Human papillomas are lesions of pathological proliferation of epidermal and mucosal cells.
In most cases, papillomas are benign.However, such tumors not only pose cosmetic problems but can also be a sign of dangerous conditions in the body, such as cancer.
“How do you get rid of papillomas?”- This is a pressing issue that worries many.Let's try to figure out why papillomas appear on the body and what dangers a skin growth that seems harmless at first glance can pose to human health.
Why do papillomas occur?
The causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body can be divided into primary and accompanying causes, which are triggers for the formation of visual manifestations of the disease.The main and irreplaceable cause of cutaneous papillomas is considered to be infection of patients with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which in medical practice is classified as a group of papillomaviruses.
Statistics show that HPV has the highest prevalence among the Earth's population, indicating that nine out of 10 people are carriers of one of the 100 strains of the virus known to official medicine.Furthermore, each isolated type of viral agent has different characteristics, localization areas, and potential for complications and adverse outcomes.
Despite its prevalence, papillomavirus has relatively low resistance to aggressive environmental factors, which determines that the contact transmission route from carriers to healthy individuals dominates.The risk of infection is particularly high when there is prolonged contact with the bare skin of a person with this disease, as can be observed during massage, for example.In medical practice, there are also cases of family transmission of viral agents entering the patient's body through ordinary objects. However, the cause of the appearance of this papilloma is obviously less important than the contact mechanism of viral transmission.
After HPV invades the skin, it mainly affects the basal layer of the epidermis and remains in a latent state for a long time. The course of the disease is asymptomatic.The condition is usually accompanied by an incubation period that lasts from 1 to 6 months, but may last for years.
The following factors are predisposing factors for the appearance of papillomas on the skin:
Temporary decrease in immunity or immunodeficiency (HIV, AIDS); whether there are micro-injuries, cracks, scratches, open wounds on the patient's skin surface; hormonal imbalance, which may be related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, etc.; promiscuous sex and oral sex with papilloma virus carriers; nervousness, stress, physical or mental fatigue; bad living habits, malnutrition; endometriosis.
Papilloma Symptoms
Penetration of papillomavirus into the human bloodstream is not accompanied by obvious symptoms, which complicates diagnosis of the disease.Patients do not even suspect that they are not only carriers of the virus but can also infect others.The main symptom of the infection is the formation of skin tumors directly on the body, which can be localized to almost any part of the body.
There are tons of photos on the internet that clearly show what papillomas look like on the body.Typically, skin growths appear as oval or dome-shaped compactions, or papules, that are attached to tissue by thin stems or thickened bases.The color characteristics of cutaneous papillomas vary widely, from light pink to dirty brown.
Some HPV strains have multiple manifestations that may be associated with fusion of individual tumors.As a result, a skin structure is formed that looks like leafy cauliflower.
Common types of papillomas
As mentioned above, there are over 100 types of viruses known to medicine, indicating the diversity of disease manifestations.However, about 10 types of HPV are considered the most common:
- Commonly known as papilloma.They are oval-shaped seals that may have a cornified yellowish surface.Papillomas vulgaris on the hands are the most common localization choice in adult patients, whereas children are more often characterized by growth at the knees;
- Plantar papilloma.Leg papillomas, caused by HPV types 1, 2, and 4, appear as single or multiple growths on the soles of the feet that, as they grow, make walking difficult.Furthermore, this structure is often confused with calluses, which complicates the identification and prompt treatment of papillomas;
- Flat papilloma.They are caused by HPV types 3 and 10 and appear as multiple flat bumps with a constant color and smooth surface;
- Filiform papilloma.They are most typical in elderly patients over 50 years of age.Yellow lumps or growths appear on the eyelids, groin, armpits, and neck.Inflamed papillomas should be treated as soon as possible if the filamentous tumor has been traumatized or frequently rubbed against clothing;
- Lewandowski-Lutz papilloma.This type of cutaneous manifestation, commonly known as epidermodysplasia verruciformis, presents as multiple macular warts located on the arms and legs, with varying color characteristics;
- Genital warts.The most dangerous types of symptoms of human papillomavirus.The growths are pink or gray spiky growths located on the external and internal reproductive organs as well as the pubic bone and tongue;
- Juvenile papilloma.Caused by HPV types 6 and 11.They can affect the laryngeal area, complicate the breathing process, and complicate the patient's normal speech.The infection usually occurs during childbirth, when the virus is transmitted from the mother's vagina to her child.
- Local epithelial hyperplasia.This presentation is the result of infection with HPV types 13 and 32 and manifests as the formation of multiple papillary rashes on the red edges of the tongue and lips that tend to coalesce.
What is a papilloma and what are its dangers, we will try to figure it out below.
Are papillomas on the body dangerous?
In fact, papillomas cannot be considered completely harmless tumors because if not treated promptly, they can spread to healthy tissue, which is called self-inoculation, and cause multiple warts.However, this is not the key factor in the risk of papillomas in the body.Also hidden here are the answers to many patients’ burning questions about how moles differ from papillomas.Moles are just simple accumulations of pigment and do not pose a risk to human health.
The main risks associated with the presence of papillomas in the body include the possibility of melanization of the tumor, which includes malignant degeneration of the tumor.As a result, patients may experience neoplastic processes or be diagnosed with precancerous lesions.The likelihood of this outcome depends on the type of HPV and the area where the papilloma is localized.For example, genital warts on the surface of the cervix can lead to cancer in that organ in 50 percent of cases.
Another danger is the high risk of mechanical damage to papillomas, which can lead to severe bleeding, wound infection, and scarring or scarring on the skin.Based on this, the answer to the question of whether papillomas in the body need to be removed should be yes.
How to remove papillomas from the body?
Papilloma resection should be performed under the supervision of a specialist after all necessary diagnostic procedures, which usually include PCR diagnosis, microscopic examination of epithelial scrapings and, if necessary, histological examination of the papillomatous tissue.In this case, there are several ways to remove papillomas from the body:
- freeze damage– Use liquid nitrogen to remove papillomas;
- electrocoagulation– Destruction of tumors under the influence of electrical pulses;
- surgical resection– The most thorough and invasive method of papilloma removal;
- Laser removal of papilloma– Destruction of growth by directed laser beam.
This last option is the most non-invasive, safe, and painless way to remove papillomas from the body.Laser papilloma removal has gained widespread popularity due to the absence of post-operative marks, scars and scars, and the fact that laser destruction requires no preparation and recovery.
Laser papilloma removal takes only a few minutes to complete.Another advantage of this procedure is that the laser beam activates the regenerative capabilities of the epidermis, ensuring rapid healing of the treated area, usually taking no more than two weeks.
Although mechanical removal of skin defects is required, answering the question of how to cure papilloma once and for all cannot fail to mention the need for tissue antiviral treatment to fully enhance the patient's immunity.
Which doctor should I contact for papillomas and where can papillomas be removed from my body?
When you are concerned about which doctor treats papillomas, you should first contact a specialist who will perform an initial examination and make a diagnosis.The specialists of Modern Clinic have extensive experience in removing papillomas by laser using the latest medical equipment.By contacting a specialized medical center, patients will receive detailed advice, including the cost of papilloma removal.