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 contract the disease through household contact, when the virus enters the skin through minor damage 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 sexual intercourse.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 that they will turn into a malignant tumor of the cervical mucosa.
Causes of papillomas
The cause of the disease is the human papillomavirus (abbreviated HPV), which belongs to the Papoviridae family.Once in the human body, the papilloma virus invades the basal cells of the epithelium, where it actively reproduces.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 an injury to it can lead to bleeding.
The formation of most papillomas localized on the external skin of the body is not accompanied by the appearance of any symptoms.Sometimes they can manifest themselves with a slight tingling 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 tumors, reaching two centimeters and located in open areas of the body (neck, décolleté, face), can cause aesthetic discomfort.
The cause of papilloma is most often a weakened immune system that is not able to cope in time with the virus that has entered the body.Risk factors include: smoking, alcohol abuse, frequent stress, digestive system diseases, promiscuity.You can also contract the disease by visiting swimming pools, saunas and public baths.Papilloma is transmitted from mother to child at birth.Localized in the deep layers of the epithelium and not making itself felt, the virus is considered dormant;it poses no threat to either its bearer or its environment.Therefore, its presence in the human body does not constitute an indication for treatment.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.At best, the result will be the absence of a positive result;in the worst case, a secondary infection will be introduced under the skin.You can not remove the papilloma yourself, take it out or comb it or scratch it with your nails.An 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 papilloma:
- Electrocoagulation;
- Laser removal;
- Removal with radio knife;
- Cryodestruction.
Electrocoagulation involves exposing the affected area of the skin to a high-frequency current, under the influence of which the protein tissue coagulates.Anesthesia is used in case of removal of large papillomas.The main advantage of this method is that the removal procedure itself is completely bloodless, after which no noticeable 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 are performed using lasers than the removal of an ordinary wart.The laser method for removing benign skin tumors is recognized throughout the world.It has many advantages: quick, relatively painless procedure, absence of blood and scars on the skin that are formed after removing the papilloma with the surgeon's scalpel.After laser removal of papilloma, a thin protective film forms on the patient's skin, which disappears on its own after 12-14 days, leaving in its place healthy skin, no different from the rest of the body.
For patients who are afraid of the reappearance of the papilloma or who have already had an unsuccessful experience in getting rid of it, it is recommended to remove the tumor using a special radioknife, which cuts the entire area of \u200b\u200bepithelial tissue together with the papilloma located on it.The operation, of course, is performed under anesthesia and guarantees permanent relief from papilloma in this area of the skin.
Another modern way to remove unwanted defects on the skin is cryodestruction: cauterization of the tumor using liquid nitrogen.The procedure itself is painless, but it has one drawback: in some cases, for example with genital warts, it is ineffective.
A specialist can advise which method is most effective for removing papilloma in each specific case.Having decided to eliminate the unpleasant manifestation of the virus on the skin once and for all, you should pay special attention to the institution where the procedure itself will be carried out.Now many beauty salons offer the removal of moles, papillomas and warts at a relatively low price, but most of them cannot guarantee complete safety of removal and the absence of undesirable consequences.As practice shows, it is recommended to remove all skin tumors, including papillomas, 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.