Papilloma is a benign tumor localized on the skin, less often on the mucous membranes.The formation of any papillomas occurs after the penetration of HPV - the human papilloma virus - into the body.But you should know that sometimes several years pass from the moment of infection to the formation of growths on the skin.
Varieties
HPV is a microorganism that has up to hundreds of seals.Depending on the type of HPV seal affecting a person, different types of papillomas form on the skin.They differ in appearance, growth rate and location on the body.
Some papillomatous formations are found on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, in the bladder, in women in the vagina and in men in the penis area.
Determining the type of papillomas is necessary to choose the most effective method of treatment and to assess the risk of degeneration of this tumor into a malignant one.
species
The human papilloma virus, after its activation in the body, leads not only to changes in the skin and mucous membranes, but also to a number of diseases dangerous to human health.Which way the infection will take depends primarily on the type of HPV in the body.
Papillomas are caused by several types of viruses, and in some cases their location and external markings can suggest the type of HPV.
simple
Ordinary papillomas have several other names: vulgar or ordinary.They appear on the body if several types of HPV develop in the body, and more often these are 26-29, 41, 63, 77.
Vulgar papillomas are the most common formation on the skin from the group of benign.The process of formation of papillomas begins with a slight burning and tingling sensation in a certain area of the body, after which you can notice the growth of a spherical tumor in this place.
Over time, the surface of this uneven formation becomes rough, and the color changes from flesh to darker.The size of an ordinary papilloma starts from 1 mm and can reach a centimeter in diameter.
The most common localization in adults is the fingers, the spaces between the fingers and the back of the hands.Vulgar papillomas are often found in children, and the knee area is a common place for such formations, which is due to the fact that the small child often crawls and becomes infected through the smallest cracks in the skin.
Simple papillomas can be single or multiple.In the latter case, daughter formations grow next to the main one - the mother.
Plantar
Papillomas on the soles of the feet can appear in people infected with HPV types 1, 2 and 4. These growths can easily be confused with calluses, but there are several signs that specifically indicate a plantar papilloma, these are:
- The formation has all the distinctive external features of the vulgar papilloma.
- Pain that increases when the papilloma is compressed by tight shoes.
- Lack of skin pattern.In calluses, the skin pattern is preserved and their surface is quite smooth.
Plantar papillomas can disappear on their own;this is especially common in young children.Small bubbles often form around the first lump, which eventually transform into papillomas;this process is called in medicine mosaic papillomatosis.
Flat
Flat papillomas get their name due to the fact that they protrude only slightly, that is, a few millimeters, above the skin.Their shape is round, often elongated, oval, the places of growth are the face, the area near the lips, the upper part of the chest and the external genitals.In girls and women, they are often diagnosed in the cervix.
Nearby flat papillomas can merge with each other and then become very visible on the body.The color of these formations rarely differs from the rest of the skin tone or may be slightly darker.
Filamentous
Papillomas that grow on a thin stalk and have an elongated, elongated shape are medically called filiform or acrochords.They are caused by HPV types 7 and 2. At the beginning of the growth of this formation, you can notice a small bump on the skin, which gradually stretches and sags.
Acrochords grow mainly in people after 40 years, regardless of their gender.They are most often found on the upper eyelids, the neck, under the arms and mammary glands, in the groin area.Filamentous formations are prone to injury, as the thin leg can easily be caught by clothing or careless movements.
Pointed
Pointed papillomas or condylomas are papillary formations, located both individually and in whole groups.As these papillomas grow, they merge with each other and during this period their surface visually resembles a cock's comb, the color of the formations varies from flesh to bright pink.
Genital warts are only caused by HPV types that are sexually transmitted.That is why these papillomas are found on the genitals, in the anus, in the perineum and groin.In men, warts often affect the penis or grow inside the urethra.In women, papillary formations affect the vagina and cervix.
Pointed condylomas grow very quickly, sometimes there is fusion and extensive penetration of healthy tissue within a few days.This type of skin growth is prone to recurrence after treatment.Often, research can reveal concomitant infections - mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.
Species
HPV types are usually divided according to the risk of possible oncogenic lesions of the skin and internal organs.Accent:
- HPV with a high risk of cancer are types 16, 18, 45, 36.
- HPV with a medium risk of cancer - 31, 35, 33, 58, 51, 52.
- HPV with a low degree of oncological risk (non-oncogenic) – 11, 44, 43, 42, 6.
Non-oncogenic types of virus most often cause benign formations, that is, papillomas, on the skin.
Squamous
Squamous cell papilloma occurs as a result of the proliferation of the squamous epithelium of the skin.It is most often formed in the elderly and is characterized by slow growth.In younger people, it can form in areas of the body that are subject to constant trauma.
