When breast-like growths appear on the trunk, limbs or face, it is always an unpleasant surprise for a person. These are benign growths on the skin that can be multiple or single. Papillomas on the body are unfortunately a very common disease that develops with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but its treatment in modern conditions is not a problem.
What are papillomas on the body
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows from flat epithelial tissues. It acts as 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 subtypes 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 on the body:
- Natural folds: groin, groin, mammary glands, lower abdomen;
- face: eyelids, eyes, edge;
- Body: back, abdomen, neck, arms, legs;
- Genitals: vagina, penis area; Internal organs: intestines, stomach, bladder, esophagus, larynx, trachea
What a papilloma looks like
HPV may look different. Typically, these are oval growths on the body or rounded processes on the skin that look like papillae.
They can be small (1-5 mm), medium (1 cm), large (1-3 cm) and giant (more than 3 cm) in size. The texture of the papules is relatively loose and soft. Vascular interests are often seen on the surface.
The color is mostly fleshy and all kinds of brown. There are cases when papillomas had blue, purple and even black-and-black shades.
Why do papillomas appear
These growths on the body are viral in nature. The infection is transmitted through contact with a healthy human carrier. Both women and men are equally susceptible to infection, but the virus acts differently on them. The weaker sex may feel burning and itching around the genitals, bleeding and other external discharge 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 virus 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 urinary tract, these are types 6 and 11 painless benign neoplasms that need to be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Infection methods
Infection is especially active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, baths. Other causes of papillomas on the body are sexual intercourse, childbirth (from mother to child).
Here are some other ways to get infected with human papillomavirus:
- during kissing because the virus contains saliva;
- when using infected personal items; In case of insufficient handling of medical instruments.
Types and types
The number of types of neoplasms on the body is tens, so doctors divided them into 5 groups, combining them according to color, symptoms and risk of malignant degeneration of skin cells:
- Simple papillomas.They are also called vulgar warts. Has the widest prevalence. The first sign of HPV is a small growth on the skin. During development, it transforms into a dark keratinized tubercle. It is localized both in groups and separately. Favorite places of localization are the hands, the lower part of the face.
- Flat papillomas.A characteristic feature is the accumulation of group growth. Flat papillomas have no swelling, but they are dark in color. The main site of distribution is the upper part of the body, around the genitals.
- Genital warts. Location is the body's mucous membranes and 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 called "Acrocords". A characteristic feature of this species is the leg, which supports the mole. Acrocorders 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 on internal organs. It is impossible to recognize genital warts of this group independently; This requires special diagnostics. The presence of the disease may indicate symptoms.
Danger of the virus
Human papillomavirus infection generally does not pose a significant health risk. However, some species can degenerate into malignant tumors. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also cause a lot of discomfort if they start to grow, for example, on the back, mouth or in the groin area. They are often damaged, after which ulcers and wounds remain on the body, open to infections. Bladder condyloma often provokes an inflammatory process, and growths in the uterine cavity sometimes cause female infertility.
Diagnostics
If you notice papilloma on your body, you should consult a dermatologist. After the initial examination, the doctor sends the patient for a cytological examination and blood test (tumor markers, HPV, DNA). This is necessary to identify pathological processes and the type of viral infection in relation to the oncogenic risk. If a cervical tumor appears, then a colposcopy is needed.
How to get rid of papillomas on the body
There are many methods of growth treatment. During complex therapy it is best to stop the growth of papillomas on the body. It is impossible to completely expel human papillomavirus from the body, but it is possible to reduce its activity by increasing immunity for a long time. Papule proliferation is treated with surgical and therapeutic methods. Folk recipes also help with HPV infection.
How to get rid of HPV medications
When HPV first appears, doctors prescribe medications to reduce the chances of infecting others. Various medications are used against viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser removal
People often resort to surgical removal of tumors if they look unaesthetic or cause discomfort, for example if they are in intimate areas, around the neck or in natural folds of skin. Laser removal of papillomas takes several minutes. Its essence lies in the use of a device that burns newcomers. There is no skin contact, which guarantees high safety of the procedure. The advantages of the technique include the absence of blood loss, painlessness and rapid 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 cotton swab, which is dissolved in a clean liquid container. After that, contact with the papilloma occurs in 1-5 seconds. Recovery takes 2-3 days. The advantages of the procedure are the simplicity and speed of the procedure, high efficiency.
Disadvantages of themethod:
- probability of damage to surrounding tissues;
- pain during conduction;
- Remove large growths,
Treatment of papillomas by radiofrequency 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 at the problem point for a few seconds. Medication therapy is prescribed after the procedure. The advantage of the radiofrequency method lies in its diversity - different types of warts, moles, papillomas easily disappear on any part of the skin. It can be used even in difficult areas such as the eye area. There are no scars after the procedure.
Disadvantages of themethod:
- high cost;
- is not effective for getting rid of large growths.
Electrocoagulation
A medical procedure in which benign growths are removed with a precisely coordinated electrical current. Electrocoagulation is performed by a device equipped with a loop and an electrode that is heated to a high temperature. The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia. Removal for children is performed under general anesthesia. After the tumor burns, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes.
The advantages of themethod include the safety and efficacy of removing skin disease, avoiding the likelihood of infection, and the possibility of histology.
Disadvantages of electrocautery:
- Residual scar risk;
- relative pain;
- long recovery period (up to 10 days);
- Relapses are possible at the site of removal.
How to remove moles and papillomas with folk remedies
According to a review of patients who were carriers of HPV, the use of alternative prescriptions and / or any method of removal after drug therapy can help to get rid of the virus more quickly.
The following methods are effective at home for external manifestations of papillomas:
- Celandine.It is necessary to lubricate the skin neoplasm with freshly squeezed juice of the plant several times a day.
- Bananas.To accelerate therapy it is necessary to use fruit pulp on neoplasms. Bananas are especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
The following preventive measures are shown to prevent recurrence:
Periodic testing for- HPV;
- Avoid casual sexual contact;
- Maintain immunity: eat right, in the mood;
- control the growth and change of shape of untreated papillomas;
- Vaccination with 2% serum (three times in six months).