm. A whole colony of warts can arise - from mother and daughter.
- Pointed - most often occur in the anogenital area, these are small growths with a single nodule or many small formations. Color - pink or red. All neoplasms of different sizes. They are either located directly on the skin or attached to it with a "leg", cause itching and discomfort and require timely removal. These warts are called warts and are transmitted through sexual contact.
- Filamentous - these are the very papillomas that we started talking about at the beginning of the article. Most often they appear in people over 35 years old, their growth increases with age. This phenomenon has another name - acrochords. These are threadlike growths on the skin that look like a small nodule, gradually enlarging and becoming oval, becoming more and more elongated. This type of wart occurs in areas with thin skin that easily forms wrinkles, as well as in places characterized by excessive sweating - on the neck, under the armpits, under the breasts, in the groin, near the eyes, on the eyelids, etc. .
- Papillomas of the bladder and urethra - most often neoplasms of this type appear in men. Symptoms: pain during urination, pain in the lower abdomen, hematuria. Large growths can be removed by surgical excision. In this case, it is not the dermatovenereologist who deals with diagnosis and treatment, but the urologist.
- The defeat of the larynx, trachea, oral cavity - in this case, the warts look like papillae, which gradually grow, which leads to a decrease in the lumen of the respiratory tract. If the vocal cords are affected, speech disorders are possible. This type of manifestation of the virus is especially dangerous for infants, who can become infected with it during childbirth from a mother who transmitted the infection to the newborn.
We considered the types of papillomas and the reasons for their appearance on the body, found out why and from where unsightly neoplasms appear, why they are dangerous. It remains to figure out how to get rid of a cosmetic defect that can lead to serious complications.
Features of diagnosis
To find out which method will be most effective, consult a dermatovenerologist. He will prescribe an HPV test (PCR). The method used is one of the most instructive. This will help identify infection DNA in samples of various secretions, as well as determine the type of virus.
You may also need:
- Colposcopy.
- smear for cytology.
- Histological analysis.
What methods remove papillomas
- Cauterization - is produced by special preparations, which include highly purified chemicals - active components that affect neoplasms.
- Removal with liquid nitrogen - exposure to the affected area of the skin at low temperature. There is an instant freezing of the damaged area, as a result of which the site of formation of the neoplasm loses its tenderness, from pink or reddish to white. After a few weeks, the area treated with nitrogen heals. Disadvantage of this method: the difficulty in determining the depth of exposure.
- Laser removal - in this case, the papillomas are burned with a laser beam. After the session, there remains a small wound on the skin, which must be treated regularly. He healed within a few weeks after cauterization. There is no rehabilitation period, since regeneration processes occur without the intervention of specialists. At the same time, no scars or scars remain at the site of localization of warts. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not prescribed for various wounds of the epidermis, herpes and infectious diseases. Pregnancy is a contraindication to laser cautery.
- Electrocoagulation is another method based on exposure to electric current. High temperature provokes the destruction of papillomas. However, when treating the skin in this way, healthy areas are inevitably injured, increasing healing time.
- Surgical removal - is prescribed if the neoplasms have reached a large size, and other methods are ineffective. The doctor uses local anesthesia. After the operation, sutures are applied. They are removed a week after the removal of the wart.
- Folk methods - most often from papillomas they use celandine juice, vinegar, garlic. It is believed to help burn off the neoplasm. These methods are dangerous and cannot reduce the risk of relapse. They often cause damage to healthy areas of skin surrounding the growth. We advise you not to get involved in self-treatment, but to consult a doctor in time - only he can determine which of the listed methods is most effective in dealing with the problem.
Often, patients of a dermatovenerologist ask whether it is possible to permanently get rid of HPV, which causes unpleasant rashes. We remind you that the virus itself, which is in the human body and causes uncontrolled cell reproduction, cannot be eliminated - it remains there and will manifest itself at times of weakening of the immune system, during hormonal disruptions, during stress. As such, the treatment for the infection itself has yet to be invented. Only its external manifestations are eliminated - warts, papillomas and other types of warts.
The main task of an HPV carrier is to reduce the risk of relapse. For this you need:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene - including intimate.
- Use condoms during sexual contact, avoid promiscuity.
- Maintain the body's defenses.
- Avoid direct contact with carriers of the infection.
Among the means whose action helps to get rid of papillomas and reduce the risk of their recurrence is a drug that contains anti-inflammatory cytokines that block the synthesis of viral proteins. You can use this cream at home - it is applied once a day during the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Filiform warts are a phenomenon that signals the need for a full body examination. Do not forget about it and go to the doctor in time. Delay increases the risk of developing cancer. Do not try to remove the neoplasms yourself - traditional methods are not very effective and cannot guarantee the complete disappearance of the buildup. In addition, they can cause severe skin irritation, damage to it, which will cause a secondary infection and aggravate the situation. Use only the methods recommended by the specialist. In combination with preventive measures, they will help to avoid relapses and forget about the problem for many years.