Why do papillomas occur and how to treat them?

Papillomas are benign papillary formations on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes.The cause is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects a large part of the world's population.Growths can appear anywhere on the body, including intimate areas and internal organs.

What causes papillomas?

The disease is sexually transmitted in 50% of cases, but it may not appear for a long time.Clinical symptoms appear when the body's immune defense weakens, which is caused by colds, inflammations and simultaneous chronic diseases of the internal organs.

Papillomas on the body most often appear in adolescence, which coincides with the beginning of sexual activity.In young people, the reason may be frequent changes of sexual partners, anal sex.Growths in intimate areas usually develop within 1-2 months after unprotected intercourse.

Papillomas are observed much more often in women than in men.Benign formations can occur in the anogenital area, as well as on the mucosa of the vagina and cervix.This often causes cancer of the reproductive organs.Due to weak immunity, young children are susceptible to HPV infection;the virus spreads from infected parents through close household contact.

Overweight patients often ask dermatologists: why do papillomas appear on the body?Signs of the disease are especially often diagnosed in overweight people.This is due to a metabolic disorder of the body.The growths are mainly localized in the skin folds of the armpits, in the groin, under the mammary glands, on the neck, on the eyelids and on the face.

Why do papillomas appear on the body, where do they come from?

After entering the blood, the papillomavirus actively multiplies and affects the upper layers of the skin.If the immune system is strong enough, external manifestations of the infection may not be observed for a long time.But if favorable conditions are created, pathological proliferation of epithelial cells occurs.

The incubation period does not exceed 3 months, but in some cases the latent course of the disease can last up to 2 years.Provocative causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body are influenza, poisoning, severe stress, acute inflammatory disease, pregnancy and adolescence.

The main routes of HPV infection:

• From a sick mother to a child during the passage through the birth canal.This happens when a woman has papillomas in her private parts.The pathogen can also be transmitted to the baby through breast milk.
• The disease is transmitted sexually from an infected partner to a healthy one.Using a condom reduces the risk.But if the growths are localized in the perineum or anus, contraception is ineffective.
• The infection occurs in the household through shared towels and hygiene items.This is how the virus enters the child's body.
• Self-infection occurs when a benign growth is damaged by a razor or tight clothing.Growths appear in larger numbers in other places.

Types and external signs of papillomas

Depending on the type of pathogen, there are more than a hundred types of viral manifestations:

1. Genital wartsin men and women they occur on the external genitalia, anus and perineum.They have a peculiar shape, reminiscent of a rooster's comb or cauliflower.The formations are multiple, cause itching and discomfort.In rare cases, anogenital condylomas are localized on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, tongue and lips.
2. Simple wartsThey are round in shape and most often affect the limbs.Usually, many papillomas appear, the rashes last for 6-8 months, and then they can go away on their own without treatment.
3. Flat or juvenile wartsin adolescents, they occur during puberty against the background of hormonal changes in the body.Usually, such papillomas are localized on the face, neck, fingers and toes on the back side.The growths are flat, light pink or beige, painless.
4. Filiform warts or acrochords- These are elongated, light pink or brownish formations.Most often in women, they appear under the mammary glands, on the neck, eyelids, face and groin, in the armpits.
5. Plantar wartsit is localized on the soles and inside of the hands.The growths cause itching and discomfort when walking.This papilloma looks like a round formation, similar to a callus.There are black dots in the middle and a keratinized skin roll along the edges.
6. Oncogenic papillomaviruseshumans cause tumors of the larynx and genital organs in women.

Treatment of papillomas on the face and body

In most cases, skin tags do not cause discomfort and do not require treatment.Exceptions to this are permanently damaged and aesthetically defective formations.

It is impossible to completely cure the HPV virus, but maintenance therapy can help avoid the appearance of skin growths.It is useful for an infected person to follow a proper diet, exercise, perform health procedures and give up bad habits.

First of all, it is better to treat the papillomavirus with local drugs.

If no positive changes are noticed after taking the drugs, the growths are surgically removed.But without prior restorative therapy, such a procedure is ineffective, as relapses may occur.First of all, a course of treatment should be carried out in order to increase the body's immune defenses.The patient takes immunomodulators, a vitamin complex, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there are accompanying diseases, the source of the inflammation must be treated.

Surgical treatment method

Surgical treatment of the pathology is necessary if the diameter of the papilloma exceeds 1 cm, in case of suspicion of a cancerous tumor.The doctor removes the growth along with a small amount of surrounding tissue.Cosmetic stitches are then applied.

Alternative methods for treating papillomas on the face and body:

• Cryodestruction– this is the effect of low temperature (-196°) on tumors.The procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia.After treatment with liquid nitrogen, the growth turns white and then blisters in its place.Gradually, the pathological cells die.This method helps to treat papillomas on the neck, eyelids, intimate areas and other sensitive skin areas.
• Electrocoagulation– this is the effect of high-frequency currents on the affected area.A special ring is placed on the narrow stem or base of the growth to cauterize the tissue.After that, the papilloma can be easily removed.No bleeding occurs.
• Laser removalthe least traumatic treatment method.The affected area is exposed to carbon dioxide radiation, the liquid evaporates, the tissues dry out, dry out and turn into a dark crust, which falls off after a week.When removing papillomas on the eyelids and face, contact with ultraviolet rays of the skin should be avoided, otherwise pigmentation may occur.
• Radiosurgery treatmentdone with a special device.The method of therapy is similar to laser cauterization, only in this case a radio knife is used.No scars remain after removal.
• Chemical destruction methodOrganic acids are applied to the surface of the papilloma, which destroy the structure of the pathological cells.

If the pain threshold is low or the growth is large, local anesthesia is used.After surgery, the patient must follow the doctor's recommendations and carry out disinfection.The excised papilloma is sent for histological examination to rule out the presence of cancer cells.

Relapses after surgical treatment occur when the affected area is not completely treated.In this case, growth will appear again.

Removal of genital warts

Before the procedure, a person must undergo a biochemical blood test for the presence of antibodies against the HPV virus, a smear for urogenital infections and a tissue biopsy.Based on the results of the research, the doctor selects the optimal treatment option.

Anogenital condylomas are removed using the same methods as papillomas on the neck and face.These are cryodestruction, laser radiation, electrocoagulation, radio wave therapy, chemical destruction.

Treatment of papillomas in the intimate area is recommended for all patients, as they can also infect their partners with the virus.And growths in the vagina and cervix of women require urgent excision because they can cause cancer.

Prevention of human HPV

The only way to prevent papillomavirus is vaccination.In some countries, this measure is included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, in others, the procedure is performed at the request of the patient.

Vaccine injections are given in 3 stages, at 1-month and 6-month intervals after the first injection.Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this method, which eliminates the causes of benign formations on the skin.

Other preventive measures include protected sex, careful selection of sexual partners, strengthening the immune system, improving body health, using personal hygiene items, and timely treatment of infectious diseases.

The dermatologist answers the question of why papillomas grow and how to treat them.The doctor performs an examination, prescribes laboratory tests and selects the necessary treatment regimen.