It is hardly possible 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 to deal 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 with it 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 one 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, sometimes lengthy and difficult therapy.
Before starting therapy, be sure to consult with your doctor to determine the type and confirm the benign nature of the formation, and conduct a series of studies, because for the fastest and most 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, preventing 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 area 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 neoplasm caused by HPV involves direct action on the papillomas with local drugs and the use of antiviral/immunomodulatory agents. If drug therapy does not lead to recovery, surgical methods are used to target the formations. Simple mechanical removal with a scalpel, as well as with an electric knife, laser, or liquid nitrogen is possible.
Remedies 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);
- Immunomodulators;
- Antiviral local and general drugs.
How to remove papillomas?
Gel and ointment for papillomas
Keratolytics are drugs that are applied directly to the wart, softening it and exfoliating it. Pharmacies offer salicylic acid, various acids and enzymes that soften the skin in the area of education. The active components effectively combat 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 the wart is removed.
The best remedy 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 from this group are applied to the wart and kill the virus itself inside the affected cells.
Before using local medications, the skin must be treated with an antiseptic solution. Also, a rich nourishing cream or Vaseline ointment should be applied to the skin around the papilloma to prevent burns from the active components of healthy tissues.
How to cure papillomas - immunomodulators
For combined treatment, antiviral tablets and immunomodulators (drugs that enhance immunity) are used.
Drugs that stimulate the immune system and increase the body’s defenses by "forcing" immune cells to produce immunoglobulins, or are immunoglobulins themselves, identical to human ones. All tablets 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, because its effect on the human body has not been fully established. Improper use of home medications can lead to the formation of deep ulcers, scars and the risk of virus infection of surrounding healthy tissue. To minimize the risk of developing diseases caused by HPV, see your doctor and follow the prescribed treatment plan.