It is difficult to find a person without papillomas. These formations on the skin can cause serious discomfort and be a cosmetic defect.
In this article we will look in detail at what papillomas are and how dermatologists advise dealing with them. It is important to remember that each case is unique and requires prior consultation with a doctor. We categorically do not recommend treating or removing papillomas on your own.
What are papillomas?
Papillomas are a viral disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). You can become infected through simple household contact, using shared towels or washcloths.
A prerequisite for infection is a decrease in immunity or the presence of wounds and ulcers on the body. And a small neoplasm eventually spreads throughout the body with many condylomas - genital warts. They, in turn, not only create a cosmetic defect, but also further reduce immunity.
Do papillomas need to be treated?
If you have papillomas (warts), they require combined therapy, sometimes long and difficult.
Before starting therapy, consult your doctor to determine the type and confirm the benign nature of the formation, and carry out a series of studies, as for faster and more effective treatment it is necessary to establish the type of pathogen.
It is also necessary to choose the most gentle and effective method of removing formations, avoiding scars, scars and skin defects.
Where are papillomas most often found?
The human papillomavirus has more than 170 strains. Some of them cause completely harmless warts and condylomas. And some can cause cancer. Thus, at the moment, the infectious cause of dysplasia and cervical cancer has been proven, and the viral nature of cancer of the rectum and perianal region is being considered.
The most common warts are on the hands and feet, and condylomas are on the genitals and head. For men, the most common location is the armpits, for women - the neck, chest and skin under the mammary glands.
How to get rid of papillomas?
Treatment of any form of neoplasia caused by HPV involves direct action on the papillomas with local medications and the use of antiviral/immunomodulatory agents. If drug therapy does not lead to recovery, surgical methods will be used to target the formations. Simple mechanical removal with a scalpel, electric knife, laser or liquid nitrogen is possible.
Medicines for the treatment of papillomas on the body are divided into three large groups:
- Local remedies: creams, solutions, gels, ointments for local application (keratolytics and necrotizing agents);
- Immunomodulators;
- Local and general antiviral medications.
How to remove papillomas?
Gel and ointment for papillomas
Keratolytics are medications applied directly to the wart, softening and exfoliating it. Pharmacies offer salicylic acid, various acids and enzymes that soften the skin in the area of education. The active components effectively fight viral strains, but most often several courses of treatment are required.
Necrotizing drugs are drugs that cause the death of cells affected by the virus. They are also applied to the papilloma itself, but the peculiarity of these products is that they can leave quite large defects, scars on the body after removing the wart.
The best medicine for papillomas is antiviral drugs
Another group of drugs for the treatment of papillomas are antiviral drugs. There are two varieties: local and general. Topical medications are applied directly to the affected area and around the warts. The most famous is oxolinic ointment. Interferons also have local antiviral properties. All medications in this group are applied to the wart and kill the virus itself within the affected cells.
Before using local medicines, the skin must be treated with an antiseptic solution. In addition, a rich nourishing cream or petroleum jelly ointment should be applied to the skin around the papilloma to avoid burns caused by the active components of healthy tissues.
How to cure papillomas - immunomodulators
For combined treatment, antiviral and immunomodulatory tablets (drugs that increase immunity) are used.
Medicines that stimulate the immune system and increase the body's defenses, "forcing" immune cells to produce immunoglobulins, or are themselves immunoglobulins, identical to human ones. All pills for papillomas pass through the liver and kidneys, people with diseases of these organs should be as careful as possible when taking substances from these groups.
HPV requires mandatory qualified treatment, as its effect on the human body has not been fully established. Inappropriate use of home medicines can lead to the formation of deep ulcers, scars and the risk of virus infection in the surrounding healthy tissues. To minimize the risk of developing diseases caused by HPV, consult your doctor and follow the prescribed treatment plan.