Why do papillomas occur and how can they be treated?

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 anywhere on 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, inflammation and accompanying chronic diseases of internal organs.

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

Papillomas are more common in women than in men.Benign formations can occur in the anogenital area and mucous membranes of the vagina and cervix.This often leads to 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 contacts.

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

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

After entering the blood, the papilloma virus affects the upper layers of the skin and starts multiplying actively.If the immune system is strong enough, the external manifestations of the infection may not be observed for a long time.But when favorable conditions arise, 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 influenza, poisoning, severe stress, acute inflammatory diseases, pregnancy and adolescence.

The main ways of HPV infection:

• From a sick mother to a child while passing 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 will reduce the risk.However, if the growths are localized in the perineum or anus, contraception is ineffective.
• Household transmission occurs through shared towels and hygiene products.Thus, the virus enters the child's body.
• Self-infection occurs when a benign formation is damaged by a razor or tight clothing.Growths appear in larger quantities elsewhere.

Types and external signs of papillomas

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

1. Genital wartsoccurs in the external genitalia, anus and perineum in men and women.They have a unique shape reminiscent of a rooster's comb or cauliflower.Formations are numerous, cause itching and discomfort.Rarely, anogenital condylomas are localized in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, tongue and lips.
2. Simple wartsThey are round in shape and mostly affect the extremities.Usually many papillomas appear, the rash lasts for 6-8 months, then it can go away on its own without any treatment.
3. Flat or young wartsoccurs against the background of hormonal changes in the body of adolescents during puberty.Usually, such papillomas are localized on the face, neck, fingers and toes.Growths are flat, light pink or beige in color, painless.
4. Filiform warts or acrochords- These are elongated formations of light pink or brown color.Most often in women, it appears under the mammary glands, neck, eyelids, face and groin, armpits.
5. Plantar wartslocalized on the soles of the feet and the inner part of the hands.The growths cause itching and discomfort when walking.This papilloma looks like a round formation that resembles a callus.In the center there are black dots, along 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, skin tags are not a cause for concern and do not require treatment.Exceptions include formations that are constantly injured and have cosmetic defects.

The HPV virus cannot be completely cured, but maintenance therapy can help prevent 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 positive changes are not observed after taking medication, growths are surgically removed.However, such a procedure is ineffective without initial restorative therapy, 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, vitamin complex, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there are accompanying diseases, it is necessary to treat the source of inflammation.

Surgical method of treatment

When a papilloma is more than 1 cm in diameter, if a cancerous tumor is suspected, it is necessary to treat the pathology surgically.The doctor removes the growth along with a small amount of surrounding tissue.Then cosmetic stitches are applied.

Alternative methods for the treatment of papillomas on the face and body:

• Cryodestruction– this is the effect of low temperature (-196°) on neoplasms.The procedure is painless and does not require the use of anesthetics.After treatment with liquid nitrogen, the growth turns white, then a blister forms in its place.Pathological cells gradually 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 body or base of the growth, which burns the tissue.After that, the papilloma is easily removed.No bleeding occurs.
• Laser removalis the least traumatic treatment method.The affected area is exposed to a carbon dioxide beam, the liquid evaporates, the tissues become dehydrated, dry and turn into a dark crust that falls off after a week.When removing eyelids and papillomas on the face, contact with ultraviolet rays on the skin should be avoided, otherwise pigmentation may occur.
• Radiosurgical treatmentis carried out through a special apparatus.The therapy method is similar to laser cauterization, only in this case a radio knife is used.No trace remains after removal.
• Chemical destruction methodit is carried out by applying organic acids to the surface of the papilloma, which destroys the structure of pathological cells.

If the pain threshold is low or the growth is large, local anesthesia is used.After the operation, the patient should follow the doctor's recommendations and disinfect.The cut papilloma is sent for histological examination to rule out the presence of cancer cells.

If the affected area is not fully treated, relapses occur after surgical treatment.In this case, growth appears 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 study, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment option.

Anogenital condylomas are removed by 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 the partner with the virus.In women, growths in the vagina and cervix require immediate excision as 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 carried out at the request of the patient.

Vaccine injections are carried out in 3 stages, 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 choose the necessary treatment regimen.