Why do papillomas appear and how to treat them? Methods for removing papillomas

Papillomas are classified as benign neoplasms that appear as warts protruding from the skin. Such growths not only cause aesthetic 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 health?

What papillomas look like: varieties and types

Small benign formations (up to several millimeters in diameter) may appear on the skin and mucous membranes, commonly called "warts" and in medicine – papillomas. The growths are soft to the touch, have a slightly convex shape and hang down somewhat, and their surface is heterogeneous and varies depending on the type of papillomas.

Where papillomas can occur:

• On the feet and hands;
• On the face and neck;
• On the mucous membranes of the genitals;
• In the nasopharynx and oral cavity;
• At armpit level;
• In the urethra.

Most often, papillomas are localized and spread to the genitals.

Important!The main and only cause of papillomas is the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Depending on the degree of risk to human health, papillomas are divided into two types:

1. With a low level– papillomas caused by HPV viruses types 6 and 11;
2. With a high level– neoplasms that appear under the influence of the HPV virus types 18, 31, 16, 35 and 33; the risk of developing dysplasia and cancer with such tumors is quite high.

Papillomas are a fairly common phenomenon and appear equally often in 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 detecting itself. But when the body weakens under the influence of certain factors, HPV begins to manifest itself externally - growths appear, redness and irritation may occur on the mucous membranes.

Important!Papillomas are not a malignant formation, but certain 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:

• Warts are flat– round or oval warts that extend beyond the skin by 1 to 2 mm. They are found in adolescents and young adults, which is why they are also called "juvenile warts".
• Warts are simple ("common")– rise about 2 to 3 mm above the skin and occur most often on the feet, palms and hands and are rough to the touch.
• Condyloma acuminata– looks like a cockscomb or cauliflower. Most often they are located on the mucous membranes - the urethra, genitals and in the mouth.
• Filiform warts– most often this type is called "papillomas" and is typical for 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. Dimensions do not exceed 3-5 mm and resemble round or threadlike growths.

Papillomas of the urethra and bladder are less common - usually in men and in association with genital warts. A separate group includes papillomas of the larynx, trachea and oral cavity, becauseSuch neoplasms cause a lot of trouble for the patient and in some cases even pose a threat to life.

Why do papillomas appear?

The cause of papillomas in men is HPV, which, entering the blood, begins to actively multiply, mainly affecting the upper layers of the skin. With strong and strong immunity, 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 for several years.

The factors provoking the appearance of papillomas are:

• Decreased 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 promote the development of HPV.

Indirect causes of the development of HPV can be long-term treatment with antibacterial drugs against viral and infectious diseases and gastrointestinal pathologies.

Important!HPV infection occurs through sexual contact in 50% of cases. Therefore, doctors consider anyone who is sexually active to be at risk.

Papillomas often occur during adolescence and early 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 the vaginal, oral and anal routes.

In women, the factors provoking the appearance of papillomas are: general weakening of the immune system (with long-term illnesses, frequent stress), the use of oral contraceptives and menstrual irregularities.

In men, papillomas result from a promiscuous and active sex life, refusal of condoms, addiction to nicotine and alcohol.

How can you 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 be transmitted to the child during childbirth or through breast milk.
• By everyday means– when using general hygiene products, in violation of health standards.

Self-infection with the papilloma virus often occurs in places with high humidity - on beaches, in swimming pools, saunas. In case of minor skin damage or when the mucous membrane comes into contact with a source of HPV, an infection occurs.

Entering the body, the virus finds the most favorable habitat for itself, but is more often localized in those parts of the body that are most often subject to microtrauma. The virus becomes contagious immediately after entering the human body. HPV does not spread to other organs, but it is quite difficult to get rid of and it is almost impossible to completely eliminate the virus.

How to get rid of papillomas

Usually, papillomas do not require treatment if they do not cause cosmetic discomfort and are not subject to constant injury. Some rashes may disappear completely on their own when a person's immune strength increases, but they reappear with any provoking factor.

It is necessary to treat papillomas only in case of significant growth and in the presence of risk factors for degeneration into malignant tumors.

