Papilloma is a benign skin tumor in the form of small growths and warts.Today it has been proven that papillomas are of viral origin.You can become infected with the disease through family contact, when the virus enters the skin through small injuries and microcracks.Currently, several main types of papillomas have been discovered: flat, simple, plantar, filiform and pointed.There are papillomas that are transmitted through unprotected sex.Such neoplasms are called genital warts and pose a great risk to a woman's health.The place of their localization is the external genital organ, the cervix.Such papillomas usually go unnoticed, because they do not reveal their presence in any way.However, there is a high probability of their transformation into a malignant tumor of the cervical mucosa.
Causes of papillomas
The cause of the disease is the human papillomavirus (abbreviated HPV), which belongs to the Papoviridae family.Once in the human body, the papilloma virus invades the basal cells of the epithelium, where it actively reproduces.The appearance of papillomas or warts on the skin is the result of high virus activity.The neoplasm itself consists of epithelial tissue containing blood vessels, so its damage can lead to bleeding.
The formation of most papillomas located on the outside of the body is not associated with the appearance of any symptoms.Sometimes they can be felt with a tingling sensation and slight itching of the skin.Papilloma can be recognized by its appearance.Externally, it is a small growth that rises above the skin and, as a rule, does not change in color from it.Sometimes light brown papillomas are found.Large neoplasms, reaching two centimeters and located in open areas of the body (neck, décolletage, face), can cause aesthetic concerns.
The cause of papilloma is most often a weakened immune system that is not able to cope with the virus that has entered the body in time.Risk factors include: smoking, alcohol abuse, frequent stress, diseases of the digestive system, promiscuity.You can also get infected by this disease when you visit swimming pools, saunas and public baths.Papilloma is transmitted from mother to child at birth.Located in the deep layers of the epithelium and not being felt, the virus is considered dormant;it poses no threat to either its carrier or its environment.Therefore, its presence in the human body is not an indication for treatment.Papilloma becomes contagious when it reaches the upper layers of the skin and is located on its surface in the form of a visible neoplasia.
Treatment of papillomas
Self-treatment of papilloma is not recommended.At best, the result will be the absence of a positive result;at worst, a secondary infection will get under the skin.You cannot remove the papilloma yourself, pull it out or comb or scratch it with your nails.A wrongly removed papilloma will form again in the same place after some time.Therefore, this delicate issue should be entrusted to a specialist - a dermatologist.
Today there are several ways to remove papilloma:
- Electrocoagulation;
- Laser removal;
- Knife radio removal;
- Cryodestruction.
Electrocoagulation involves exposing the affected area of the skin to a high-frequency current, under the influence of which the protein tissue coagulates.Anesthesia is used in case of removal of large papilloma.The main advantage of this method is that the removal procedure itself is completely bloodless, after which no visible traces of medical intervention remain on the skin.
The use of lasers for medical purposes has made life much easier for both doctors and patients.Today, much more serious operations are performed using lasers than the removal of an ordinary wart.The laser method for removing benign skin tumors is known worldwide.It has many advantages: quick procedure, without comparative pain, lack of blood and marks on the skin that are created after removing the papilloma with the surgeon's scalpel.After the laser removal of the papilloma, a thin protective layer is formed on the patient's skin, which disappears by itself after 12-14 days, leaving in its place healthy skin that does not differ from the rest of the body.
For patients who are afraid of the reappearance of the papilloma or have already had an unsuccessful experience of getting rid of it, it is recommended to remove the tumor using a special radio knife, which cuts the entire area of the epithelial tissue together with the papilloma located in it.The operation, of course, is performed using anesthesia and guarantees lifelong relief from papilloma in this area of the skin.
Another modern way to remove unwanted defects on the skin is cryodestruction - cauterization of the tumor using liquid nitrogen.The procedure itself is painless, but there is a drawback - in some cases, for example, with genital warts, it is ineffective.
A specialist can advise which method is most effective for papilloma removal in each specific case.Once you have decided to get rid of the unpleasant manifestation of the virus on your skin once and for all, you should pay special attention to the institution in which the procedure itself will be performed.Now many beauty salons offer the removal of moles, papillomas and warts at a relatively low fee, but most of them cannot guarantee the complete safety of removal and the absence of unwanted consequences.As practice shows, it is recommended to remove all skin tumors, including papillomas, only in medical institutions and after consultation with a dermatologist, who will diagnose the disease, determine its exact origin and only then prescribe the removal procedure.