Papillomas are a problem that many people face. They can appear in different parts of the body, in some cases they are extremely painful, in some they do not cause discomfort. In any case, they become cosmetic flaws that bring a lot of anxiety. Excitement is not unfounded, as a virus that provokes the development of skin formations can lead to oncology.
Most of the world's population is a carrier of HPV. This does not mean that we are threatened by a massive epidemic of cancer and other diseases that can occur against the background of a weakened immune system and the appearance of warts, warts and other skin defects. The main task of the patient is to reduce the oncogenic risk. This is possible with regular visits to a dermatovenerologist, performing the necessary examinations and timely removal of formations.
Why do papillomas appear on the body?
There are many reasons that lead to virus activation. The most common is decreased immunity, which provokes uncontrolled cell reproduction. This is how innovations appear.
Also at risk are people who are debauched, often change partners, do not use reliable contraceptives. If a woman has HPV, she will pass it on to her baby at birth.
The ways the virus enters the body can be different. This is the unprotected relationship already mentioned, and skin-to-skin contact with the carrier. This 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 warm - it is high humidity that creates a favorable environmentfor infection. .
Human papillomavirus: what it is and how it is transmitted
HPV is a virus whose activity is manifested in a change in the nature of tissue growth. It enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes:
- mouth - during oral sex;
- genitals - during unprotected intercourse;
- rectum - during anal sex.
As long as a person's immunity is strong enough, the infection does not appear - in this case, it is called latent. Once the defense is reduced, it is activated, causing the cells to multiply. The result of unbalanced tissue growth is the appearance of benign neoplasms, which threaten to turn malignant.
The appearance of growths of various shapes and sizes on the skin is the main symptom of human papillomavirus. Most often, warts and other types of warts appear in those areas that are subject to mechanical stress, places characterized by increased sweating (armpits, palms). They can also occur in the genitals, around the anus.
The main routes of infection
- Sexual - occurs during sexual contact with a person who is a carrier of HPV. The virus can be infected through oral and anal sex.
- Family - is much less common, but still one of the main ones. Infection can be contracted in baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers. It penetrates through wounds, cracks and other skin damage.
- Birth transmission - HPV transmission from mother to baby is the rarest case. But he is also one of the most dangerous because of the threat of respiratory tract damage.
- Self-infection is also possible - it occurs when the infection is transferred from one part of the body to another (shave your legs by machine, remove unwanted hair).
Oncogenic viruses in the body do not indicate the development of cancer. However, they can cause malignant neoplasms to appear. The main factors of carcinogenesis are:
- Perverted sex life, many partners - including those with genital lesions with papillomas, condyloma.
- Presence of venereal and fungal diseases.
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices.
- Some gynecological diseases (endometriosis).
Are papillomas transmitted, why do they grow, and are they dangerous? We have answered all these questions above. Should tumors be removed? Yes, for several reasons:
- These are cosmetic flaws, which, unlike moles, do not add elegance, but cause serious discomfort - psychological and physical.
- Since growths occur more often in places that are subject to constant friction, mechanical stress from tight shoes, tight clothing, underwear, there is a high risk of injury. And this leads to the introduction of new infections.
- Accumulation of HPV provokes a pathological change in the cell genome, which can lead to oncology and other complications.
Earlier we said what papilloma is and why these neoplasms appear in the body. We advise you to respond to any changes in skin condition. At the same time, you should not try to remove the problem yourself to avoid the risk of skin infection and turning a benign wart into a malignant tumor. Modern medicine has effective non-surgical methods of treatment that will help you permanently forget about cosmetic defects and reduce the risk of developing oncology.
Varieties of papillomas: the 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, feet. The color is pink to yellow. Often such formations itch, cause discomfort.
- Vulgar - the most common variety. Most often they appear on the feet, hands, rise above the skin by 3-10 mm. An entire colony of warts can be born - from mother and daughter.
- Apex - most often occur in the anogenital area, they are small outlets with a single node or many small formations. Color - pink or red. All neoplasms of different sizes. They are either placed directly on the skin, or attached to it with a "foot", cause itching and discomfort and require timely removal. Such warts are called warts and are transmitted through sexual contact.
