Papilloma is a benign skin tumor in the form of small growths and warts.Today it has been proven that papillomas are of viral origin.You can become infected with the disease through household contact, when the virus enters the skin through minor damage and microcracks.Currently, several main types of papillomas have been discovered: flat, simple, plantar, filiform, and pointed.There are papillomas that are transmitted through unprotected sex.Such neoplasms are called genital warts and pose a great danger to a woman’s health.The place of their localization is the external genitalia, the cervix.Such papillomas usually go unnoticed because they do not reveal their presence in any way.However, there is a high probability of their transformation into a malignant tumor of the cervical mucosa.
Causes of papillomas
The cause of the disease is the human papillomavirus (abbreviated HPV), which belongs to the Papoviridae family.Once in the human body, the papilloma virus invades the basal cells of the epithelium, where it actively reproduces.The appearance of papilloma or warts on the skin is the result of high virus activity.The neoplasm itself consists of epithelial tissue containing blood vessels, so injury to it can lead to bleeding.
The formation of most papillomas localized on the external integument of the body is not accompanied by the appearance of any symptoms.Sometimes they can make themselves felt by mild tingling and itching of the skin.Papilloma can be recognized by its appearance.Externally, it is a small growth that rises above the skin and, as a rule, does not differ in color from it.Sometimes light brown papillomas are found.Large neoplasms, reaching two centimeters and localized in open areas of the body (neck, décolleté, face), can cause aesthetic discomfort.
The cause of papilloma is most often a weakened immune system that is unable to cope with the virus that has entered the body in time.Risk factors include: smoking, alcohol abuse, frequent stress, diseases of the digestive system, promiscuity.You can also become infected with the disease when visiting swimming pools, saunas and public baths.Papilloma is transmitted from mother to baby at birth.Located in the deep layers of the epithelium and not making itself felt, the virus is considered dormant; it does not pose a threat to either its carrier or his environment.Therefore, its presence in the human body is not an indication for treatment.Papilloma becomes contagious when it reaches the upper layers of the skin and is localized above its surface in the form of a visible neoplasm.
Treatment of papillomas
Self-treatment of papilloma is not recommended.At best, the result will be the absence of a positive result; at worst, a secondary infection will be introduced under the skin.You cannot remove papilloma yourself, pull it out, or comb or scratch it with your nails.An incorrectly removed papilloma will form again in the same place after some time.Therefore, this delicate matter should be entrusted to a specialist - a dermatologist.
Today there are several ways to remove papilloma:
- Electrocoagulation;
- Laser removal;
- Removal with radio knife;
- Cryodestruction.
Electrocoagulation involves exposing the affected area of the skin to a high-frequency current, under the influence of which protein tissue coagulates.Anesthesia is used in case of removal of large papilloma.The main advantage of this method is that the removal procedure itself is completely bloodless, after which no noticeable traces of medical intervention remain on the skin.
The use of lasers for medical purposes has made life much easier for both doctors and patients.Today, much more serious operations are performed using lasers than removing an ordinary wart.The laser method for removing benign skin tumors is recognized throughout the world.It has many advantages: a quick procedure, comparative painlessness, absence of blood and scars on the skin that form after removing the papilloma with a surgeon’s scalpel.After laser removal of papilloma, a thin protective film is formed on the patient’s skin, which disappears on its own after 12-14 days, leaving in its place healthy skin that is no different from the rest of the body.
For patients who are afraid of the reappearance of papilloma or have already had an unsuccessful experience of getting rid of it, it is recommended that the tumor be removed using a special radioknife, which cuts off the entire area of epithelial tissue along with the papilloma located on it.The operation, of course, is carried out using anesthesia and guarantees lifelong relief from papilloma in this skin area.
Another modern way to remove unwanted defects on the skin is cryodestruction - cauterization of the tumor using liquid nitrogen.The procedure itself is painless, but has one drawback - in some cases, for example, with genital warts, it is ineffective.
A specialist can advise which method is most effective for removing papilloma in each specific case.Having decided to get rid of the unpleasant manifestation of the virus on your skin once and for all, you should pay special attention to the institution in which the procedure itself will be carried out.Now many beauty salons offer removal of moles, papillomas and warts for a relatively low fee, but most of them cannot guarantee complete safety of removal and the absence of unwanted consequences.As practice shows, it is recommended to remove all skin tumors, including papillomas, only in medical institutions and after consultation with a dermatologist, who will diagnose the disease, determine its exact origin, and only then prescribe the removal procedure.