If such an increase appears on a person’s skin, it begs the question, what changes have taken place in the body and are they not dangerous? Read on for helpful information on the characteristics of different types of papillomas. This information helps to detect the presence of such formations so that you can deal with them in a timely manner when needed.
Types of papillomas
Why do these processes often appear on the skin with age? These changes in the skin are provoked by human papillomavirus, or HPV for short. After infection with such a pathogen, the patient suffers from papillomatosis, in which warts of various forms appear on the skin or mucous membranes. These increases are benign, but certain types of papillomas are at high risk for rebirth as a malignancy. For this reason, be sure to consult a doctor if you notice such changes in your skin!
Medicine knows more than 40 types of papillomaviruses that cause different forms of the disease in humans. The type of virus that enters the body depends on what the papilloma looks like, because the infection is manifested externally by different formations on the surface of the body. According to the general classification, the following types of growth are distinguished.
- Simple, also called vulgar-keratinized, dark-colored growth.
- Plantar - affects the soles.
- Acrochords are fibrous formations whose bodies rest on one leg.
- Flat formations or common warts - often found in adolescents in the hands, fingers, face.
- Pointed - located on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, genitals or rectum.
- Scaly cells - consist of a flat epithelium that has grown due to the effect of the virus and a stroma (the base of the connective tissue and blood vessels).
- Basal cell - grows from cells in the basal layer of the epidermis or hair follicles.
- Internal - they are not formed in the area of the visible parts of the body, but where they are difficult to detect, such as the larynx or bladder.
Pointed
Such growth is often referred to as warts. Their characteristic features are small size and special shape: wide base and sharp tip. These warts are flesh-colored or slightly pink in color and appear individually or in groups. They are characterized by rapid growth: in a few days, where there was only one growth, a whole group of them emerges. It resembles a cauliflower inflorescence in the shape of a family. Genital warts are often located on the mucous membranes: in the mouth, tongue, and in the genital area or near the anus.
Squamous
This form of skin growth caused by the HPV virus is one of the most common as it can have a very wide localization throughout the body. What does this type of papilloma look like? These are round or oval-shaped, flat formations that protrude slightly above the surface of the skin — up to 1 mm — can be soft and show signs of keratinization. They often appear in groups, practically no different in color from the surrounding cover.
Such growths occur mainly in the upper body: on the face (e. g. , nose or lips), neck. They often appear on the mucous membranes: inside the mouth, on the face, or on the tongue. Squamous cell tumors can be diagnosed in the esophagus, larynx, urinary tract, and even rectum. People with this formation are advised to remove them as there is a high risk of degeneration into a malignant form.
Base cell
These growths are often referred to as basal cell carcinomas or senile warts because they often affect the skin of older people. These formations grow slowly from the basal layer of the epidermis (hence the name) or hair follicles, appearing on the surface of the skin in the form of papillae from pink to dark brown. The areas of the body where basal cell carcinoma is common are the armpits, back, lips and nose. Their distinguishing feature is that they never degenerate into cancerous tumors and are therefore considered safe.
What are papillomas like in intimate places
When it comes to formations in the genital area, we mean pointed formations. Papillomas of this type are ingrown cells in the upper layer of the epithelium that appear to be groups of small papillae. Such increases can affect both sexes equally often. They are located in the groin and directly on the surface of the genitals: in men - in the head of the penis or in the lumen of the urethra, in women - on the mucous membrane of the vagina, on the surface of the cervix and in the uterus itself.
Manifestations of changes in the structure of the genital organs resulting from human infection with the HPV virus require special attention from the patient. You need to see a doctor and remove genital growth because the transition to such a disease into a chronic form significantly increases the risk of infertility and oncology.
Photo: what papillomas look like on the body
In order to have an accurate and clear idea of what these formations are, it will be helpful to look at the images to see what such growths look like. Check out this selection of photos that show examples of different types of papillomas. Use these photos to check on the growth of you or your loved ones and determine in advance whether it is mandatory to remove these warts and prevent serious health risks.
