When nipple-like outgrowths appear on the torso, limbs, or face, it is always an unpleasant surprise for a person. These are benign formations on the skin that can be multiple or single. Unfortunately, papillomas in the body are a very common disease that develops as a result of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but treating them is not a problem in today’s circumstances.
What are papillomas in the body
Papillomavirus is a benign tumor that grows out of the tissues of the scaly epithelium. It acts as a drop or papilla on the skin, mucous membranes, and can affect a person’s internal organs. 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 are formed in the body. They differ in growth rate, appearance and location.
Papillomavirus can be detected anywhere in the body:
- natural folds: loins, armpits, mammary glands, lower abdomen;
- face: eyelids, near the eyes, near the mouth;
- torso: back, abdomen, neck, hands, feet;
- genitals: vagina, penis area;
- Internal organs: intestines, stomach, bladder, esophagus, larynx, trachea.
What does your papilloma look like
HPV may look different from the outside. As a general rule, these are oval growths of the body or rounded processes of the skin that resemble the papilla.
They can be small (1-5 mm), medium (1 cm), large (1-3 cm) and giant (over 3 cm). The texture of the papules is relatively loose and soft. Stains of blood vessels are often visible on the surface.
The color is mostly meat and all kinds of brown. There have been cases where papillomas have been blue, violet, and even black-carbon shades.
Why papillomas appear
These growths in the body are viral in nature. The infection is spread by contact with the carrier of a healthy person. Both men and women are susceptible to infections, but they are affected by the virus in different ways. 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 the virus that are dangerous to women (16, 18). However, the stronger is not a carrier of infections. As for papillomas in the genitals, frenulum, and glans penis or urethra, these are painless benign tumors, types 6 and 11, that need to be removed. Penile cancer is very rare.
Infection Methods
The infection is especially active in gyms, swimming pools, saunas, baths. Other causes of papillomas in the body are sexual intercourse, childbirth (from mother to child).
Here are some other ways to infect human papillomavirus:
- when kissing because the virus is contained in saliva;
- when using infected personal items;
- In case of insufficient processing of medical instruments.
Types and types
The number of tumor types in the body is estimated at dozens, so doctors divided them into 5 groups, combining them according to color, symptoms, and risk of malignant degeneration of skin cells:
- They are also called vulgar warts. It is the most widespread. The first sign of HPV is a small increase in skin. During development, it transforms into a dark keratinized tuber. It is localized in groups and individually. My favorite location is the hand, the lower part of the face.
- Flat papillomas.Group accumulation of growth is typical. Flat papillomas have no bulge, but are painted in a dark color. The main site of spread is the upper body, the area of the genitals.
- Sexual warts.The site is the mucous membranes of the body and the genitals. These strains are endangered by cancer. The main cause of genital warts is sexual intercourse.
- Filiform papillomas.In the scientific world, it was called "acrochord". A characteristic feature of this species is the support legs of the mole. Acrochords are senile growths as they appear mainly on the bodies of middle-aged and elderly people.
- Internal papillomas.This subgroup includes all neoplasms that develop in the internal organs. It is impossible to independently recognize the genital warts of this group, this requires special diagnostics. The presence of the disease can cause symptoms.
Virus threat
Human papillomavirus infection does not usually pose a serious health risk. However, some species are able to degenerate into malignant tumors. Non-oncogenic papillomas can also cause a lot of discomfort if they start to grow on their back, mouth, or groin area, for example. They are often injured, after which ulcers and wounds remain on the body, open to infections. Bladder warts often trigger an inflammatory process, and growths in the uterine cavity sometimes lead to 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 cytology and blood tests (tumor markers, HPV, DNA). This is needed to determine pathological processes and the type of viral infection in the context of oncogenic risk. If cervical cancer appears, colposcopy is required.
How to get rid of papillomas in the body
There are several ways to treat growth. During complex therapy, it is better to stop the growth of papillomas in the body. It is impossible to completely expel human papillomavirus from the body, but by increasing immunity, its activity can be reduced for a long time. The growth of papules is treated by surgical and therapeutic methods. Folk recipes also help with HPV infection.
How to get rid of HPV with medication
When HPV first appears, doctors prescribe medication to reduce the chance of others becoming infected. Various drugs are used to combat viral infections in gynecology and dermatology.
Laser removal
People often resort to surgical removal of tumors if they appear aesthetically pleasing or cause discomfort, such as when they are in intimate areas, around the neck, or in natural folds of skin. Laser removal of papillomas takes several minutes. The point is to use a device that burns a neoplasm. There is no contact with the skin, which guarantees a high safety of the procedure. Advantages of the technique include blood loss, pain relief and lack of rapid healing.
Disadvantages of laser treatment:
- high cost;
- Impossibility to study distant growth.
Liquid nitrogen
Removal of neoplasms with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction) is no less effective. Although the procedure is simple, it requires preparation: wash the frosty areas of skin thoroughly, shave the hair, if any. To apply the nitrogen, the person skilled in the art uses a metal-tipped cotton swab dipped in a container with a clear liquid. Thereafter, contact with the papilloma occurs within 1-5 seconds. Recovery will take place within 2-3 days. The advantages of the process are the simplicity and speed of the process, high efficiency.
Disadvantages of this method:
- probability of damage to surrounding tissues;
- pain while driving;
- Failed to remove large increments,
Radio wave treatment of papillomas
The essence of the technique is to influence the recovery of high-frequency radio waves that are completely safe for health. To remove the papilloma, the doctor fixes the beam at the problem point for a few seconds. After the procedure, drug therapy is prescribed. The advantage of the radio wave method lies in its versatility - various warts, moles and papillomas can easily disappear on any part of the skin. It can even be used in difficult areas such as the eye area. There is no scar after the procedure.
Disadvantages of this 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 a device equipped with a loop and an electrode, which are heated to a high temperature. Manipulation is performed under local anesthesia. In children, removal is performed under general anesthesia. After the tumor has burned, the skin is treated with an antiseptic. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes.
Advantages of the method include the safety and efficacy of skin disease removal, prevention of 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);
- Relapses at the removal site are possible.
How to remove moles and papillomas with folk remedies
Patients with HPV believe that using alternative prescriptions after drug therapy and / or any removal method will help remove the virus more quickly.
At home, the following methods are effective for the external manifestations of papillomas:
- Banana.In order to speed up the therapy, the fruit pulp should be applied to the neoplasms. Bananas are especially effective for small plantar warts.
Prevention
Here's how to prevent relapse:
- performing periodic tests for HPV;
- avoid occasional sexual contact;
- preserves immunity: eat right, anxiously;
- regulates the growth and shape of untreated papillomas;
- inoculate with 2% serum (three times in six months).