Papillomas under the arms are a symptom of the papillomavirus developing in the body. Mostly the pathogen enters the tissue after sexual contact without using a barrier method of protection. A person is not always able to immediately notice the symptoms of infection: they can appear several years after penetration into the body.
After a tumor appears in one place, the growths can spread to the neck and further along the body. After signs of infection, a visit to a dermatologist and treatment is required.
Why do papillomas appear under the arms?
Papillomas have appeared under the arms, what are the reasons for the appearance of these skin tumors?
As in other cases, when a growth forms on the skin in other places, papillomaviruses are to blame. Simply put, why do papillomas appear and why do they appear on the body? This is a round of development of the disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Moreover, the disease can give such marks in both men and women, both in adults and in infants.
The next logical question arises: why does the virus become active and manifest itself in the form of skin neoplasms. The fact is that when a virus enters a person’s body, it first encounters his immune system. And if it is in order, not weakened by any other factors, the immune system easily suppresses the virus, “sending” it to the latent (hidden phase). But as soon as the immune system is weakened in any way, the individual’s defenses are undermined. It is then that these small growths come out, which can gradually increase and turn from tiny to huge.
What do these neoplasms look like? As a rule, papillomas under the armpit are flesh-colored or darker in color than the skin. They are soft to the touch, attached to the skin with a thin stalk, and the body of the neoplasm itself can reach significant sizes (up to one centimeter or more). From sweat, such a papilloma becomes inflamed and turns red. The growth has the same reaction to injury, complete and/or partial amputation.
As with other diseases, there are many established myths about the manifestations of HPV in the form of papillomas under the arms. So, some people say that this is a symptom of intestinal polyps under the arms. Competent doctors answer: there is no connection between these two ailments.
Papillomas are essentially benign tumors.
Another myth: you can remove the growth yourself. In this case, doctors warn that this should not be done under any circumstances!
What happens if you tear off, cut off with a razor, or trim with scissors such a growth? Well, first of all, it will be painful, to say the least. Plus, since papillomas are, in fact, benign tumors, such artisanal removal will not solve the problem. Moreover, self-amputation can seriously aggravate the situation.
Will it go away on its own or do I need treatment?
Which treatments are best? As long as this problem has existed, there has been a debate between professional doctors and traditional healers. Some insist on urgent professional treatment, others say - apply celandine, it will go away on its own.
About “it will go away on its own.” Indeed, there are cases when warts on the armpits go away as suddenly as they appeared. There is nothing that cannot be explained. This happens to young people as they grow up.
Puberty and hormonal imbalance lead to disruption of the immune system. Warts appear. This period is passing. Everything in the body stabilizes, the immune system is restored, and the body copes with the virus itself. The warts disappear. But you shouldn’t sit and wait for this to happen.
So, there are three main directions in the treatment of warts. Let's tell you more about each.
Treatment with pharmaceuticals
There are plenty of medications provided by pharmacy chains. Sometimes, it’s really difficult to decide whether we need a cream or an ointment. Are they different in some way or are they the same thing?
Each drug contains a main active substance (the amount is very small) and a base (excipient).
If the excipient is fatty and dense without adding water, it is an ointment. If there is water in the composition of the drug, it is a cream. The active substance is the same in both cases.
- ointments penetrate deep into the skin and enter the bloodstream. Have an effect on the entire body;
- the cream has an effect only on the upper layers of the skin, directly on the wart itself;
- tablets only as prescribed by your doctor. They have a complex effect on the entire body.
This is interesting: Symptoms of condylomas in the intestines
When using creams and ointments, the surface to be treated must be well prepared. If possible (the rashes are not very numerous and their size is not microscopic), rinse the armpits well with warm water and detergent.
Remove hair and dry skin well. The applied product must be absorbed; to do this, do not lower your hand for some time. Then, if necessary, apply a sterile bandage. The course of treatment can be long.
At the same time, a course of treatment with tablets is prescribed. Tablets are ready-to-use medications. They just need to be washed down with water in the quantities recommended by the instructions. Do not take tablets with juices, milk, or tea.
Traditional methods
Folk methods of getting rid of warts are also, oddly enough, effective. The most commonly used is treatment with various acids and celandine juice.
Traditional methods of treatment cannot be denied. They have a rational grain. It is no coincidence that such drugs as “Clandestine”, “Super Celandine”, “Mountain Celandine” and others appeared in our pharmacies.
