Papilloma is a benign tumor localized on the skin, less often on mucous membranes.The formation of any papilloma occurs after penetration of HPV - human papilloma virus - into the body.But you must know that sometimes several years pass from the moment of infection to the appearance of growths on the skin.
Varieties
HPV is a microorganism that has up to hundreds of seals.Depending on the type of HPV seal that affects a person, different types of papillomas form on the skin.They differ in appearance, growth rate and location on the body.
Some papillomatous growths are detected 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 papilloma is necessary for choosing the most effective treatment method and assessing the risk of degeneration of this tumor into a malignant one.
Species
Human papilloma virus after 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 go depends, above all, on the type of HPV present in the body.
Papillomas are caused by several types of viruses, and in some cases their location and external characteristics may suggest the type of HPV.
Simple
Simple 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 they are 26-29, 41, 63, 77.
Vulgar papillomas are the most likely formations on the skin from the group of benign.The process of papilloma formation begins with a slight tingling and burning sensation in a certain part of the body, and then the growth of a spherical tumor can be observed in this place.
Over time, the surface of this uneven formation becomes rough, and the color changes from flesh-colored to darker.The size of a simple papilloma starts from 1 mm and can reach a centimeter in diameter.
The most common location in adults is the fingers, the space between the fingers and the back of the palms.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 a small child often crawls and becomes infected through the smallest cracks in the skin.
Ordinary papillomas can be single or multiple.In the latter case, daughter formations grow alongside the main - mother's.
Planter
Papillomas on the soles of the feet can appear in people infected with HPV types 1, 2 and 4. These formations can easily be confused with calluses, but there are several signs that specifically indicate a plantar papilloma, namely:
- The formation has all the characteristic external features of a vulgar papilloma.
- Pain that increases when the papilloma is pressed with tight shoes.
- Lack of skin sample.The skin pattern is preserved on the calluses, and their surface is quite smooth.
Plantar papillomas can self-destruct;this is especially common in young children.Small bubbles often form around the first lump, which eventually turn into papillomas;this process is called mosaic papillomatosis in medicine.
Flat
Flat papillomas got their name from the fact that they protrude only a little, i.e. 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 genitalia.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.
Filiform
Papillomas that grow on a thin stem and have an elongated, elongated shape are called filamentous or acrochord in medicine.They are caused by HPV types 7 and 2. At the beginning of the growth of this formation, you may notice a small lump on the skin that gradually stretches and hangs.
Acrochords usually grow in people after 40 years of age, regardless of their gender.They are most often found on the upper eyelids, neck, under the armpits and mammary glands, in the groin area.Thread-like formations are susceptible to injury, as a thin leg can easily be caught by clothing or careless movements.
Pointed
Pointed papillomas or condylomas are papillary formations, they are found both individually and in whole groups.As these papillomas grow, they merge with each other and during this period their surface visually resembles a rooster's comb, the color of the formations varies from flesh-colored to light pink.
Genital warts are only caused by sexually transmitted types of HPV.That is why these papillomas are found on the genitals, in the anus, in the perineum and in the groin.In men, warts often affect the penis or grow inside the urethra.In women, papillary formations affect the vagina and cervix.
Condylomas acuminata grow very quickly, fusion and extensive involvement of healthy tissue is sometimes observed within a few days.This type of skin formation is prone to recurrence after treatment.Often, tests can detect accompanying infections - mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.
Species
HPV types are usually divided according to the risk of possible oncogenic lesions of the skin and internal organs.Highlight:
- HPV with a high risk of cancer are types 16, 18, 45, 36.
- HPV with an average degree of cancer risk - 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 viruses most often cause benign growths, i.e. 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 older people and is characterized by slow growth.In younger people, it can form on parts of the body that are subject to constant trauma.
Squamous cell papillomas are both formations on a thin stalk and tumors that have a broad base and a rounded shape.At the beginning of papilloma growth, it is mobile, whitish, flesh-colored or dark brown, and the size can reach one and a half to two centimeters.
With constant injury, inflammation can occur, as a result of which the cells mutate and can degenerate into cancer, resulting in the squamous cell type of cancer.
Inverted
Inverted (transitional cell) papilloma is detected relatively rarely, and has its own characteristics of appearance and development, namely:
- 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, that is, the papilloma grows on one side of the nose, but it can be single or multiple.
- Germination of papillomas in bony structures, which leads to the destruction of the walls of the orbit, palate, sinuses and bones of the skull.
- Disease relapse 5-10 years after effective treatment.
An inverted papilloma leads to severe nasal congestion, bloody discharge or nosebleeds.
If the tumor reaches a significant size, then the deformation of the facial skeleton and the shift on 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 a cancerous growth.
Localization
Single or multiple papillomas can be found on almost any part of the body.Growths on the face naturally cause more discomfort, 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, there are several places with the predominant localization of papillomas, namely:
- Natural folds on the body are the armpits, groin area, lower abdomen if you are overweight.In women, the formation of flat and filamentous papillomas often occurs under the mammary glands.
- Hands, face, neck, back and stomach.On the face, flat and simple papillomas are often localized near the mouth, near the eyes and on the eyelids.
- The genitals are the most common place where genital warts grow.
- Internal organs - bladder, stomach, intestines.
- feet.
Viral growths can also be in the oral cavity, bladder, internal genital organs and in the ducts of the mammary glands.Papillomas are detected in the esophagus, larynx and trachea.Growths in the throat area lead to the narrowing of the lumen of this channel, and then signs of respiratory insufficiency develop.
Papillomas are considered benign formations, but under the influence of negative provoking factors they can degenerate into malignant tumors;this process lasts from several months to several years.
How to determine education by symptoms?
