Papilloma: what it is, what it comes from and what types there are

Papillomas are a problem that many people face. They can appear on different parts of the body, in some cases they are extremely painful, in some they do not cause discomfort. In any case, they become cosmetic flaws that bring a lot of anxiety. The excitement is not groundless, since a virus that provokes the development of formations on the skin can lead to oncology.

Most of the world's population is a carrier of HPV. This does not mean that we are threatened with a massive epidemic of cancer and other diseases that can occur against the background of a weakened immune system and the appearance of warts, condylomas, and other skin defects. The main task of the patient is to reduce oncogenic risk. This is possible with regular visits to a dermatovenereologist, conducting the necessary examinations and timely removal of formations.

Why papillomas appear on the body

There are many reasons leading to the activation of the virus. The most common is a decrease in immunity, which provokes uncontrolled cell reproduction. This is how innovations appear.

Also at risk are people who are promiscuous, often change partners, do not use reliable contraceptives. If a woman has HPV, she will pass it on to her baby during childbirth.

The ways the virus enters the body can be different. This is the already mentioned unprotected intercourse, and skin-to-skin contact with the carrier. That is why it is important to follow the simplest rules of hygiene: wash your hands after traveling in public transport, do not walk barefoot in pools and saunas, where it is humid and warm - it is high humidity that creates a favorable environment for infection.

Human papillomavirus: what is it and how is it transmitted

HPV is a virus whose activity is manifested in a change in the nature of tissue growth. It enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes:

• mouth - during oral sex;
• genital organs - during unprotected intercourse;
• rectum - during anal sex.

As long as a person's immunity is strong enough, the infection does not manifest itself - in this case, it is called latent. As soon as the defenses are reduced, it is activated, causing the cells to multiply. The result of unbalanced tissue growth is the appearance of neoplasms - benign, threatening to turn into malignant.

The appearance of growths of different shapes and sizes on the skin is the main symptom of the human papillomavirus. Most often, condylomas and other types of warts appear in those areas that are subjected to mechanical stress, places characterized by increased sweating (armpits, palms). They can also occur on the genitals, around the anus.

Main routes of infection

• Sexual - occurs during sexual contact with a person who is a carrier of HPV. The virus can be contracted through oral and anal sex.
• Household - is much less common, but still one of the main ones. Infection can be obtained in baths, pools, saunas, showers. It penetrates through wounds, cracks and other damage to the skin.
• Transmission during childbirth - transmission of HPV from mother to infant is the rarest case. But he is also one of the most dangerous because of the threat of damage to the respiratory tract.
• Self-infection is also possible - it happens when the infection is transferred from one part of the body to another (shaving the legs with a machine, removing unwanted hair).

Oncogenic viruses in the body do not indicate the development of cancer. However, they can cause the occurrence of malignant neoplasms. The main factors of carcinogenesis are:

• Promiscuous sex life, many partners - including those with lesions of the genitals with papillomas, condylomas.
• The presence of venereal and fungal diseases.
• Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device.
• Some gynecological diseases (endometriosis).

Are papillomas transmitted, why do they grow and are they dangerous? We have answered all these questions above. Should tumors be removed? Yes, for several reasons:

• These are cosmetic flaws, which, unlike moles, do not add charm, but cause serious discomfort - both psychological and physical.
• Since growths most often occur in places subject to constant friction, mechanical stress from tight shoes, tight-fitting clothing, underwear, there is a high risk of damage. And this leads to the introduction of new infections.
• The accumulation of HPV provokes a pathological change in the cellular genome, which can lead to oncology and other complications.

Earlier we said what papilloma is and why these neoplasms appear on the body. We advise you to respond to all changes in the condition of the skin. At the same time, you should not try to get rid of the problem on your own in order to avoid the risk of skin infection and the transformation of a benign wart into a malignant tumor. Modern medicine has effective non-surgical treatments that will help you forget about cosmetic defects forever and reduce the risk of developing oncology.

