Papilloma is a benign tumor located on the skin, less often on mucous membranes.The formation of any papilloma 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 until the formation of lumps 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 penile region.
Determining the type of papilloma is necessary to select the most effective treatment method and assess the risk of this tumor degenerating into malignant.
Species
The human papillomavirus, after its activation in the body, leads not only to changes in the skin and mucous membranes, but also to a series of diseases dangerous to human health.The path the infection takes depends, first and foremost, on the type of HPV present in the body.
Papillomas are caused by different 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 common.They appear on the body if several types of HPV develop in the body, and most often they are 26-29, 41, 63, 77.
Vulgar papillomas are the most likely formation on the skin in the benign group.The process of papilloma formation begins with a slight burning and tingling sensation in a certain area of the body, then in this place it is possible to notice the growth of a spherical tumor.
Over time, the surface of this irregular formation becomes rough and the color changes from skin color 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 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 these formations, which is due to the fact that a small child often crawls and becomes infected through the smallest cracks in the skin.
Common papillomas can be single or multiple.In the latter case, the daughter formations grow close to the main one - the mother.
plant
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, they are:
- The formation has all the distinctive external features of vulgar papilloma.
- Pain that increases when the papilloma is compressed by tight shoes.
- Lack of skin pattern.With calluses, the skin pattern is preserved and its surface is quite smooth.
Plantar papillomas can destroy on their own;this is especially common in young children.Often, small blisters form around the first lump, which over time turn into papillomas;This process is known in medicine as 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.Its shape is round, often elongated, oval, the places of growth are the face, the area close to the lips, the upper part of the chest and the external genitalia.In girls and women, they are often diagnosed on the cervix.
Nearby flat papillomas can merge and 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 acrochords in medicine.They are caused by HPV types 7 and 2.At the beginning of the growth of this formation, it is possible to notice a small lump on the skin, which gradually stretches and hangs down.
Skin tags grow predominantly in people after 40 years of age, regardless of sex.Most often they are located on the upper eyelids, neck, under the arms 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
Pointed papillomas or condylomas are papillary formations, located both individually and in entire groups.As these papillomas grow, they merge and during this period their surface visually resembles a rooster's comb, the color of the formations varies from flesh-colored to bright pink.
Genital warts are only caused by sexually transmitted types of HPV.That is why these papillomas are found on the genitals, anus, perineum and groin.In men, condylomas usually affect the penis or grow inside the urethra.In women, papillary formations surround the vagina and cervix.
Condylomata acuminata grow very quickly, sometimes extensive fusion and invasion of healthy tissue is observed within a few days.This type of skin formation is subject to recurrence after treatment.Often, tests can reveal concomitant infections - mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.
Types
HPV types are usually divided according to the risk of possible oncogenic lesions of the skin and internal organs.Emphasis:
- HPV types 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 the virus usually cause benign growths, i.e. papillomas, on the skin.
Scaly
Squamous cell papilloma occurs as a result of the proliferation of the squamous epithelium of the skin.It is most often formed in elderly people 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 thin-stemmed formations and tumors with a wide base and 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 injuries, it can become inflamed, as a result of which cells mutate and degenerate into cancer and a squamous cell type of cancer occurs.
Inverted
Inverted papilloma (transitional cells) is detected relatively rarely and has its own characteristics of occurrence and development, which include:
- Specific location - this type of papilloma only affects the nose and its paranasal sinuses.The formation usually 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.
- Papilloma germination in bone structures, which leads to the destruction of the walls of the orbit, palate, sinuses and skull bones.
- Disease relapse 5 to 10 years after effective treatment.
Inverted papilloma causes severe nasal congestion, bloody discharge or nosebleeds.
If the tumor reaches a significant size, deformation of the facial skeleton and displacement on the affected side of the eyeball are determined visually.In 5% of cases, the prolonged course of the disease in the absence of adequate therapy leads to the degeneration of the papilloma into cancerous growths.
Location
Single or multiple papillomas can be found almost anywhere on the body.Growths on the face naturally cause more inconvenience, but papillomas in 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 body's natural folds are the armpits, groin area, and 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 stomach.On the face, flat, simple papillomas are usually 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.
- Feet.
Viral growths can also occur in the oral cavity, bladder, internal genitals, and in the ducts of the mammary glands.Papillomas are detected 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 appear.
Papillomas are considered benign formations, but under the influence of negative provoking factors they can degenerate into malignant tumors;this process takes several months to several years.
