What Causes Papillomas on the Body?

The human papilloma virus is one of the most common and is present in the body of 90% of the world's population. Most of its carriers are not even aware of its presence and do not find suspicious signs in themselves. That is why it has become widespread.

What are papillomas?

Papilloma is a benign pathological formation of viral etiology. The appearance of papillomas is caused by the action of the human papillomavirus (HPV). On the skin, it usually manifests itself in the form of cosmetic defects - warts and genital warts, on the larynx it can lead to respiratory failure, and on the mucous membrane of internal organs, bleeding and ulceration. There are 27 types of HPV: some of them are safe for health, others can turn into malignant tumors and lead to cancer.

When identifying, special attention should be paid to women, as they are at high risk of developing the cervix. Pregnant women during the gestation period have a risk of infection of the child.

HPV is characterized by a latent (latent) course, and while a person has strong immunity, the virus does not manifest itself in any way (the incubation period lasts from 2 weeks to several years). Under the influence of a number of factors, the virus is activated, multiplies and manifests itself clinically.

papilloma on the body why does it appear

The cause of infection with the papillomavirus.

Forms of HPV infection:

  • unprotected sex
  • contact with the skin and mucous membranes of the infected
  • use of the user's personal belongings
  • when visiting public places with high humidity and many people (swimming pool, sauna, beaches)

The most common is the sexual route of transmission of the virus, the domestic routes are rarely registered, since the virus lives in the environment for a short time.

Activation of the virus is facilitated by:

  • weakened immunity
  • infectious diseases
  • gastrointestinal tract discomfort
  • exacerbation of chronic diseases
  • the pregnancy
  • long-term use of a number of medications (antibiotics, blood thinners, etc. )
  • smoking, alcohol abuse
  • severe stress

Penetration of HPV is facilitated by microtrauma, cracks, abrasions, and other skin damage.

Papilloma symptoms

Symptoms depend on the location of the formation and the type of HPV. The first "bell" about the presence of the virus is an external manifestation in the form of genital warts (usually they appear in intimate places) and warts (they often form on the face, neck and extremities).

Less commonly, papillomas are accompanied by symptoms such as:

  • peeling, itching, redness (skin)
  • discomfort when walking (genitals)
  • discharge from the nipple (breast ducts)
  • difficulty breathing (larynx)
  • painful bowel movements (bowel)

Papilloma diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by a venereologist, dermatologist, immunologist, or gynecologist / urologist.

  1. Clinical examination - visual examination and conversation with the patient.
  2. Laboratory and instrumental tests are prescribed to obtain a complete picture of the disease:
    • general and biochemical blood tests
    • PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test: determines the type of virus and its amount in the body.

If the only method of treatment is the removal of papillomas, a biopsy of the material is performed in parallel to perform a cytological study and determine the cancer risk.

treatment methods

There are no drugs or methods that can completely remove HPV from the human body. The impacts are made only on the consequences of the virus. General antiviral therapy is performed in cases of highly oncogenic types of the virus located in the region of the anogenetic tract. Patients with previously diagnosed papillomas are advised to systematically examine and use barrier methods of contraception so as not to infect a partner with the virus.

It is recommended to remove the papillomas, since the virus in the epithelial cells causes them to multiply, form new papillomas or regenerate existing ones.

Depending on the location and symptoms of papillomas, they resort to the following removal methods:

  1. Laser surgery: The papilloma is treated with a surgical laser beam. This method does not require hospitalization, and the damaged area heals fairly quickly. The laser is used on the face and visible parts of the body.
  2. Radiosurgery is a non-contact exposure to high-frequency radio waves, under the influence of which a neoplasm is removed. This method is recognized as effective, but expensive.
  3. Cryodestruction: freezing a neoplasm with liquid nitrogen. Scars may remain at the site of exposure.
  4. Chemical destruction - cauterization with chemical acids. The procedure is quite sensitive and there is a high risk of touching adjacent tissues and suffering a chemical burn.
  5. Surgical excision: rarely used, in cases of suspicion of a malignant process.
  6. Home remedies: moxibustion of bulbs with home remedies (garlic, celandine, lemon balm, cabbage leaf, castor oil and others)

Currently, vaccines have been developed to prevent highly oncogenic types of the virus (species 16 and 18), which are used in many countries.

For the prevention of the disease, it is recommended to have protected sexual intercourse, use personal hygiene items, strengthen the immune system, and be periodically examined by an immunologist and a gynecologist. If you find symptoms of HPV, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately.