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.
Varieties
HPV is a microorganism that has up to hundreds of stamps.Depending on the type of HPV stamp affecting a person, different types of papillomas are formed 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 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
The 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.Which path the infection will take depends, first of 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 features can 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 these are 26-29, 41, 63, 77.
Vulgar papillomas are the most likely formation on the skin from 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 at this place you can notice the growth of a spherical tumor.
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 spaces between the fingers and the back of the palms.Vulgar papillomas are often found in children, and the knee area is a common location for such formations, which is due to the fact that a small child often crawls and becomes infected through the slightest cracks in the skin.
Ordinary papillomas can be single or multiple.In the latter case, the daughter formations grow next to 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 has all the distinctive external characteristics of vulgar papilloma.
- Pain that increases when the papilloma is compressed by tight shoes.
- Lack of skin pattern.On calluses, the skin pattern is preserved, and their surface is quite smooth.
Plantar papillomas can destroy on their own; this is especially common in young children.Often small bubbles form around the first lump, which over time transform into papillomas; this process is referred to in medicine as mosaic papillomatosis.
Flat
Flat papillomas get their name due to 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, 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 they 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 stalk and have an elongated, elongated shape are referred to in medicine as filamentous 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 out and hangs down.
Acrochords predominantly grow in people after 40 years of age, regardless of their gender.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, since the thin leg can easily be caught by clothing or careless movements.
Pointed
Pointed papillomas or condylomas are papillary formations, they are 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 cockscomb, the color of the formations ranges from flesh-colored to bright pink.
Genital warts are caused only by types of HPV that are sexually transmitted.That is why these papillomas are found on the genitals, in the anus, in the perineum and groin.In men, condylomas often affect the penis or grow inside the urethra.In women, papillary formations involve the vagina and cervix.
Condylomas acuminata grow very quickly, merging and extensive encroachment of healthy tissue is sometimes 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 usually divided according to the risk of possible oncogenic lesions of the skin and internal organs.Highlight:
- HPV with a high cancer risk 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 most often cause benign growths, that is, papillomas, on the skin.
Squamous
Squamous cell papilloma occurs as a result of the proliferation of 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 in areas of the body that are subject to constant trauma.
Squamous cell papillomas are both formations on a thin stalk and tumors that have a wide 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 squamous cell type of cancer occurs.
Inverted
Inverted (transitional cell) papilloma is detected relatively rarely, and it has its own characteristics of occurrence and development, these include:
- Specific localization - this type of papillomas 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 either single or multiple.
- Germination of papilloma into bone structures, which leads to destruction of the walls of the orbit, palate, sinuses, and skull bones.
- 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 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 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 inconvenience, 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:
- 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 where genital warts most often 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 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 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 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 features of this growth, these include:
- The tumor size is up to 1 cm in diameter.
- Clarity of external boundaries, density on palpation and surface heterogeneity.
- Irregular shape, which is more close to round.
- Color ranges from light gray to almost black.
- Features of the location.Warts occur in people mainly on open areas of the body, especially those that are 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 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 papillomas.
“Butcher’s warts” are classified into a separate group; they 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 on a thin stalk or having a flat base.
The virus that causes the growth of papillomas thrives in a humid, warm environment and therefore can easily become 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, then at this place you can 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 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 on closed areas of the body - under the armpits, mammary glands, in the groin area, on the inner thighs.
Papillomas usually begin to grow during long-term treatment of infectious or somatic diseases, as well as in people with weakened immune systems.A single 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 localized 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 resembles a cockscomb.
It is easy to detect condylomas on the external genitalia if you pay close attention to your health.It must be remembered that the mucous membrane 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 transmission of HPV
HPV can be transmitted in several ways - sexually, from mother to fetus during childbirth, 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 has already been 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 infants and the elderly.
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, 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 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 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 cases of cervical cancer in women, HPV is detected in their body.
The virus can be detected through several tests and examinations.Based on them, the doctor selects treatment, and the woman must be constantly examined in order to catch in time the activation of the proliferation of the microorganism, which is the prevention of cancer.
How is it 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 dangerous only from the aesthetic side; you need to be more careful about another consequence - the degeneration of papilloma into a cancerous formation.
Frequent injuries to growing papillomas and their inflammation contribute to this complication.If a growth develops in the throat, vocal cords and trachea, breathing 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 baby 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 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.To confirm, a PCR or Digene test to determine HPV is prescribed.When removing papillomas, a part of the growth is taken for cytological examination.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
Treatment for HPV must be mandatory.
Modern medications are not able to completely remove the virus from the body, but they are necessary to transfer the pathogen into a dormant state, in which there is no infection and no diseases develop.
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 a laser, electrocoagulation, or radio wave therapy.The choice of method for cutting off 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 reproduction of the virus.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Immunity enhancing agents.
The course of treatment with human papilloma virus drugs 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, such removal of papillomas will take a lot of 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.
Be sure to follow the rule of using only your own towel, manicure sets, combs, and shoes.When having sexual intercourse with untested partners, you should always use condoms, and after an intimate act, 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, then women should consult a gynecologist, and men with a urologist.