When nipple-like growths appear on the trunk, limbs or face, it is always an unpleasant surprise for a person. These are benign formations on the skin, which can be multiple or single. Papillomas on the body, unfortunately, are a very common disease that develops as a result of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), but its treatment in modern conditions is not a problem.
What are papillomas on the body
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows from the tissues of the squamous epithelium. It acts as a drop or a papilla on the skin, mucous membranes and can affect a person's internal organs. There are more than 30 types and subspecies of HPV that can easily enter the human body. Depending on the type of pathogen, different groups of papillomas are formed on the body. They differ in growth rate, appearance, location.
Papillomavirus can be detected anywhere on the body:
- natural folds: groin, armpits, mammary glands, lower abdomen;
- face: eyelids, near the eyes, near the mouth;
- trunk: back, abdomen, neck, hands, feet;
- genitals: vagina, penile area;
- internal organs: intestine, stomach, bladder, esophagus, larynx, trachea.
What a papilloma looks like
The HPV may look different on the outside. As a rule, these are oval growths on the body or rounded processes on the skin that resemble a papilla.
They can be small (1-5mm), medium (1cm), large (1-3cm) and giant (over 3cm) size. The consistency of the papules is relatively loose and soft. The intersections of blood vessels are often visible on the surface.
The color is mainly flesh and all varieties of brown. There are cases when the papillomas had a blue, purple and even black and black shade.
Why do papillomas appear
These growths on the body are viral in nature. The infection is transmitted by contact with a carrier of a healthy person. Both men and women are equally susceptible to infections, but they are affected differently by the virus. The weaker sex may experience burning and itching in the genital area, bleeding and other foreign secretions from the vagina. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by syphilis, chlamydia, herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Men are not afraid of certain types of viruses that are dangerous to women (16, 18). However, the stronger sex is a carrier of infections. As for papillomas on the genitals, frenulum and glans penis or in the urethra, these are painless benign neoplasms of types 6 and 11 that must be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Methods of infection
The infection is particularly active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, bathrooms. Other reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the body are sexual intercourse, childbirth (from mother to child).
Here are some other ways to get infected with the human papillomavirus:
- when kissing, because the virus is contained in the saliva;
- when using personal items of the infected;
- in case of insufficient treatment of medical tools.
Types and types
The number of types of neoplasms on the body is estimated in the dozen, so doctors divided them into 5 groups, combining them for color, symptoms and risk of malignant skin cell degeneration:
- Simple papillomas.They are also called vulgar warts. It has the widest prevalence. The first sign of HPV is a small growth on the skin. In the process of development, it turns into a dark keratinized tubercle. It is localized both in groups and individually. Favorite places of localization are the hands, the lower part of the face.
- Flat papillomas.A characteristic feature is the accumulation of clusters of growths. Flat papillomas do not have a bulge, but are painted in a dark color. The main place of distribution is the upper body, the genital area.
- Genital warts.The location is the mucous membranes of the body and genitals. These strains are at risk of oncogenicity. The main cause of genital warts is sexual intercourse.
- Filiform papillomas.In the scientific world, they have been given the name "acrochords". A feature of this species is the leg that supports the mole. Acrochords are senile growths, as they appear mainly on the body of middle-aged and elderly people.
- Internal papillomas.This subgroup includes all neoplasms that develop on internal organs. It is impossible to independently recognize the genital warts of this group, this requires special diagnostics. The presence of a disease can cause symptoms.
Danger of viruses
Human papillomavirus infection is generally not a serious health hazard. However, some species are capable of degenerating into a malignant tumor. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also create a lot of discomfort if they start growing, for example, on the back, in the mouth or in the groin area. They are often injured, after which ulcers and wounds remain on the body, open to infection. Bladder warts often provoke an inflammatory process, and growths in the uterine cavity sometimes lead to female infertility.
Diagnostics
If you notice a papilloma on your body, you should consult a dermatologist. After the initial examination, the doctor will send the patient for a cytological examination and a blood test (tumor markers, HPV, DNA). This is necessary to determine the pathological processes and to determine the type of viral infection in relation to the oncogenic risk. If cervical cancer appears, a colposcopy is required.
How to get rid of papillomas on the body
There are many methods of treating growths. It is better to stop the growth of papillomas on the body during complex therapy. It is impossible to completely expel the human papillomavirus from the body, but it is possible to reduce its activity for a long time by increasing immunity. The proliferation of papules is treated with surgical and therapeutic methods. Folk recipes also help during HPV infection.
How to get rid of HPV with drugs
When HPV first appears, doctors prescribe drugs to reduce the chances of infecting others. Various drugs are used to fight viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser removal
Often people resort to surgical removal of growths if they look unsightly or cause discomfort, for example if they are in intimate places, in the neck area or in natural skin folds. Laser removal of papillomas takes several minutes. Its essence lies in the use of a device that burns a neoplasm. There is no contact with the skin, which ensures a high safety of the procedure. The advantages of the technique include the absence of blood loss, painless and quick recovery.
Disadvantages of laser treatment:
- high cost;
- inability to study remote growth.
Liquid nitrogen
Removal of neoplasms with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) is no less effective. Although the procedure is simple, it requires preparation: thoroughly wash the areas of skin that will be frozen, shave the hair, if any. To apply nitrogen, the specialist uses a metal swab with a cotton tip, which is dipped into a container with a clear liquid. Subsequently, contact with the papilloma occurs within 1-5 seconds. Recovery occurs within 2-3 days. The advantages of the procedure are simplicity and speed, high efficiency.
Disadvantages of the method:
- the probability of damage to surrounding tissues;
- pain when conducting;
- failure to remove large growths,
Treatment of papillomas by the radio wave method
The essence of the technique is to influence the formation of high-frequency radio waves, which are completely harmless to health. To remove the papilloma, the doctor fixes the beam for a few seconds at the problem spot. After the procedure, drug therapy is prescribed. The advantage of the radio wave method lies in its versatility: different types of warts, moles, papillomas on any part of the skin disappear easily. It can also be used for difficult areas such as the eye contour. There are no scars after the procedure.
Disadvantages of the method:
- high cost;
- is not effective for removing large growths.
Electrocoagulation
A medical procedure in which benign growths are removed with a perfectly coordinated electric current. Electrocoagulation is performed with an apparatus equipped with a ring and an electrode, which are heated to high temperatures. Manipulation is performed under local anesthesia. For children, the removal is done under general anesthesia. After burning the tumor, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes.
The advantages of the method include the safety and effectiveness of removing a skin disease, preventing the likelihood of infection and the possibility of histology.
Disadvantages of electrocautery:
- risk of residual scarring;
- relative pain;
- long recovery period (up to 10 days);
- at the removal site, relapses are possible.
How to remove moles and papillomas with folk remedies
According to the reviews of HPV patients, the use of alternative recipes after drug therapy and / or any method of removal helps to remove the virus faster.
At home, in case of external manifestations of papillomas, the following methods are effective:
- Celandine.It is necessary to lubricate the skin with a neoplasm with freshly squeezed plant juice several times a day.
- Banana.To speed up the therapy, it is necessary to apply the pulp of the fruit to the neoplasms. Banana is especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
The following preventive measures are indicated to prevent relapse:
- to do periodic tests for HPV;
- avoid casual sexual contact;
- keep immunity: eat well, temper;
- controls the growth and change in shape of untreated papillomas;
- vaccinate with 2% serum (three times within six months).