Activation of different types of HPV can lead to the appearance of three different benign formations on the skin: warts, genital warts and papillomas.
These formations have significant differences and some similar characteristics.Comparing the appearance and characteristics of growths on the body will help you to more easily determine the type of benign growth on your own.
Nipples
The appearance of a wart on the body can be determined by some external characteristics of this growth, namely:
- The size of the tumor is up to 1 cm in diameter.
- Clarity of external borders, density on palpation and surface heterogeneity.
- Irregular shape, which is closer to round.
- The color ranges from light gray to almost black.
- Location characteristics.Warts occur in humans mainly on open parts of the body, especially on 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.Most commonly diagnosed:
- Vulgar warts - in 70% of cases.Simple warts are also found in 20% of adolescents and children of primary school age.
- Plantar - detected in 30% of patients with warts.
- The flat type of warts is diagnosed in 4% of patients with this type of papilloma.
"Butcher's warts" are classified in a separate group;they are detected in people whose specialties are related to fish or meat processing.
Papillomas
Papillomas are skin growths that are soft to the touch, spread from the body on a thin stalk or have a flat base.
The virus that causes papilloma growth thrives in moist, warm environments and can therefore be easily contracted in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
At the beginning of their growth, papillomas cause burning and tingling in the upper layers of the skin, and then the formation of a small lump can be noticed in that place.Gradually this growth stretches and elongates, its dimensions vary from 0.2 mm to 1-1.5 cm in diameter.
The color of the papilloma is usually 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 on closed parts of the body - under the armpits, mammary glands, in the groin area, on the inner side of the thighs.
Papillomas usually 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 mucous membranes only under the influence of certain types of HPV, which are transmitted in the only way - through sex.
Most often, these growths are localized in the genital area and near the anus, less often in the oropharynx.Condylomas are papillary growths;individual elements can join each other and then a tumor that resembles a rooster's comb appears.
It is easy to detect condylomas on the external genitalia if you carefully monitor your health.It should be remembered that the mucous membrane is normally always smooth, and the appearance of roughness, tubercles and bumps on it is the reason to seek a diagnosis in a medical institution.
Ways of transmission of HPV
HPV can be transmitted in several ways - sexually, from mother to fetus during childbirth, by contact - through cracks and scratches on the skin.
Contact does not have to be direct;often the virus remains on personal items - towels, razors, washcloths, toothbrushes.It is possible to get infected with HPV in hairdressing salons, beauty salons and medical institutions - insufficient disinfection of instruments leads to infection with various types of pathogenic microorganisms.
Cause of occurrence
As already explained, the main causative agent of papillomas is the human papillomavirus.Infection with this microorganism occurs unnoticed by people, and sometimes people are not even aware that they are carriers of the infection.
According to the latest data, HPV of various types is present in the body of a third of the world's population, except for newborns 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, including smoking, alcohol abuse and taking certain medications.
- Exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, flu.
- With long-term use of oral contraceptives.
It has been noted that most papillomas on the body occur in people who lead a promiscuous sexual life.
Virus in gynecology
The presence of HPV in a woman's body is considered extremely dangerous, especially for types 16 and 18.
Against the background of papillomavirus transmission, 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 detected in their body.
The virus can be detected through several tests and examinations.Based on them, the doctor chooses the treatment, and the woman must be constantly examined in order to catch the activation of the proliferation of microorganisms in time, which is the prevention of cancer.
How dangerous is it?
Many people think about the treatment and removal of papillomas only in connection with the appearance of a cosmetic defect on the skin.But such a change is dangerous only from the aesthetic side;you need to be more careful with another consequence - the degeneration of papilloma into a cancerous formation.
Frequent injuries of growing papillomas and their inflammation contribute to this complication.If growth develops in the throat, vocal cords and trachea, breathing function worsens, bleeding and suffocation are possible.
Papillomas in women not only disturb 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, interfering with breathing and voice formation.
A man who has papillomas on his body and genitals can transmit the virus to his sexual partners.The risk of transmitting HPV through towels and other objects cannot be ruled out, and then there is a risk of infection for children and relatives who live nearby.
Disease diagnosis
The diagnosis is made based on the detection of papillomas on the body.For confirmation, a PCR or Digene test for determining HPV is prescribed.When removing a papilloma, part of the growth is taken for cytological examination.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
HPV treatment must be mandatory.
Modern drugs cannot completely remove the virus from the body, but they are necessary to transfer the pathogen to a state of rest, in which there is no infection and disease.
Papillomas on the body are removed by different methods;in addition, several groups of drugs are used to reduce the activity of the virus.
How do they retire?
Papillomas on the body are removed by conventional surgery, laser, electrocoagulation or radio wave therapy.The choice of method for cutting off the papilloma depends on its 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 virus reproduction.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Means for strengthening immunity.
The course of human papillomavirus drug treatment can be repeated several times based on the results of the analysis.The goal of antiviral therapy is to completely suppress the activity of HPV.
Folk remedies
Along with basic therapy, traditional medicine can also be used.Further growth, and in some cases destruction of papillomas, can be prevented by smearing these growths with celandine juice, castor oil, dandelion juice, garlic and sour apple.
Of course, such papilloma removal 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 in sufficient personal hygiene, timely treatment and healing of all minor cuts on the body.
Be sure to follow the rules of using only your own towel, manicure set, combs and shoes.When having sex with untested partners, you should always use condoms, and after an intimate act, take a shower and thoroughly clean your genitals, because it takes time for the virus to penetrate the epithelium.
Which doctor should I visit if I have HPV?
If papillomas appear on the body, it is best to consult a dermatovenerologist.If growths are found on the genitals, then women should consult a gynecologist, and men should consult a urologist.