Why papillomas occur and how to treat them?

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

What causes papillomas?

The disease is sexually transmitted in 50% of cases, but may not manifest itself for a long time.Clinical symptoms appear when the body's immune defenses are weakened, which is caused by colds, inflammation and accompanying 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 cause can be a frequent change of sexual partners, anal sex.In intimate areas, growths usually form within 1-2 months after unprotected intercourse.

Papillomas are observed much more often in women than in men.Benign formations can appear in the anogenital area and on the mucous membranes 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 is transmitted from infected parents through close contact in the household.

Often, overweight patients ask a dermatologist: why do papillomas appear on the body?In people with excess body weight, signs of the disease are especially often diagnosed.The reason is a metabolic disorder in the body.The growths are localized mainly in the skin folds of the armpits, groin, under the mammary glands, on the neck, eyelids and face.

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

After entering the blood, the papilloma virus begins to multiply actively, affecting the upper layers of the skin.If the immune system is strong enough, the external manifestations of the infection may not be noticed for a long time.But when 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 lasts up to 2 years.Provocative causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body are flu, poisoning, severe stress, acute inflammatory disease, pregnancy and adolescence.

Main routes of HPV infection:

• From the sick mother to the child during the passage through the birth canal.This happens if a woman has papillomas in intimate places.The causative agent of the disease can also pass to the baby through breast milk.
• The disease is transmitted sexually from an infected partner to a healthy one.Using a condom will reduce the risk.But if growths are localized in the perineum or anus, contraception is ineffective.
• The path of infection in the household takes place through shared towels and hygiene items.This is how the virus enters the child's organism.
• Self-infection occurs when a benign formation is damaged by a razor or tight clothing.Growths appear elsewhere in greater numbers.

Types and external signs of papillomas

There are more than a hundred types of viral manifestations, depending on the type of pathogen:

1. Genital wartsthey appear on the external genitalia, anus and perineum in men and women.They have a peculiar shape, reminiscent of a rooster's comb or cauliflower.Formations are multiple, cause itching and discomfort.In rare cases, anogenital condylomas are localized on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, tongue and lips.
2. Simple wartsThey are round in shape and most often affect the extremities.Usually, many papillomas appear, the rash lasts for 6-8 months, and then it can disappear on its own without any treatment.
3. Flat or juvenile wartsthey appear in adolescents 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.Growths are flat, light pink or beige, painless.
4. Filiform warts or acrochords- These are elongated formations of light pink or brownish color.They most often occur in women under the mammary glands, on the neck, eyelids, face and groin, armpits.
5. Plantar wartslocalized on the soles of the feet and the 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, along the edges there are rolls of keratinized skin.
6. Oncogenic papilloma viruseshumans cause cancer of the larynx and genital organs in women.

Treatment of papillomas on the face and body

In most cases, skin spots do not cause discomfort and do not require treatment.The exception is formations that are constantly injured and represent cosmetic defects.

It is impossible to completely cure the HPV virus, but maintenance therapy can help to 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.

To begin with, it is better to treat the papilloma virus with local drugs.

If no positive changes are observed after taking medication, the growths are removed surgically.But without preliminary restorative therapy, such a procedure is ineffective, as relapse may occur.First, it is necessary to carry out the treatment in order to increase the immune defense of the organism.The patient takes immunomodulators, a vitamin complex, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there are accompanying diseases, it is necessary to treat the source of inflammation.

Surgical method of treatment

The pathology must be treated surgically if the diameter of the papilloma exceeds 1 cm, if a cancerous tumor is suspected.The doctor removes the growth along with a small amount of surrounding tissue.Cosmetic sutures are then applied.

Alternative methods of treating papillomas on the face and body are:

• Cryodestruction– this is the effect on neoplasm of low temperatures (-196°).The procedure is painless and does not require the use of anesthetics.After treatment with liquid nitrogen, the growth turns white, and then a blister forms in its place.Gradually, the pathological cells die.This method helps to treat papillomas on the neck, eyelids, intimate areas and other areas with sensitive skin.
• 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, which cauterizes the tissue.After that, the papilloma is easily removed.No bleeding occurs.
• Laser removalis the least traumatic method of treatment.The affected area is exposed to carbon dioxide rays, the liquid evaporates, the tissues are dehydrated, dry and turn into a dark crust, which falls off after a week.When removing papillomas on the eyelids and face, it is necessary to avoid contact with ultraviolet rays on the skin, otherwise pigmentation may occur.
• Radiosurgical treatmentit is performed using a special device.The therapy method is similar to laser cauterization, only in this case a radio knife is used.No scars remain after removal.
• Method of chemical destructionit is carried out by applying organic acids to the surface of the papilloma, which destroy the structure of 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 if the affected area is not completely treated.In this case, growth reappears.

Removal of genital warts

Before the procedure, a person must undergo a biochemical blood test for the presence of antibodies to the HPV virus, a swab for urogenital infections and a tissue biopsy.Based on the research results, 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.

All patients are recommended to treat papillomas in the intimate area, because they can infect their partner with the virus.And growths in the vagina and cervix in women require immediate excision because they can cause cancer.

Prevention of human HPV

The only way to prevent papilloma virus is vaccination.In some countries, this measure is included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, in others, the procedure is carried out at the patient's request.

Vaccine injections are given in 3 phases, with an interval of 1 month and six months after the first injection.Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this method, which eliminates the causes of benign formations on the skin.

Additional preventive measures include protected sex, careful selection of a sexual partner, strengthening the immune system, improving the health of the body, using personal hygiene products and timely treatment of infectious diseases.

A dermatologist can answer the question of why papillomas grow and how they should be treated.The doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe laboratory tests and select the necessary treatment regimen.