Papilloma is a benign skin tumor in the form of small growths and warts.Today, it has been proven that papillomas are of viral origin.You can become infected with the disease by contact in the household, when the virus enters the skin through minor damages and microcracks.Currently, several main types of papillomas have been discovered: flat, simple, plantar, filiform and pointed.There are papillomas that are transmitted through unprotected sex.Such neoplasms are called genital warts and represent a great danger to a woman's health.The place of their localization is the external genitalia, the cervix.Such papillomas usually go unnoticed because they do not reveal their presence in any way.However, there is a high probability of their transformation into a malignant tumor of the cervical mucosa.
Causes of papillomas
The causative agent of the disease is the human papillomavirus (abbreviated HPV), which belongs to the family Papoviridae.Once in the human body, the papillomavirus attacks the basal cells of the epithelium, where it actively reproduces.The appearance of papillomas or warts on the skin is the result of high virus activity.The neoplasm itself consists of epithelial tissue that contains blood vessels, so its injury can lead to bleeding.
The formation of most papillomas localized on the outer covering of the body is not accompanied by the appearance of any symptoms.Sometimes they can be felt by a slight burning and itching of the skin.Papilloma can be recognized by its appearance.Externally, it is a small growth that rises above the skin and, as a rule, does not differ in color from it.Sometimes light brown papillomas are found.Large neoplasms, reaching two centimeters and localized on open areas of the body (neck, décolleté, face), can cause aesthetic discomfort.
The cause of papillomas is usually a weakened immune system that is unable to fight the virus that has entered the body in time.Risk factors are: smoking, alcohol abuse, frequent stress, diseases of the digestive system, promiscuity.You can also catch the disease when you visit swimming pools, saunas and public baths.Papilloma is transmitted from mother to baby at birth.Located in the deep layers of the epithelium and not felt, the virus is considered dormant;it does not pose a threat to its wearer or its environment.Therefore, its presence in the human body is not an indication for treatment.Papilloma becomes contagious when it reaches the upper layers of the skin and is localized above its surface in the form of a visible neoplasm.
Treatment of papillomas
Self-treatment of papillomas is not recommended.At best, the result will be no positive result;in the worst case, a secondary infection will be introduced under the skin.You cannot remove the papilloma yourself, pull it out, or comb it or scratch it with your nails.Incorrectly removed papilloma will form again in the same place after some time.Therefore, this delicate matter should be entrusted to a specialist - a dermatologist.
Today, there are several ways to remove papillomas:
- Electrocoagulation;
- Laser removal;
- Radio knife removal;
- Cryodestruction.
Electrocoagulation involves exposing the affected area of the skin to a high-frequency current, under the influence of which the protein tissue is coagulated.Anesthesia is used in the case of removal of a large papilloma.The main advantage of this method is that the removal procedure itself is completely bloodless, after which no visible traces of medical intervention remain on the skin.
The use of lasers for medical purposes has made life much easier for both doctors and patients.Today, much more serious operations than the removal of a simple wart are performed with a laser.The laser method for removing benign skin tumors is recognized throughout the world.It has numerous advantages: quick procedure, comparative painlessness, absence of blood and scars on the skin that occur after papilloma removal with a surgical scalpel.After laser papilloma removal, a thin protective film forms on the patient's skin, which disappears by itself after 12-14 days, leaving in its place healthy skin that does not differ from the rest of the body.
For patients who are afraid of the recurrence of papilloma or have already had an unsuccessful experience of getting rid of it, it is recommended to remove the tumor with a special radio knife, which cuts off the entire area of epithelial tissue together with the papilloma located on it.The operation is, of course, performed under anesthesia and guarantees lifelong relief from papillomas on this part of the skin.
Another modern way of removing unwanted defects on the skin is cryodestruction - cauterization of tumors using liquid nitrogen.The procedure itself is painless, but it has one drawback - in some cases, for example, with genital warts, it is ineffective.
An expert can advise which method is the most effective for removing papillomas in each specific case.Having decided to get rid of the unpleasant manifestation of the virus on your skin once and for all, special attention should be paid to the institution where the procedure itself will be carried out.Now many beauty salons offer the removal of moles, papillomas and warts for a relatively low fee, but most of them cannot guarantee the complete safety of removal and the absence of unwanted consequences.As practice shows, it is recommended to remove all skin tumors, including papillomas, only in medical institutions and after consultation with a dermatologist, who will diagnose the disease, determine its exact origin, and only then prescribe the removal procedure.