Varieties of papillomas: main types and their characteristics

• Flat warts are most often round or oval. They practically do not rise above the surface of the epidermis, similar to burns obtained after contact with nettle leaves. Most often they occur during puberty. Places of localization: neck, hands, face, shins. Color is pinkish to yellowish. Often such formations itch, cause discomfort.
• Vulgar - the most common variety. Most often appear on the feet, hands, rise above the skin by 3-10 mm. A whole colony of warts can arise - from the mother and daughter.
• Pointed - most often occur in the anogenital zone, they are small outgrowths with a single nodule or many small formations. Color - pink or red. All neoplasms of different sizes. They are either located directly on the skin, or attached to it with a "leg", cause itching and discomfort, and require timely removal. Such warts are called warts and are transmitted through sexual contact.
• Filamentous - these are the very papillomas that we started talking about at the beginning of the article. Most often they appear in people over 35 years of age, their growth increases with age. This phenomenon has another name - acrochords. These are thread-like growths on the skin that look like a small nodule, gradually growing and becoming oval, more and more elongated. This type of wart occurs in areas with thin skin that easily forms wrinkles, as well as in places characterized by excessive sweating - on the neck, in the armpits, under the breasts, in the groin, near the eyes, on the eyelids, etc.
• Papillomas of the bladder and urethra - most often neoplasms of this type appear in men. Symptoms: pain during urination, pain in the lower abdomen, hematuria. Large growths can be removed by surgical excision. In this case, it is not the dermatovenereologist who deals with the diagnosis and treatment, but the urologist.
• The defeat of the larynx, trachea, oral cavity - in this case, the warts look like papillae, which gradually grow, which leads to a decrease in the lumen of the airways. If the vocal cords are affected, speech impairment is possible. This type of manifestation of the virus is especially dangerous for infants, who can become infected with it during childbirth from a mother who transmitted the infection to the newborn.

We examined the types of papillomas and the reasons for their appearance on the body, found out why and where unaesthetic neoplasms appear from, why they are dangerous. It remains to understand how to get rid of a cosmetic defect that can lead to serious complications.

Features of diagnostics

To find out which method will be most effective, consult a dermatovenerologist. He will prescribe an HPV test (PCR). The method used is one of the most informative. It will help identify the DNA of infection in samples of various secretions, as well as determine the type of virus.

You may also need:

• Colposcopy.
• smear for cytology.
• Histological analysis.

What methods remove papillomas

• Cauterization - is produced by special preparations, which include highly purified chemicals - active components that affect neoplasms.
• Removal with liquid nitrogen - exposure to the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin at low temperatures. There is an instant freezing of the damaged area, as a result of which the site of the formation of the neoplasm loses its sensitivity, from pink or reddish to white. After a few weeks, the area treated with nitrogen heals. The disadvantage of this method: the difficulty of determining the depth of exposure.
• Laser removal - in this case, papillomas are burned out with a laser beam. After the session, a small wound remains on the skin, which must be treated regularly. It heals within a few weeks after cauterization. There is no rehabilitation period, since the regeneration processes occur without the intervention of specialists. At the same time, no scars and scars remain at the site of localization of warts. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not prescribed for various injuries of the epidermis, herpes, and infectious diseases. Pregnancy is a contraindication to laser cauterization.
• Electrocoagulation is another method based on exposure to electric current. High temperature causes the destruction of papillomas. However, when treating the skin in this way, healthy areas are inevitably injured, which increases the healing time.
• Surgical removal - is prescribed if the neoplasms have grown to large sizes and other methods are ineffective. The doctor uses local anesthesia. After the operation, sutures are applied. They are removed a week after the removal of the wart.
• Folk methods - most often from papillomas they use celandine juice, vinegar, garlic. It is believed that this helps to burn out the neoplasm. These methods are unsafe and cannot reduce the risk of relapse. They often cause damage to healthy areas of the skin surrounding the growth. We advise you not to get involved in self-treatment, but to consult a doctor in time - only he can determine which of the listed methods is most effective in dealing with the problem.

Often patients of a dermatovenereologist ask if it is possible to permanently get rid of HPV, which causes unpleasant rashes. We remind you that the virus itself, which is in the human body and provokes uncontrolled cell reproduction, cannot be removed - it remains in it and will manifest itself in moments of weakening of the immune system, during hormonal disruptions, and stress. As such, the treatment of the infection itself has not yet been invented. Only its external manifestations are eliminated - warts, papillomas, and other types of warts.

The main task of an HPV carrier is to reduce the risk of relapse. For this you need:

• Observe the rules of personal hygiene - including intimate.
• Use condoms during sexual contact, avoid promiscuity.
• Maintain the body's defenses.
• Avoid direct contact with carriers of the infection.

Among the means whose action helps to get rid of papillomas and reduce the risk of their recurrence, is a drug that contains anti-inflammatory cytokines that block the synthesis of viral proteins. You can use this cream at home - it is applied once a day during the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.

Filiform warts are a phenomenon that signals the need for a full examination of the body. Do not forget about it and go to the doctor on time. Delay increases the risk of developing cancer. Do not try to remove neoplasms on your own - folk methods are not very effective and cannot guarantee the complete disappearance of the build-up. In addition, they can cause serious skin irritation, damage to it, which will cause secondary infection and aggravate the situation. Use only those methods that the specialist advises. In combination with preventive measures, they will help to avoid relapses and forget about the problem for many years.