Home treatment is best carried out after consulting a doctor - most often, the removal of papillomas is carried out by a dermatologist; if the growths are located in the genital area, a dermatovenerologist (for men), a gynecologist (for women).

Important!Under no circumstances should you cut, scrape or extract tumors yourself!

Treatment of papilloma is carried out comprehensively - first of all, drugs that enhance immunity and antiviral agents are prescribed. This is usually enough for the growths to disappear on their own.

But if the papillomas interfere with the normal life of a person or the doctor believes that the virus poses a danger to the health and life of the patient, surgical removal of the papillomas is offered.

Note!It is impossible to completely get rid of the papilloma virus, but you can eliminate papillomas at home or in the clinic, thereby preventing the dangerous development of the disease.

An infected person will need to take preventive measures to prevent the appearance of growths, adopt a healthy lifestyle and strengthen their immunity.

Treatment in clinic

Treatment in the clinic involves removal of the papilloma by surgical methods, and the method of removal is chosen by the doctor depending on the type of tumor and after diagnostic procedures.

It is generally recommended to remove the growth if the tumor diameter is greater than 1 cm or if cancer is suspected. During the operation, growths and a certain amount of surrounding tissue are removed, after which cosmetic stitches are applied.

Surgical methods for removing papilloma:

• Laser removal.The most accessible and common method is laser removal of the growth after anesthesia with an anesthetic. The procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 seconds per tumor. After cauterization, a crust remains on the skin that cannot be removed. After a few days, it will fall off on its own. In this way, it is proposed to eliminate 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 therefore is preferable when removingpapillomas of the eyelid and face.
• Cryodestruction– cold cauterization using cotton 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 perform it on the face, becauseTreatment with liquid nitrogen can cause temporary redness of the skin.
• Electrocoagulation– an outdated method using an electric knife that burns tumors using high-frequency currents.
• Scalpel excision– a once common method of removing papillomas, now unused in almost all clinics due to the high risk of skin trauma.

The excised growth is sent for histology to exclude the presence of malignant cells.

Treatment does not end after the operation - the doctor prescribes immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs to the patient and gives recommendations for carrying out 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, relapses usually do not occur; Reappearance of growths at the excision site may occur if the area has not been completely cleaned.

Home treatment

Some types of papillomas can be removed at home using folk and pharmaceutical remedies.

Removal of papillomas at home can be carried out using pharmaceutical products with cauterizing properties.

These drugs are compounds of alkalis and acids, that is, they eliminate papillomas by burning skin tissues. Therefore, before cauterizing a papilloma at home, it is advisable to consult a doctor and use these products with caution so as not to damage the skin, especially if the growths are located on the face or neck.

Removal of papillomas at home should be carried out in compliance with three basic rules:

1. You cannot remove genital warts on your genitals on your own.
2. It is impossible to remove growths of unknown nature with signs of bleeding, inflammation or excessive growth.
3. You cannot remove tumors from the face - a scar or scar may remain, which 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 sprout, fix it with an adhesive bandage. Repeat twice daily for 2 to 4 weeks.
• Celandine juice.Make a cut in the stem of the celandine and apply the place where the juice is released to the new growth. You can perform the procedure 2-3 times a day, from 14 to 30 days. This method allows you to quickly and painlessly remove facial papillomas at home.
• Laundry soap.Lather the skin several times a day in the area where there are growths. The treatment is not effective for 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 spread it on the sprouts three to four times a day. Or use regular 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 for removing underarm papillomas at home is to use 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 appliedAbove. A few days after the daily repetition of the procedure, small papillomas dry out 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. Each method is therefore purely individual and it is advisable to use it after consultation. with a doctor.

Important!Various dietary supplements for papillomas, monastery tea, tea for parasites and papillomas - do not help in the treatment of papillomas!

It is almost impossible to avoid HPV infection - even strictly observing the rules of personal hygiene, avoiding casual sex and visiting public places of use, there is no guarantee that the virus will not penetratein the body through contact with household items previously touched by an already infected person.

Therefore, the main preventive measure against the appearance of papillomas can only be considered to increase immunity, maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid stress and infectious diseases, take vitamins andto get rid of bad habits.