Why are folk remedies not as effective as traditional ones? The answer is still the same. For successful treatment it is necessary to know the cause of the disease. Treat the disease, not its manifestation.
- acetic acid (malic, citric) is used to burn out the wart. Every day, acid is dripped onto the wart until it disappears completely;
- Celandine juice, like vinegar, is dripped or rubbed onto the surface to be treated. Onion and garlic juice are also used;
- tying with threads, cutting, unscrewing and other mechanical impacts on any warts is unacceptable ! In addition to causing pain, possible bleeding, and inflammatory processes, this is very dangerous for your life.
Why are they dangerous?
It may seem to some that papillomas in the armpits are a very harmless phenomenon. However, this is far from the case, and papillomatosis is dangerous . As already mentioned, papilloma of the axillary region is a benign tumor, which, unfortunately, at any time, under the influence of external factors, can transform into a malignant neoplasm.
Even if at an early stage the growth does not manifest itself in any way and does not cause any inconvenience, it is necessary to consult a doctor and take measures to treat HPV and remove papillomas.
But if the formation grows exponentially, forming entire thickets, if the wart itches and/or hurts, an oncologist should get down to business - at a minimum, consult and examine the patient . It’s better to take the tissue of the tumor for analysis to make sure that the process of degeneration of a benign tumor into a malignant one has not yet begun.
Complications
If papillomas grow under the armpits, it means that a person has the human papillomavirus in his body. If nothing is done about it, skin growths can, at a minimum, grow further and can form throughout the body and even on the mucous membranes of organs. And the fact that papillomas grow on the neck and under the arms is not the final version of the development of the disease.
If we talk specifically about tumors in the armpits, the most unfavorable development of events (this is indicated above) will be the transformation of growths into a malignant tumor.
But, at a minimum, condylomas in such a place usually rub against clothing, become irritated by sweat, and because of this they can swell and begin to fester.
Necessary diagnostics
If a patient has inflammation of papilloma, a specialist must diagnose the type of growth and take the necessary tests. With their help, it is possible to determine the strain of the virus. For this, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- Dermoscopic examination of the growth. It allows you to see the structure of the neoplasm and identify its type;
- Cytological examination. With its help, it is possible to analyze the cellular structure of the growth, as well as determine whether it is benign or malignant;
- Polymerase chain reaction. This is a test that detects the DNA of the virus;
- Histology of the neoplasm. It is carried out only after the papilloma has been surgically removed to ensure that it is benign.
Who can get infected
If papillomas grow under the armpits, it means that a person has the human papillomavirus in the body.
How is a disease manifested by growths in the armpit transmitted? HPV can be contracted through unprotected sexual intercourse with a barrier contraceptive, the infection is transmitted from mother to child - if the virus lived in a woman’s body before pregnancy, it can be said with a high degree of probability that the baby will also be born a carrier of the disease.
In addition, you can easily receive a diagnosis characterized by hanging tumors in everyday life: for example, by wearing something from an infected person’s clothes or by having too close contact with him. Also, the disease is transmitted from a carrier or clearly sick individual to a healthy one in public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
Causes
Inflammation of papilloma is rarely causeless. Experts have identified factors that may provoke malignant cell degeneration:
- damage to papillomas. It happens that the location of the tumor is very inconvenient, as a result of which it can be injured. It can be damaged by nails, wardrobe items, jewelry, or during shaving. Damage to the tissue of the growth leads to the entry of bacteria, which first provokes inflammation, and then a change in its color;
- emotional breakdown. When a papilloma is inflamed, it may turn red and hurt. If a person has recently experienced severe stress, it is necessary to inform the doctor about this. Perhaps the root cause of inflammation lies precisely in this;
- hormonal changes in the body that occur during pregnancy or the use of a certain group of medications. The growth can not only swell, but also change its shape;
- hereditary predisposition;
- long contact with ultraviolet radiation;
- presence of harmful habits (alcohol, smoking).
How to remove papilloma under the armpit
How to remove growths under the armpit - this question probably worries everyone who discovers similar tumors in themselves. So, how to remove papilloma? Even if the wart has just appeared and is still small in size, under no circumstances should you shave it off, trim it with scissors, cut it with a knife, tear it off, tie it with thread or hair, neither on yourself nor on your child. Moreover, all this is not worth doing if education has already reached a significant size.
