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 through household contact, when the virus penetrates the skin through minor damage and microtears.Currently, several main types of papillomas have been discovered: flat, simple, plantar, filiform and acute.There are papillomas that are transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse.Such neoplasms are called genital warts and pose a great danger to a woman's health. The place of their localization is the external genitals, the cervix.Such papillomas usually go unnoticed because they do not reveal their presence in any way.However, there is a high probability that they will turn into a malignant tumor of the cervical mucosa.
Causes of papillomas
The disease is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV for short), which belongs to the Papoviridae family.In the human body, the papilloma virus penetrates the basal cells of the epithelium and actively multiplies there.The appearance of papillomas or warts on the skin is the result of high viral activity.The neoplasm itself consists of epithelial tissue containing blood vessels, so injury to it can cause bleeding.
The formation of most papillomas, localized on the external skin of the body, is not accompanied by the appearance of symptoms.Sometimes they become noticeable through slight tingling and itching of the skin.A papilloma can be recognized by its appearance.Externally, it is a small growth that protrudes above the skin and usually does not differ in color from it.Sometimes light brown papillomas are found.Large neoplasms, up to two centimeters in size and located in open areas of the body (neck, décolleté, face), can cause aesthetic discomfort.
The cause of papilloma is usually a weakened immune system, which is not able to cope with the virus that has entered the body in a timely manner.Risk factors include: smoking, alcohol abuse, frequent stress, diseases of the digestive system, promiscuity.You can also become infected with the disease when visiting swimming pools, saunas and public pools.Papilloma is transmitted from mother to child at birth.Since the virus is located in the deep layers of the epithelium and does not make itself felt there, it is considered dormant;It does not pose any danger to its wearer or those around him. Therefore, its presence in the human body does not constitute an indication for treatment. The papilloma becomes contagious when it reaches the upper layers of the skin and localizes above its surface in the form of a visible neoplasm.
Treatment of papillomas
Self-treatment of papilloma is not recommended.The result will be, at best, the absence of a positive result;In the worst case, a secondary infection is introduced under the skin.You cannot remove the papilloma yourself, pull it out, or comb or scratch it with your nails.A papilloma that is incorrectly removed will re-form in the same place after a while.Therefore, this delicate matter should be entrusted to a specialist - a dermatologist.
Today there are several ways to remove papilloma:
- electrocoagulation;
- laser removal;
- distance with radio knife;
- Cryodestruction.
During electrocoagulation, the affected skin area is exposed to a high-frequency current, under the influence of which protein tissue coagulates.When removing a large papilloma, anesthesia is used.The main advantage of this method is that the removal process itself is completely bloodless and no noticeable traces of medical intervention remain on the skin.
The use of lasers for medical purposes has made the lives of doctors and patients much easier.Today, laser operations are used to perform much more serious operations than the removal of an ordinary wart.The laser method for removing benign skin tumors is recognized worldwide.It has many advantages: a quick procedure, comparatively painless, no blood and scars on the skin that form after the papilloma is removed with a surgeon's scalpel.After laser removal of papilloma, a thin protective film is formed on the patient's skin, which disappears on its own 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 the papilloma or who have already had unsuccessful experience with the removal of the papilloma, it is recommended to remove the tumor using a special radioknife, which cuts off the entire area of epithelial tissue along with the papilloma located on it.The operation is of course carried out under anesthesia and guarantees lifelong relief from papillomas in this area of the skin.
Another modern method of eliminating unwanted defects on the skin is cryodestruction - cauterization of the tumor with liquid nitrogen.The procedure itself is painless, but has one disadvantage: in some cases, for example genital warts, it is ineffective.
A specialist can advise in each individual case which method of removing papillomas is most effective.Having decided to once and for all get rid of the unpleasant manifestation of the virus on your skin, you should pay special attention to the institution where the procedure itself will be carried out.Now many beauty salons offer removal of moles, papillomas and warts for a relatively small fee, but most of them cannot guarantee complete safety of removal and the absence of undesirable consequences.As practice shows, all skin tumors, including papillomas, are recommended to be removed only in medical institutions and after consulting a dermatologist who will diagnose the disease, determine its exact origin and only then prescribe the removal procedure.