- Filamentous - these are exactly the papillomas 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 - chords. These are thread-like growths on the skin that look like a small knot, gradually growing and becoming oval, increasingly elongated. This type of wart appears in areas with thin skin that easily creates wrinkles, as well as in places characterized by excessive sweating - in the neck, armpits, chest, groin, near the eyes, eyelids, etc. .
- Papillomas of the bladder and urethra - most often neoplasms of this type occur in men. Symptoms: pain when urinating, pain in the lower abdomen, hematuria. Large growths can be removed by surgical excision. In this case, it is not the dermatovenerologist who deals with the diagnosis and treatment, but the urologist.
- Damage to the larynx, trachea, oral cavity - in this case, the warts look like papillae, which gradually grow, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the airways. If the vocal cords are affected, speech impairment is possible. This type of virus manifestation is especially dangerous for babies, who can become infected with it at birth from a mother who has transmitted the infection to the newborn.
We examined the types of papillomas and the reasons for their appearance in the body, we found out why and where non-aesthetic neoplasms appear, why they are dangerous. It remains to be seen how to get rid of a cosmetic defect that can lead to serious complications.
Diagnostic features
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 informative. It will help identify the DNA of the infection in samples of different secretions as well as determine the type of virus.
You may also need:
- Colposcopy.
- stain for cytology.
- Histological analysis.
Which methods remove papillomas
- Cauterization - produced by special preparations, which include highly purified chemicals - active ingredients that affect neoplasms.
- Liquid nitrogen removal - exposure to the affected area of skin at low temperatures. An immediate freezing of the damaged area is observed, as a result of which the site of neoplasm formation loses sensitivity, from pink or reddish to white. After a few weeks, the nitrogen-treated area heals. Disadvantage of this method: difficulty in determining the depth of exposure.
- Laser removal - in this case, the papillomas burn with a laser beam. After the session, a small wound remains on the skin, which should be treated regularly. He recovers within a few weeks after cauterization. There is no rehabilitation period, as the regeneration processes occur without the intervention of specialists. At the same time, at the site of wart localization no marks and scars remain. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not prescribed for various epidermal lesions, herpes and infectious diseases. Pregnancy is a contraindication to laser cauterization.
- Electrocoagulation is another method based on exposure to electricity. High temperature causes destruction of papillomas. However, when the skin is treated in this way, healthy areas are inevitably injured, which increases the healing time.
- Surgical removal - is prescribed if the neoplasms have grown to a large size and other methods are ineffective. The doctor uses local anesthesia. Sutures are placed after the operation. They are removed one week after wart removal.
- Popular methods - most often from papillomas use celandine juice, vinegar, garlic. It is believed that this helps burn the neoplasm. These methods are unsafe and can not reduce the risk of relapse. They often cause damage to the healthy areas of skin that surround the growth. We advise you not to engage in self-treatment, but to consult a doctor in time - only he can determine which of the listed methods is most effective in treating the problem.
Often patients of a dermatovenerologist ask if it is possible to get rid of HPV forever, which causes unpleasant redness. We remind you that the virus itself, which is located in the human body and provokes the uncontrolled reproduction of cells, can not be removed - it remains in it and will appear in moments of weakening of the immune system, during hormonal disruptions, during stress. As such, the treatment of the infection itself has not yet been invented. Only its external manifestations are eliminated - warts, papillomas and other types of warts.
The primary task of an HPV carrier is to reduce the risk of recurrence. For this you need:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene - including intimate ones.
- Use condoms during sexual intercourse, avoid debauchery.
- Maintain body protection.
- Avoid direct contact with carriers of the infection.
Among the remedies, the action of which helps to get rid of papillomas and reduce the risk of their recurrence, is a drug containing anti-inflammatory cytokines that block the synthesis of viral proteins. You can use this cream at home - applied once a day during the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Filiform warts are a phenomenon that signals the need for a thorough examination of the body. Do not forget about this and go to the doctor on time. Delay increases the risk of developing cancer. Do not try to remove the neoplasms yourself - folk methods are not very effective and can not guarantee complete disappearance of the clump. In addition, they can cause serious skin irritation, damage to it, which will cause secondary infection and worsen the situation. Use only those methods that your specialist advises. In combination with preventative measures, they will help to avoid relapses and forget about the problem for many years.