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 papillomavirus - into the body.But you need to know that sometimes several years pass from the moment of infection to the formation of growths on the skin.
Variety
HPV is a microorganism that has up to hundreds of strains.Depending on the type of HPV stamp 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 papillomas is necessary to select the most effective treatment method and to assess the risk of this tumor degenerating into a malignant one.
Species
Human papillomavirus, 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.The path that the infection will take depends primarily 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 features can suggest the type of HPV.
Simple
Simple papillomas have many other names: vulgar or ordinary.They appear on the body if several types of HPV develop in the body and most often these are 26-29, 41, 63, 77.
Vulgar papillomas are the most likely formation on the skin of the group of benign ones.The process of papilloma formation begins with a slight burning and tingling sensation in a certain area of the body, then the growth of a spherical tumor can be noticed in this place.
Over time, the surface of this irregular 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 site in adults is the fingers, the spaces 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, due to the fact that a small child often crawls and gets infected through the smallest cracks in the skin.
Ordinary papillomas can be single or multiple.In the latter case, the daughter formations grow alongside the main one, the mother one.
Plantar
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 plantar papilloma, these are:
- The formation presents all the distinctive external characteristics of papilloma vulgaris.
- Pain that increases when the papilloma is compressed by tight shoes.
- Lack of skin drawing.On calluses, the skin pattern is preserved and their surface is quite smooth.
Plantar papillomas can destroy themselves;this is especially common in young children.Often small bubbles form around the first nodule, which over time transform into papillomas;this process is medically called mosaic papillomatosis.
Dish
Flat papillomas get their name from the fact that they protrude only slightly, that is, a couple of 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, the external genitals.In girls and women, they are often diagnosed in the cervix.
Nearby flat papillomas can merge with each other and therefore become very visible on the body.The color of these formations rarely differs from the rest of the skin or may be slightly darker.
Thread-like
Papillomas that grow on a thin stalk and have an elongated, elongated shape are referred to in medicine as filamentous or acrochordous.They are caused by HPV types 7 and 2. At the beginning of the growth of this formation, you may notice a small bump on the skin, which gradually lengthens and sags.
Acrochords grow predominantly in people after the age of 40, regardless of gender.Most often they are found on the upper eyelids, neck, armpits and mammary glands, in the groin area.Thread-like formations are prone to injury, as the thin leg can easily be caught by clothing or careless movements.
Pointed
Papillomas or pointed 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 cockscomb, the color of the formations varies from flesh-colored to bright pink.
Genital warts are caused only by sexually transmitted types of HPV.That is why these papillomas are found on the genitals, in the anus, perineum and groin.In men, warts often affect the penis or grow inside the urethra.In women, papillary formations involve the vagina and cervix.
Condylomata acuminata grow very rapidly, sometimes a fusion and extensive invasion of healthy tissue is observed within a few days.This type of skin formation is prone to relapses after treatment.Often tests can reveal concomitant infections: mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.
Types
HPV types are generally divided based on the risk of possible oncogenic lesions of the skin and internal organs.Make evident:
- HPVs with a high risk of cancer are types 16, 18, 45, 36.
- HPV with a medium degree of cancer risk – 31, 35, 33, 58, 51, 52.
- Low oncological risk HPV (non-oncogenic) – 11, 44, 43, 42, 6.
Non-oncogenic types of the virus most often cause benign growths, that is, papillomas, on the skin.
Scaly
Squamous cell papilloma occurs due to proliferation of the squamous epithelium of the skin.It forms more often in older people and is characterized by slow growth.In younger people it can form in areas of the body 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 its growth, the papilloma is mobile, its color is whitish, flesh-colored or dark brown, and its size can reach one and a half to two centimeters.
With constant injury, it can become inflamed, as a result of which the cells mutate and can degenerate into cancer and a type of squamous cell cancer occurs.
Inverted
Inverted (transitional cell) papilloma is detected relatively rarely and has its own characteristics of onset and development, including:
- Specific location: This type of papillomas affects only the nose and its paranasal sinuses.The formation often grows into the maxillary sinus, frontal sinus and ethmoid 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 papilloma in bone structures, leading to the destruction of the walls of the orbit, palate, sinuses and skull bones.
- Recurrence of the disease 5-10 years after effective treatment.
Inverted papilloma leads to severe nasal congestion, bloody discharge or nosebleeds.
If the tumor reaches a significant size, the deformation of the facial skeleton and displacement 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.
Location
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 areas 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 the predominant localization of papillomas are distinguished, these are:
- The natural folds of the body are the armpits, the groin area, the lower abdomen if you are overweight.In women, the formation of flat, filamentous papillomas often occurs under the mammary glands.
- Hands, face, neck, back and belly.On the face, flat and simple papillomas are often located near the mouth, near the eyes and on the eyelids.
- The genitals are the place where genital warts most often grow.
- Internal organs: bladder, stomach, intestine.
- Feet.
Viral growths can also occur in the oral cavity, bladder, internal genital organs, and mammary gland ducts.Papillomas are detected in the esophagus, larynx and trachea.Growths in the throat area lead to a narrowing of the lumen of this canal 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 determine education based on symptoms?
The 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 present both significant differences and some similar characteristics.Comparing the appearance and growth characteristics of growths on the body will more likely help you independently determine the type of benign growth.