Squamous cell papillomas are both thin stalk formations and tumors that have a broad base and a rounded shape.At the beginning of its growth, the papilloma is movable, its color is whitish, flesh-colored or dark brown, and its size can reach one and a half to two centimeters.
With persistent injury, it can become inflamed, causing the cells to mutate and can degenerate into cancer and squamous cell cancer.
Reversed
Inverted (transitional cell) papilloma is found relatively rarely and has its own characteristics of occurrence and development, they include:
- Specific localization - this type of papilloma affects only the nose and its paranasal sinuses.The formation often grows in the maxillary sinus, frontal sinus and ethmoidal labyrinth.
- The lesion is unilateral, i.e.the papilloma grows on one side of the nose, but it can be single or multiple.
- The germination of the papilloma in the bone structures, which leads to the destruction of the walls of the orbit, the palate, the sinuses and the bones of the skull.
- Relapse of the disease 5-10 years after effective treatment.
Inverted papilloma leads to severe nasal congestion, the appearance of bloody discharge or nosebleeds.
If the tumor reaches a significant size, then the deformation of the facial skeleton and the shift to the affected side of the eyeball are visually determined.In 5% of cases, the long-term course of the disease in the absence of adequate therapy leads to the degeneration of the papilloma into cancer.
Localization
Single or multiple papillomas can be found on almost any part of the body.Growths on the face naturally cause more inconvenience, but papillomas on closed parts of the body are often injured by rough clothing.
Due to the peculiarities of the development of the virus and the structure of the skin, several places with a predominant localization of papillomas are distinguished, namely:
- Natural folds on the body are the armpits, the groin area, the lower abdomen if you are overweight.In women, the formation of flat and filiform papillomas often occurs under the mammary glands.
- Hands, face, neck, back and stomach.On the face, flat and simple papillomas are often located near the mouth, near the eyes and on the eyelids.
- The genitals are where genital warts most often grow.
- Internal organs - bladder, stomach, intestines.
- Legs.
Viral formations can also be in the oral cavity, bladder, internal genital organs and in the ducts of the mammary glands.Papillomas are found in the esophagus, larynx and trachea.Growths in the throat area lead to a narrowing of the lumen of this channel, and then signs of respiratory failure develop.
Papillomas are considered benign formations, but under the influence of negative provoking factors they can degenerate into malignant tumors;this process takes from several months to several years.
How to define education by symptoms?
The activation of different types of HPV can lead to the appearance of three different benign growths on the skin: warts, genital warts and papillomas.
These formations have both significant differences and some similar characteristics.Comparing the appearance and growth characteristics of growths on the body will help you more likely to independently determine the type of benign growth.
Warts
The appearance of a wart on the body can be determined by some external characteristics of this growth, they include:
- The size of the tumor is up to 1 cm in diameter.
- Clarity of external borders, density on palpation and surface heterogeneity.
- Irregular shape that is rather round.
- The color varies from light gray to almost black.
- Location characteristics.Warts appear in people mostly on exposed parts of the body, especially those that are subject to frequent injuries.These are hands and fingers, knees, elbows, scalp.
The virus that causes warts is almost always transmitted by personal contact, that is, by shaking hands or, less often, by using certain things - towels, gloves.It is most often diagnosed:
- Vulgar warts - in 70% of cases.Simple warts are also found in 20% of adolescents and children of primary school age.
- Plantar - found in 30% of patients with warts.
- The flat type of warts is diagnosed in 4% of patients with this type of papillomas.
In a separate group are classified "butcher's warts";they are found in people whose specialties are related to the processing of fish or meat.
Papillomas
Papillomas are skin growths that are soft to the touch, protrude from the body on a thin stalk, or have a flat base.
The virus that causes the growth of papillomas develops in a moist, warm environment and can therefore be easily infected in bathrooms, saunas and swimming pools.
At the beginning of their growth, papillomas cause burning and tingling in the upper layers of the skin, after which you can notice the formation of a small lump in this place.Gradually, this growth stretches and elongates, varying in size from 0.2 mm to 1-1.5 cm in diameter.
The color of papillomas is most often flesh-colored, grayish or yellowish.These tumors grow more often in older people, but often affect the skin of young people.Unlike warts, papillomas prefer to grow in closed parts of the body - under the arms, mammary glands, in the groin area, on the inside of the thighs.
Usually, papillomas begin to grow during long-term treatment of infectious or somatic diseases, as well as in people with a weakened immune system.One formation leads to the formation of others and then papillomatosis occurs.
Condylomas
Genital warts appear on the mucous membranes only under the influence of certain types of HPV, which are transmitted in the only way - sexually.
Most often, these growths are located in the genital area and near the anus, less often in the oropharynx.Condylomas are papillary growths;individual elements can merge with each other and then a tumor appears that looks like a rooster's comb.
It is easy to find warts on the external genitalia if you carefully monitor your health.It should be remembered that the mucous membrane is usually always smooth, and the appearance of roughness, tubercles and bumps on it is a reason to seek a diagnosis in a medical institution.
Routes of HPV transmission
HPV can be transmitted in several ways - sexually, from the mother to the fetus during childbirth, contact - through cracks and abrasions on the skin.
The contact does not have to be direct;often the virus remains on personal items - towels, razors, towels, toothbrushes.It is possible to get infected with HPV in hairdressing salons, beauty salons and medical facilities - insufficient disinfection of tools leads to infection with various types of pathogenic microorganisms.
Cause of occurrence
As already explained, the main causative agent of papillomas is the human papilloma virus.Infection with this microorganism goes unnoticed by people, and sometimes people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the infection.
According to the latest data, different types of HPV are present in the body of a third of the world's population, excluding infants and the elderly.
The activation of the virus and, accordingly, the growth of papillomas and the development of other diseases occurs in the following cases:
- With a significant weakening of the immune system.
- Under the influence of harmful factors, which include smoking, alcohol abuse and taking certain medications.
- Exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, flu.
- With long-term use of oral contraceptives.
It is noted that most papillomas on the body appear in people who lead a promiscuous sex life.
Virus in gynecology
The presence of HPV in the body of women is considered extremely dangerous, especially for types 16 and 18.
Against the background of the papillomavirus carrier, not only papillomas and erosion of the cervix appear, but also such a dangerous disease as cervical cancer.Recent studies show that in almost one hundred percent of cervical cancer cases in women, HPV is found in their body.
The virus can be detected through several tests and investigations.Based on them, the doctor chooses treatment, and the woman must be constantly examined in order to detect in time the activation of the proliferation of the microorganism, which is the prevention of cancer.
What makes it dangerous?
Many people think about the treatment and removal of papillomas only in connection with the appearance of a cosmetic skin defect.But such a change is dangerous only from an aesthetic point of view;you should be more attentive to another consequence - the degeneration of the papilloma into a cancerous formation.
Frequent injuries to growing papillomas and their inflammation contribute to this complication.If a formation develops in the throat, vocal cords and trachea, respiratory function deteriorates, bleeding and suffocation are possible.
Papillomas in women not only disrupt the reproductive function, but can also be transmitted to the child.Usually, the virus enters the baby directly in the mouth, and then papillomas grow in the oropharynx, which interferes with breathing and voice formation.
A person who has papillomas on their body and genitals can transmit the virus to their sexual partners.The risk of transmission of HPV through towels and other objects cannot be excluded, and then the risk of infection arises for children and relatives living nearby.
Diagnosis of the disease
The diagnosis is made based on the detection of papillomas on the body.For confirmation, a PCR or Digene test to determine HPV is prescribed.When papillomas are removed, part of the growth is taken for cytological examination.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
HPV treatment should be mandatory.
Modern drugs are not able to completely remove the virus from the body, but they are necessary to transfer the pathogen to a latent state in which there is no infection and no diseases develop.
Papillomas on the body are removed by different methods;in addition, several groups of drugs are used to reduce viral activity.
How do they withdraw?
Papillomas on the body are removed by conventional surgery, with the help of laser, electrocoagulation or radio wave therapy.The choice of method for excision of the papilloma depends on the location, size, number of formations and the presence of a stalk.
Conservative treatment
Drug treatment consists of a course of use of the following groups of drugs:
- Antiviruses that can stop the virus from replicating.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Means for increasing immunity.
The course of treatment with drugs for human papillomavirus can be repeated several times based on the results of the analysis.The goal of antiviral therapy is complete suppression of HPV activity.
People's funds
In addition to the main therapy, traditional medicine can be used.You can prevent further growth and, in some cases, the destruction of the papilloma by lubricating these formations with celandine juice, castor oil, dandelion juice, garlic and sour apple.
Naturally, such removal of papillomas will take a long time and is effective in most cases when combined with the simultaneous use of antiviral drugs.
Disease prevention
Preventing the appearance of papillomas on the body consists of sufficient personal hygiene, timely treatment and healing of all small cuts on the body.
Remember to follow the rule of only using your own towel, manicure sets, combs and shoes.During sexual intercourse with untested partners, you should always use condoms, and after intimate intercourse, take a shower and thoroughly clean the genitals, because it takes time for the virus to penetrate the epithelium.
Which doctor should I see if I have HPV?
If papillomas appear on the body, it is best to consult a dermatovenerologist.If growths are found on the genitals, women should consult a gynecologist, and men a urologist.