How to determine education by 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 have significant differences and some similar characteristics.Comparing the appearance and growth characteristics of growths on the body will 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 the external limits, density on palpation and heterogeneity of the surface.
- Irregular shape, closer to round.
- The color varies from light gray to almost black.
- Location characteristics.Warts occur in people mainly on open areas 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 through personal contact, that is, through shaking hands 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 teenagers and school-age children.
- Plantar – detected in 30% of patients with warts.
- The flat type of wart is diagnosed in 4% of patients with this type of papilloma.
“Butcher’s warts” are classified into a separate group;are detected in people whose specialties are related to the processing of fish or meat.
Papillomas
Papillomas are skin growths that are soft to the touch, extending from the body in a thin stalk or with a flat base.
The virus that causes papillomas to grow thrives in moist, warm environments and can therefore be easily infected in baths, saunas and swimming pools.
At the beginning of their growth, papillomas cause some burning and tingling in the upper layers of the skin, so in this place you may notice the formation of a small lump.Gradually, this growth stretches and lengthens, its dimensions vary from 0.2 mm to 1-1.5 cm in diameter.
The color of papillomas is usually skin-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 areas of the body - under the armpits, mammary glands, in the groin area, on the inner thighs.
Papillomas often begin to grow during prolonged 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.
Condylomas
Genital warts appear on mucous membranes only under the influence of certain types of HPV, which are transmitted in only one 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 and then a tumor appears that resembles a rooster's comb.
It's easy to detect condylomas on the external genitalia if you pay close attention to your health.It must be remembered that the mucosa is normally always smooth and the appearance of roughness, tubercles and swelling is a reason to seek diagnosis at a medical institution.
HPV transmission routes
HPV can be transmitted in several ways - sexually, from mother to fetus during childbirth, by contact - through cracks and abrasions in the skin.
Contact does not have to be direct;Often the virus remains on personal items - towels, razors, washcloths, toothbrushes.It is possible to become 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 cause of papillomas is the human papilloma virus.Infection by this microorganism occurs unnoticed by humans and sometimes people are completely unaware that they are carriers of the infection.
According to the latest data, several types of HPV are present in the body of a third of the world's population, with the exception of children and the elderly.
Activation of the virus and, consequently, the growth of papillomas and the development of other diseases occur 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 prolonged use of oral contraceptives.
It has been noticed that most papillomas on the body occur in people who lead a promiscuous sex life.
Viruses 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 carriage, 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 cervical cancer cases in women, HPV is detected in their body.
The virus can be detected through various tests and exams.Based on them, the doctor selects the treatment, and the woman must be constantly examined in order to catch the activation of the proliferation of the microorganism in time, which is the prevention of cancer.
How is this dangerous?
Many people think about the treatment and removal of papillomas only in connection with the occurrence of a cosmetic defect on the skin.But such a change is only dangerous from an aesthetic point of view;you need to be more careful with 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 tumor occurs in the throat, vocal cords and trachea, respiratory function deteriorates, bleeding and suffocation may occur.
Papillomas in women not only disrupt reproductive function, but can also be transmitted to the child.Generally, the virus enters the baby directly through 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 transmission of HPV through towels and other objects cannot be excluded, and then the risk of infection for children and relatives living nearby arises.
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, part of the growth is taken for cytological examination.
Human papillomavirus treatment
Treatment for HPV should be mandatory.
Modern medicines are not able to completely remove the virus from the body, but they are necessary to transfer the pathogen to an inactive state, in which there is no infection and no disease develops.
Papillomas on the body are removed by different methods;Furthermore, several groups of medications 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 taking the following groups of medications:
- Antiviral agents that can stop the virus from reproducing.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Agents that improve immunity.
The course of drug treatment for 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.You can prevent further growth and, in some cases, destruction of papilloma by lubricating these growths with celandine juice, castor oil, dandelion juice, garlic and sour apple.
Naturally, this removal of papillomas takes a long time and is effective in most cases when combined with the simultaneous use of antiviral drugs.
Disease prevention
Prevention of the appearance of papillomas on the body consists of sufficient personal hygiene, timely treatment and healing of all small cuts on the body.
Be sure to follow the rule of only using your own towel, manicure sets, combs and shoes.When having sex with untested partners, you should always use a condom and, after the intimate act, take a shower and clean your genitals well, as 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 dermatovenereologist.If growths are found on the genitals, women should consult a gynecologist and men a urologist.