Removal of papilloma under the arm should occur for medical reasons . First, you need to see a doctor so that he can examine the growth and, if necessary, send it for analysis (including examination of the tissue of the growth itself). When the doctor is convinced that the body of the papilloma is calm, there is no process of transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one, only then will he give a direction for removal. Plus, in parallel with this, it is necessary to carry out therapy aimed at strengthening and strengthening the immune system. A sufficiently strong body's defense system will be able to suppress the virus so that tumors do not appear again.
It is also worth considering that before removal there should be no inflammation around the growth. If there is excessive unnatural redness of the papillomas themselves and the skin nearby, and the neoplasm also hurts, it is necessary to treat the inflamed formations. The doctor will also prescribe what exactly to do in this case.
To begin with, it is best to go to a dermatologist, and he will then refer, if necessary, to an infectious disease specialist or even to an oncologist.
Which doctor should I contact with this problem? To begin with, it is best to go to a dermatologist, and he will refer you, if necessary, to an infectious disease specialist or even an oncologist. If there are no contraindications, the skin doctor will independently prescribe traditional treatment. What to do if a papilloma comes off? First of all, if the growth is injured, you need to treat the damaged area with some kind of disinfectant. And when you visit a doctor, you need to tell him about what happened so that he can examine the area with the injured formation.
Drug therapy
How to remove papilloma under the arm? Usually, after removal, doctors prescribe antiviral medicine and immunomodulatory drugs. Doctors may also prescribe a local anti-infective agent, such as oxolinic ointment.
Operative method
How to remove growths? So, if the doctor is convinced that the tumors are not inflamed and that they are benign, the patient is sent for surgery to remove papillomas.
In fact, the patient should not be afraid of the word “operation”. Removal occurs in a very gentle and completely bloodless way.
Methods for removing tumors:
- Laser removal of papillomas under the arms;
- “Cauterization” with liquid nitrogen;
- Radio wave therapy;
- Electrocoagulation.
And after removing the growth, the doctor will prescribe drug therapy to the patient (detailed description in the previous block).
Only medical treatment with medications gives the patient a guarantee that the formations will not reappear after removal. Well, or, at least, they will not appear in the near future, until the moment when the functioning of the immune system is again seriously disrupted.
Often, patients who develop papillomas under the armpits develop the same growths on the neck
Consequences of the postponed deletion
After the procedures, you need to carefully monitor the sore spot. If the papilloma is inflamed or painful, you should immediately seek help from a dermatologist. The reason may be hidden in an introduced infection or in its transition to malignant due to incomplete removal or severe damage due to insufficient examination.
If the reason is hidden in the transition of tissues to a different form, the dermatologist will redirect the patient to an oncologist, who will then prescribe the necessary examination. In this case, mandatory chemotherapy is required to remove all pathogenic cells.
For inflammatory processes, antibiotics and antiseptic drugs can be used. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used for internal use. They fight many infections and are relatively safe for the patient. First you need to try the penicillin and macrolide series of drugs. If they are ineffective, fluoroquinols are used.
The most effective include Azithromycin, Ampicillin, Sumalek, Sumamed, Klacid and Erythromycin. They must be used in individual doses, taking into account the degree of infection and the active main substance. The dosage can be 0.25-1 g of the active substance 1-4 times a day. The duration of administration depends on the severity of the infection. Sometimes three days of treatment is enough, but more often a week's therapy is carried out.
Additionally, it is necessary to treat the skin where there is an inflamed area. Hydrocortisone ointment, which is applied twice a day for 10 days, helps well. It gives a good disinfecting effect, but can only be used if there is no crust on the wound. Regular hydrogen peroxide works well. It is used up to 3-5 times a day, a course of therapy according to indications.
Attention! If you want to quickly remove the inflamed crust or pus, you should not use any peelings, warming masses that have abrasive particles, or self-selected drying ointments. They will increase the damage and ultimately can provoke serious suppuration and even necrosis.
What to do if your neck is inflamed
Often, patients who develop papillomas under the armpits develop the same growths on the neck. In any case, judging by reviews from doctors, people with formations in the armpits often complain to doctors that they have begun to experience similar manifestations of HPV in their neck.
Moreover, in this area, education is also quite vulnerable - they are rubbed by collars and scarves, injured by jewelry (chains, beads, pendants), and because of this they become inflamed. Also, papillomas in this area can grow quite quickly, and in a very short time there are a lot of them.