Warts
The appearance of a wart on the body can be determined by some external features of this growth, including:
- The size of the tumor is up to 1 cm in diameter.
- Clarity of external boundaries, density on palpation and surface heterogeneity.
- Irregular shape, closer to the roundabout.
- The color varies from light gray to almost black.
- Characteristics of the position.Warts occur in people mainly on open areas of the body, especially those subject to frequent injury.These are hands and fingers, knees, elbows, scalp.
The virus that causes warts is almost always transmitted through personal contact, that is, through handshakes or, less often, through the use of certain things: towels, gloves.Most often diagnosed:
- Vulgar warts - in 70% of cases.Simple warts are also detected in 20% of adolescents and primary school-aged children.
- Plantar – detected in 30% of patients with warts.
- The flat type of warts is diagnosed in 4% of patients with this type of papillomas.
“Butcher's warts” are classified in a separate group;they are found in people whose specialties are related to fish or meat processing.
Papillomas
Papillomas are soft-to-touch skin growths that extend from the body on a thin stalk or have a flat base.
The virus that causes the growth of papillomas thrives in a warm, humid environment and therefore can easily become 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, so in this place you can notice the formation of a small nodule.Gradually, this growth lengthens and lengthens, its size varies from 0.2 mm to 1-1.5 cm in diameter.
The color of papillomas is often flesh-colored, grayish or yellowish.These tumors grow more often in older people, but often affect the skin of younger people.Unlike warts, papillomas prefer to grow on closed areas of the body: in the armpits, mammary glands, in the inguinal area, on the inside 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.A single formation leads to the formation of others and then papillomatosis occurs.
Warts
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 localized in the genital area and near the anus, less often in the oropharynx.Warts are papillary growths;individual elements can fuse with each other and then a tumor appears that resembles a cockscomb.
It is easy to spot warts on the external genitalia if you pay close attention to your health.It should be remembered that the mucosa is normally always smooth, and the appearance of roughness, tubercles and bumps on it is a reason to seek a diagnosis at a medical institution.
Routes of HPV transmission
HPV can be transmitted in several ways: sexually, from mother to fetus during childbirth, by contact, through cracks and abrasions in the skin.
The contact does not have to be direct;often the virus remains on personal objects: towels, razors, wipes, toothbrushes.It is possible to contract HPV in hairdressing salons, beauty salons and medical institutions: insufficient disinfection of tools leads to infection with various types of pathogenic microorganisms.
Cause of the event
As already clarified, the main cause of papillomas is the human papilloma virus.Infection with this microorganism occurs unnoticed by humans, and sometimes people are completely unaware 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, with the exception of newborns and the elderly.
Activation of the virus and, as a consequence, 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 drugs.
- Exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, influenza.
- With long-term use of oral contraceptives.
It has been noticed that most papillomas on the body occur in people who lead a promiscuous sexual life.
Viruses in gynecology
The presence of HPV in women's bodies is considered extremely dangerous, especially types 16 and 18.
Against the background of carriage of papillomavirus, not only papillomas and cervical erosion occur, but also such a dangerous disease as cervical cancer.Recent studies suggest that in almost one hundred percent of cases of cervical cancer in women, HPV is detected in their body.
The virus can be detected through various tests and examinations.Based on them, the doctor selects treatment, and the woman must be constantly examined to catch in time the activation of the proliferation of the microorganism, which is the prevention of cancer.
In what way is it dangerous?
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 an aesthetic point of view;you need to be more careful about another consequence: the degeneration of papilloma into a cancerous formation.
Frequent lesions to growing papillomas and their inflammation contribute to this complication.If a tumor develops in the throat, vocal cords and trachea, respiratory function deteriorates, bleeding and suffocation are possible.
Papillomas in women not only disrupt reproductive function, but can also be transmitted to the child.Usually the virus enters the child directly into 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 HPV transmission through towels and other objects cannot be ruled out, and therefore there is a risk of infection for children and relatives living nearby.
Diagnosis of the disease
The diagnosis is made based on the detection of papillomas on the body.To confirm, a PCR or Digene test is prescribed to determine HPV.When removing papillomas, a part of the growth is taken for cytological examination.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
Treatment for HPV should be mandatory.
Modern drugs are not able to completely eliminate the virus from the body, but they are necessary to transfer the pathogen to a dormant state, in which there is no infection and no disease develops.
Papillomas on the body are removed using 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, using laser, electrocoagulation or radio wave therapy.The choice of method for cutting a 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:
- Antiviral agents that can stop the virus from reproducing.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Agents that improve immunity.
The course of treatment with drugs against the human papilloma virus can be repeated several times based on the results of the analysis.The goal of antiviral therapy is to completely suppress HPV activity.
Folk remedies
In addition to basic therapy, traditional medicine can be used.It is possible to prevent further growth and, in some cases, destruction of papilloma by lubricating these growths with celandine juice, castor oil, dandelion juice, garlic and unripe apple.
Of course, 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 minor cuts on the body.
Make sure you follow the rule of only using your own towel, manicure set, combs and shoes.When having sexual intercourse with untested partners, you should always use a condom, and after an intimate act, take a shower and carefully 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 better to consult a dermatovenerologist.If growths are found on the genitals, women should consult a gynecologist and men a urologist.