Why do papillomas appear 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 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 are observed when the immune defense of the body is weakened, caused by colds, inflammations 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 reason may be a frequent change of sexual partners, anal sex.In intimate areas, growths usually form within 1-2 months after unprotected intercourse.

Papillomas are seen much more often in women than in men.Benign growths 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 household contact.

Often, overweight patients ask a dermatologist: why do papillomas appear on the body?In overweight people, the signs of the disease are diagnosed especially often.The cause is a metabolic disorder in the body.The growths are mainly located 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, external manifestations of infection may not be observed 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.The provoking reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the body are flu, poisoning, severe stress, acute inflammatory disease, pregnancy and adolescence.

The main ways of HPV infection:

• From a sick mother to a child during passage through the birth canal.This happens if a woman has papillomas in her private parts.The pathogen can 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 the growths are localized in the perineum or anus, contraception is ineffective.
• The household route of infection is through shared towels and hygiene items.This is how the virus enters the child's body.
• 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 varieties of viral manifestations depending on the type of pathogen:

1. Genital wartsoccur on the external genitalia, anus and perineum in men and women.They have a special shape, reminiscent of a rooster's comb or cauliflower.Formations are numerous, cause itching and discomfort.In rare cases, anogenital condylomas are localized on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, tongue and lips.
2. Common wartsThey are round in shape and most often affect the limbs.Usually many papillomas appear, rashes last 6-8 months, after which they can disappear on their own without any treatment.
3. Flat or juvenile wartsappear 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 in color, painless.
4. Filamentous warts or acrochords- These are oblong formations with a light pink or brownish color.They most often appear 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 callus-like formation.In the center there are black dots, on the edges there is a roll of keratinized skin.
6. Oncogenic papillomaviruseshumans cause the development of cancer of the larynx and genital organs in women.

Treatment of papillomas on the face and body

In most cases, spots on the skin do not cause discomfort and do not require treatment.Exceptions include formations that are permanently injured and are cosmetic defects.

It is impossible to completely cure the HPV virus, but supportive care can help prevent the appearance of skin growths.For the infected person, it is useful to adhere to a proper diet, exercise, perform health procedures and give up bad habits.

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

If no positive changes are observed after taking the drugs, the growths are surgically removed.But without prior restorative therapy, such a procedure is ineffective, as relapses may occur.First, it is necessary to conduct a course of treatment to increase the immune defense of the body.The patient takes immunomodulators, a vitamin complex, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there are concomitant diseases, the source of inflammation should be treated.

Surgical method of treatment

Treatment of the pathology is necessary surgically if the diameter of the papilloma exceeds 1 cm, if there is a suspicion of a cancerous tumor.The doctor removes the growth along with a small amount of surrounding tissue.Cosmetic sutures are then applied.

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

• Cryodestruction– this is the effect on the 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, after which 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 impact of high-frequency currents on the affected area.A special ring is placed on the narrow stem or base of the growth, which burns 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 that 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 appear.
• Radiosurgical treatmentis carried out using a special apparatus.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 destructionis carried out by applying organic acids 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 the operation, 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.

Recurrences after surgical treatment occur if the affected area is not completely healed.In this case, the growth reappears.

Removal of genital warts

Before the procedure, a person must pass a biochemical blood test for the presence of antibodies against the HPV virus, stains for urogenital infections and a tissue biopsy.Based on the results of the examination, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment option.

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

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

Prophylaxis 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 carried out at the patient's request.

The vaccine injections are administered in 3 stages, with an interval of 1 month and six months after the first injection.Scientific studies confirm the effectiveness of this method, which removes the causes of benign formations on the skin.

Additional preventive measures include protected sexual contact, careful selection of a sexual partner, strengthening the immune system, improving the health of the body, using personal hygiene items 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 choose the necessary treatment regimen.