Why do papillomas appear and how are they treated?

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

What causes papillomas?

The disease is transmitted sexually in 50% of cases, but may not manifest itself for a long period of time.Clinical symptoms are observed when the body's immune defenses are weakened, which is caused by colds, inflammation and concomitant chronic diseases of internal organs.

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

Papillomas are observed significantly more often in women than in men.Benign formations can occur in the anogenital area, as well as on the 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 contact.

Obese patients often ask a dermatologist: why do papillomas appear on the body?Signs of illness are diagnosed particularly frequently in people who are overweight.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, 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 actively multiply and affects the upper layers of the skin.If the immune system is strong enough, external signs of infection may not be observed for a long time.However, when favorable conditions are created, pathological proliferation of epithelial cells occurs.

The incubation period is no more than 3 months, but in some cases the latent course of the disease lasts up to 2 years.The provoking causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body are flu, intoxication, severe stress, acute inflammatory diseases, pregnancy and adolescence.

The main ways of HPV infection:

• From a sick mother to the child during the passage through the birth canal.This happens when a woman has papillomas in intimate places.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.However, if the growths are localized in the perineum or anus, contraception is ineffective.
• The route of infection in the household occurs through shared towels and hygiene products.This causes the virus to enter the child's body.
• Self-infection occurs when a benign formation is damaged by a razor or tight clothing.Growths occur in larger numbers elsewhere.

Types and external signs of papillomas

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

1. Genital wartsoccur in men and women on the external genitalia, anus and perineum.They have a peculiar shape reminiscent of a cockscomb or cauliflower.The formations are diverse and 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 rashes last 6-8 months and then can disappear on their own without treatment.
3. Flat or juvenile wartsoccur 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.The growths are flat, light pink or beige in color, and painless.
4. Filamentous warts or acrochord warts- These are elongated structures of light pink or brownish color.They most commonly occur in women under the mammary glands, neck, eyelids, face and groin, and 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.In the center there are black dots, at the edges there is a roll of keratinized skin.
6. Oncogenic papilloma virusesPeople 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 do not cause any discomfort and do not require treatment.Exceptions are formations that are constantly injured and represent cosmetic defects.

It is impossible to completely cure the HPV virus, but maintenance therapy can help prevent skin growths from appearing.It is useful for an infected person to eat properly, exercise, carry out health measures and give up bad habits.

First of all, it is better to treat the papilloma virus with topical medications.

If no positive changes are observed after taking the medication, the growths are removed surgically.However, without preliminary restorative therapy, such a procedure is ineffective, as relapses may occur.First, treatment is required to strengthen the body's immune system.The patient takes immunomodulators, a vitamin complex, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there are comorbidities, the source of inflammation should be treated.

Surgical treatment method

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

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

• Cryodestruction– This is the effect of low temperatures (-196°) on the neoplasm.The procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia.After treatment with liquid nitrogen, the growth turns white and then a bubble 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 trunk or base of the growth, cauterizing the tissue.After that, the papilloma can be easily removed.There is no bleeding.
• Laser removalis the least traumatic treatment method.The affected area is exposed to a jet of carbon dioxide, the fluid evaporates, the tissue dehydrates, dries up and turns 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 occur.
• Radiosurgical treatmentcarried out 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.
• Chemical destruction methodis 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 the operation, the patient must follow the doctor's recommendations and carry out disinfection.The excised papilloma is sent for histological examination to exclude the presence of cancer cells.

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

Removal of genital warts

Before the procedure, a person must undergo a biochemical blood test for the presence of antibodies to the HPV virus, smears for genitourinary 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 and 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 need to be urgently removed, as they can cause cancer.

Prevention of human HPV

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

Vaccine injections are given in three steps, one month apart and six months after the first injection.Scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this method, which eliminates the causes of benign skin lesions.

Other preventive measures include protected sexual intercourse, careful selection of sexual partners, strengthening the immune system, improving body health, using 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 conducts an examination, prescribes laboratory tests and selects the necessary treatment regimen.