In case of growths in this area, the treatment scenario is similar to that which must be followed for papillomas under the arms: a visit to the doctor, examination, if there are no contraindications, we get rid of it using one of the methods described above. And this algorithm is completed by drug therapy. Also, many doctors additionally advise: eat those foods (mainly fruits and vegetables) that help improve immunity.
What to do if you have torn off a papilloma, what to do if it is inflamed, reddened or the tumors are increasing? In this case, you also need to contact a doctor. And in the event of a growth injury, the first thing to do is treat the damaged area with a disinfectant.
How to get rid of papillomas under the arms using folk remedies
Of course, our traditional medicine has a recipe for almost everything - for any ailments and pathologies. Of course, there are tips on how to get rid of papillomas using folk remedies.
There are many sources on the Internet that recommend treating growths with folk remedies at home; many recipes are accompanied by instructions in a photo or video. There are gentle methods, and there are very radical and cruel ones. They say that celandine or other poisonous herbs or some products similar in composition to acids will help remove the formations.
They say that celandine or other poisonous herbs will help remove formations
You can find dozens and even hundreds of ways on the Internet. But official medicine says that they should not be used under any circumstances. Products that are similar in composition and functionality to acid can cause serious chemical burns to the skin. And by using any toxic substances (including herbs), you can get severe poisoning, because everything that gets on the skin penetrates the body through the pores and can have a very negative effect on it.
In addition, after treating the growths with something that our grandparents’ recipes recommend, you may not remove the growth, but simply seriously injure the growth. You can read about the dangers in cases where the papilloma is inflamed in the previous blocks.
Well, and, of course, you cannot undertake the removal of a tumor on your own without knowing what its nature is. If the process of transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one has begun in the papilloma tissues, such “independent activity” of the patient can lead to very sad and even irreversible consequences.
Therefore, it is still better to fight papillomas with the help of official medicine - this way there are fewer health risks.
Human papillomavirus infects 90% of people on Earth
Forecasts
It is impossible to completely destroy the virus - that is why HPV is an incurable phenomenon, however, with strong immunity, most varieties do not cause harm to the body.
To protect themselves from infection, the practice of vaccinating citizens with Gardasil and Cervarix is increasingly being introduced. It is advisable to carry it out after tests confirming the absence of dangerous types of virus in the blood - primarily types 16 and 18. Once infection has occurred, the drug is no longer able to have a strong positive effect on the patient.
Conclusion
The growths in the armpits are in favorable moist conditions, so the transformation of a single nodule into numerous clusters is not uncommon. Suppressing HPV with medications eliminates this unwanted complication, and now it becomes clear that this should be done without long delay, but immediately after the formations are identified.
Prevention
Some medical sources claim: 90% of people on Earth are infected with the human papillomavirus. If someone is among those 10% of healthy lucky people, of course, such an individual must take all possible precautions so as not to get this infection.
What should you do for this? First, try to exclude promiscuity. And if contact is inevitable, you should protect yourself by using a barrier contraceptive - a condom. Secondly, you should only go to proven baths, saunas, swimming pools and other similar establishments. And try, as far as possible, to walk there in slippers or rubber flip-flops.
If you notice that one of the people has papillomas, it is better to minimize contact with him, and in no case use the same hygiene products, towels, sleep on the same bed linen, and also do not wear this person’s clothes. Have you noticed signs of HPV in someone close to you? Send him to the doctor immediately.
If neoplasms do appear, it is necessary to try in every possible way to prevent damage to the papilloma . And of course, as mentioned above, you cannot try to amputate the formation yourself: shave, cut with scissors, cut with a knife, tear off, bandage with hair, fishing line, thread. Also, there is no need to frantically search on the Internet for “grandmother’s recipe” and immediately rush to cauterize the growth with some means that are not at all intended for this purpose. All this can lead to very sad consequences.
And if papillomas appear in the armpits (and in any other places), you should see a dermatologist as soon as possible and follow all his instructions.
Symptoms of the disease
If you catch the influenza virus, its symptoms will manifest itself as a headache and high fever. If you have a papilloma virus, it may not manifest itself for up to six months.
In the initial stage, the appearance of the wart itself on the armpit is not noticeable at all. It is noticed when it becomes visually noticeable.
Neither during the period of growth, nor later, the wart does not cause pain unless it is injured. If you use an underarm shaving machine, you need to be especially careful not to cut off the papilloma. In addition to bleeding and pain, this is dangerous due to the further spread of the virus.
