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 unique. Papillomas on the body, unfortunately, are a very common disease that develops due to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), but their treatment in modern conditions is not a problem.
What are papillomas on the body?
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows in the tissues of the squamous epithelium. It acts like a drop or papilla on the skin, mucous membranes and can affect the internal organs of a person. 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 form on the body. They differ in growth rate, appearance, location.
Papillomavirus can be detected anywhere in the body:
- natural folds: groin, armpits, mammary glands, lower abdomen;
- face: eyelids, near the eyes, near the mouth;
- torso: back, abdomen, neck, hands, feet;
- genitalia: vagina, penis area;
- internal organs: intestines, stomach, bladder, esophagus, larynx, trachea.
What a papilloma looks like
HPV may look different on the outside. As a general rule, these are oval growths on the body or rounded processes on the skin that resemble a papilla.
They can be small (1-5 mm), medium (1 cm), large (1-3 cm) and giant (more than 3 cm). The texture of the papules is relatively loose and soft. Intercalations of blood vessels are often visible on the surface.
The color is mainly meat and all varieties of brown. There are cases when the papillomas had a blue, purple, and even black and charcoal hue.
Why do papillomas appear?
These growths on the body are viral in nature. The infection is transmitted by contact with a carrier from a healthy person. Both men and women are equally susceptible to infection, but the virus affects them differently. The weaker sex can feel burning and itching in the genital area, bleeding and other strange 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. Regarding the papillomas on the genitals, frenulum and glans penis or in the urethra, these are painless benign neoplasms of type 6 and 11 that must be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Infection methods
The infection is especially active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, baths. Other reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the body are sexual intercourse, childbirth (from mother to child).
Here are some more ways to get infected with the human papillomavirus:
- when kissing, because the virus is contained in saliva;
- when using personal items of the infected;
- in case of insufficient processing of medical instruments.
Types and types
The number of types of neoplasms in the body is estimated in dozens, so doctors divided them into 5 groups, combining them by color, symptoms and risk of malignant degeneration of skin cells:
- 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 transforms into a dark keratinized tuber. It is located both in groups and individually. The favorite places to locate are the hands, the lower part of the face.
- Flat papillomas.A characteristic feature is a group accumulation of growths. Flat papillomas do not have a bulge, but are painted in a dark color. The main place of distribution is the upper part of the body, genital area.
- Genital warts.The location is the mucous membranes of the body and the genitals. These strains are at risk for cancer. The main cause of genital warts is sexual intercourse.
- Filiform papillomas.In the scientific world, they were given the name "acrochords". A characteristic feature of this species is the leg that supports the mole. Skin tags are senile growths, as they mainly appear on the body of middle-aged and elderly people.
- Internal papillomas.This subgroup includes all neoplasms that develop in internal organs. It is impossible to independently recognize genital warts from this group; this requires special diagnostics. The presence of a disease can reveal symptoms.
Virus Danger
Human papillomavirus infection is generally not a significant health hazard. However, some species are capable of degenerating into a malignant tumor. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also create a lot of inconvenience if they start to grow, for example on the back, in the mouth or in the groin area. They are often injured, after which sores and wounds remain on the body, open for infections. Condylomas of the bladder often provoke an inflammatory process, and growths in the uterine cavity sometimes lead to female infertility.
Diagnosis
If you notice a papilloma on your body, you should see 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 pathological processes and determine the type of viral infection in relation to oncogenic risk. If a tumor appears on the cervix, a colposcopy is required.
How to get rid of papillomas on the body
There are many methods to treat 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 medicines
When HPV first appears, doctors prescribe medications to reduce the chances of infecting other people. Various drugs are used to fight viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser removal
Often times, 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 papilloma removal takes several minutes. Its essence lies in the use of a device that burns a neoplasm. There is no contact with the skin, which guarantees a high safety of the procedure. The advantages of the technique include the absence of blood loss, painlessness and quick recovery.
Cons of laser treatment:
- high cost;
- inability to study remote growth.
Liquid Nitrogen
The removal of neoplasms with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) is no less effective. Although the procedure is simple, it requires preparation: wash the areas of the skin that will be frozen thoroughly, shave the hair, if any. To apply nitrogen, the specialist uses a metallic cotton-tipped swab, which is immersed in a container with a clear liquid. After that, contact with the papilloma occurs within 1-5 seconds. Recovery takes place in 2-3 days. The advantages of the procedure are the simplicity and speed of the procedure, high efficiency.
Disadvantages of the method:
- the probability of damage to surrounding tissues;
- pain while driving;
- fails to remove large growths,
Treatment of papillomas by the radio wave method
The essence of the technique is to influence the accumulation of high-frequency radio waves, which are completely harmless to health. To remove the papilloma, the doctor fixes the beam for several 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 be used even in difficult areas such as the eye area. There are no scars left after the procedure.
Disadvantages of the method:
- high cost;
- is not effective in removing large growths.
Electrocoagulation
A medical procedure in which benign growths are removed with a precisely coordinated electrical current. Electrocoagulation is performed with an apparatus equipped with a loop and an electrode, which are heated to high temperatures. The manipulation is done under local anesthesia. For children, the extraction is done under general anesthesia. After the tumor is burned, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure lasts 5-10 minutes.
Advantages of the method include the safety and efficacy of eliminating a skin disease, preventing the probability of infection, and the possibility of histology.
Disadvantages of electrocautery:
- risk of residual scars;
- relative pain;
- long recovery period (up to 10 days);
- at the extraction site, relapses may occur.
How to remove moles and papillomas with home remedies
According to reviews from patients with HPV, the use of alternative prescriptions after drug therapy and / or any method of elimination helps to eliminate the virus more quickly.
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 accelerate the therapy, it is necessary to apply the pulp of the fruit on the neoplasms. Banana is especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
The following preventive measures are shown to prevent a relapse:
- to perform periodic HPV tests;
- avoid casual sexual contact;
- maintain immunity: eat well, be well;
- monitor growth and change in shape of untreated papillomas;
- vaccinate with 2% serum (three times in six months).