Why do papillomas occur and how are they treated?

Papillomas are benign papillary structures 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 private parts and internal organs.

What is the cause of papilloma?

The disease is sexually transmitted in 50% of cases but may not manifest long-term.Clinical symptoms occur when the body's immune defenses weaken, caused by colds, inflammation and accompanying chronic diseases of the internal organs.

Papillomas on the body most often appear during puberty, which coincides with the onset of sexual activity.In young people, the cause may be frequent changes of sexual partners, anal intercourse.In intimate areas, growths usually develop within 1-2 months of unprotected intercourse.

Papillomas are more common in women than in men.Benign formations can occur in the anogenital area and on the mucous membranes of the vagina and cervix.This often leads to cancer of the reproductive organs.Young children are susceptible to HPV infection because of their weak immunity; the virus is spread from infected parents through close household contact.

Overweight patients often ask their dermatologists: Why do papillomas appear on the body?Symptoms of the disease are especially easy to diagnose in people who are overweight.The reason is metabolic disorders in the body.The growths are mainly found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, neck, eyelids and skin folds on the face.

Why do papillomas appear in the body and where do they come from?

After entering the bloodstream, the papillomavirus begins to actively multiply, affecting the upper layers of the skin.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 are created, pathological proliferation of epithelial cells occurs.

The incubation period does not exceed 3 months, but in some cases the incubation period can be as long as 2 years.Predisposing factors for the development of papillomas in the body include influenza, poisoning, severe stress, acute inflammation, pregnancy, and puberty.

Main routes of HPV infection:

• During the passage through the birth canal, the child transforms from sick mother to child.This condition occurs if a woman has papillomas in her private areas.Pathogens can also be transmitted to babies through breast milk.
• The disease is passed from an infected partner to a healthy partner through sex.Using condoms reduces the risk.But if the growth is in the perineum or anus, birth control won't work.
• Household infection occurs through sharing towels and sanitary products.In this way, the virus enters the child's body.
• Self-infection occurs when benign structures are damaged by razors or tight clothing.More growth is occurring elsewhere.

Papilloma Types and External Signs

Depending on the type of pathogen, viruses manifest themselves in more than a hundred ways:

1. genital wartsOccurs on the external genitalia, anus, and perineum of both men and women.Their odd shape is reminiscent of a rooster's comb or a cauliflower.They come in many forms and can cause itching and discomfort.In rare cases, anogenital genital warts are located on the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, and lips.
2. Simple wartThey are round in shape and most commonly affect the limbs.Usually many papillomas appear and the rash lasts for 6-8 months and then disappears on its own without any treatment.
3. Flat warts or juvenile wartsIt occurs against the background of hormonal changes in adolescents that occur during puberty.Usually this type of papilloma is limited to the face, neck, and the backs of the fingers and toes.The growths are flat, light pink or beige in color, and painless.
4. Filiform warts or short nodular warts- These are elongated structures that are light pink or brown in color.They are most common in women under the breasts, on the neck, eyelids, face and in the groin and armpits.
5. plantar wartsDistributed on the soles of the feet and the inside of the hands.The growths can cause itching and discomfort when walking.This type of papilloma looks like a round structure, similar to a callus.There is a dark spot in the center and a curl of keratinized skin at the edge.
6. oncogenic papillomavirusHumans cause cancer of the throat and reproductive organs in women.

Treatment of facial and body papillomas

In most cases, skin tags cause no discomfort and do not require treatment.Exceptions include formations plagued by injuries and cosmetic flaws.

There is no complete cure for HPV, but maintenance treatment can help avoid skin growths.It is useful for people with the infection to adhere to a proper diet, exercise, perform healthy routines and give up bad habits.

First, papillomavirus is best treated with topical medications.

If no positive changes are observed after taking the drug, the growth is surgically removed.But without initial restorative treatment, such surgery is ineffective because recurrence may occur.First, a course of treatment is required to increase the body’s immune defenses.Patients take immunomodulators, vitamin complexes, antiviral and cytotoxic drugs.If there is concomitant disease, the source of inflammation should be treated.

Surgical treatment methods

If the diameter of the papilloma exceeds 1 cm and a cancerous tumor is suspected, surgery is required to treat the pathology.The doctor removes the growth along with a small amount of surrounding tissue.Cosmetic sutures are then performed.

Alternative ways to treat papillomas on the face and body are:

• freeze damage– This is the effect of low temperature (-196°) on tumors.The procedure is painless and does not require the use of anesthesia.After treatment with liquid nitrogen, the growth turns white and then blisters form in its place.Gradually, pathological cells die.This method helps treat papillomas on the neck, eyelids, intimate areas, and other sensitive areas of the skin.
• electrocoagulation– This is the effect of high frequency current on the affected area.A special ring is placed at the narrow stem or base of the growth to cauterize the tissue.Thereafter, the papilloma is easily removed.No bleeding will occur.
• laser removalIt is the least invasive treatment method.When the affected area is exposed to carbon dioxide rays, the fluid evaporates and the tissue dehydrates and dries, turning into dark scabs that fall off after a week.When removing eyelid and facial papillomas, avoid skin exposure to UV rays, which may cause pigmentation.
• RadiosurgeryPerformed using special equipment.The treatment is similar to laser cauterization, except in this case a radio knife is used.No scars are left after removal.
• chemical destruction methodIt is carried out by applying organic acid to the surface of papilloma to destroy the structure of pathological cells.

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

If the affected area is not treated thoroughly, recurrence may occur after surgical treatment.In this case, growth occurs again.

Remove genital warts

Before surgery, patients must undergo biochemical blood tests to check for the presence of antibodies to the HPV virus, a smear test for genitourinary tract infections, and a tissue biopsy.Based on the research results, doctors choose the best treatment options.

Anogenital genital warts are removed in the same way as cervical and facial papillomas.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 may transmit the virus to their partners.Growths in a woman's vagina and cervix need to be removed urgently because they can lead to cancer.

Prevention of human HPV

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

The vaccine injection is carried out in 3 stages, with intervals of 1 month and 6 months after the first injection.Scientific research has confirmed the effectiveness of this method, which eliminates the causes of benign skin formation.

Other preventive measures include protected sexual intercourse, careful choice of partners, strengthening the immune system, improving physical health, using personal hygiene products, and prompt treatment of infectious diseases.

A dermatologist can answer questions about why papillomas grow and how they should be treated.The doctor will conduct examinations, perform laboratory tests and select necessary treatment options.