Types of hanging papillomas
All hanging papillomatous formations are divided by specialists into two main types, which have their own characteristic features:
Filiform or villous
Initially appear in the form of small bumps. Gradually developing, papillomas stretch out and turn into thin threads. The size of the formation can reach 1 cm in length. This type of papillomas tends to develop in groups, forming structures that resemble a cockscomb.
Finger-shaped
Oblong skin formations of flesh-colored or pink color are localized in the scalp of a person. Placed singly. Finger-shaped papillomas are characterized by a thicker stalk compared to filiform ones.
Small growths remain invisible to others for a long time. Many people live with them all their lives without even thinking about removing them. The most important thing is to contact the clinic in time to determine the level of risk of formation.
What is soft fibroma or fibropapilloma?
Age-related changes in the skin cause the appearance of small hanging warts on the eyelids, armpits, neck, and groin. They are completely harmless and cause only cosmetic discomfort. Externally, soft fibromas are round, oval or irregularly shaped bodies on a stalk. The sizes vary from 0.1 to 1 cm, the color of the new growths is pink, flesh-colored or light brown.
Soft fibroids are more common in women than in men. They occur in pregnant women, as well as in obese people, in the folds of the skin. People over 30–40 years of age are more susceptible to hanging warts. The number of fibropapillomas on the body increases in areas of sweating, overheating of the skin, friction with underwear and clothing. All types of warts look unpleasant, but hanging ones cause the most severe aesthetic discomfort.
The origin of fibropapillomas has nothing to do with HPV; these are non-contagious warts.
Folk recipes will help, for example, removing small hanging warts with tea tree oil or thuja occidentalis. You can apply undiluted apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the affected area.
Causes of the disease
The cause of hanging growths is the papillomavirus, the carrier of which is considered to be 90% of the adult population and most children. Infection occurs due to household contact. The papilloma virus remains viable on things and objects for 3 hours.
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The following factors can provoke the growth of hanging growths:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system;
- weakened immunity;
- alcohol abuse , smoking;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives and other medications, hormonal imbalance in the body;
- increased sweating, uncleanliness;
- constant emotional tension, stress, psychological instability;
- adolescence ;
- unbalanced or insufficient nutrition, consumption of junk food;
- pregnancy;
- promiscuous sex life, frequent change of partners;
- improper treatment of influenza;
- increased weight ;
- sudden change in climatic conditions.
Hanging papillomas can form at any age when favorable conditions arise both inside and outside the body. Percutaneous infection occurs in the presence of any damage to the skin.
The opinion that papillomas are associated with approaching old age is completely erroneous. Young children can also become infected with HPV during fetal development or during childbirth.
How to identify hanging warts?
Most often, people encounter hanging warts. Their appearance matches their name. The body of the wart is located on a long stalk and seems to “hang” from it. But despite this, there are two main types of such warts:
- filamentous - thin elongated formations;
- finger-shaped - thickened growths with a spherical base.
The color varies from pinkish to light brown. The main cause of the disease is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Therefore, warts are also called papillomas.
The virus is quite contagious and is easily transmitted through contact with a sick person. Also, due to its stability in the external environment (especially in warm, humid air), there is a danger of infection through household items and in public places.
But once the pathogen enters the body, it does not always cause the growth of tumors. The incubation period varies from a couple of months to several years. To activate the virus, it is necessary to create favorable conditions. These include:
- decreased immunity;
- hormonal changes (adolescence, pregnancy, breastfeeding);
- the period after suffering serious illnesses;
- radical change in climatic conditions;
- stress;
- increased sweating.
The listed conditions are also considered indirect causes of the formation of growths.
Symptoms and location
Papillomas can appear all over the body, but areas with delicate skin are considered the most common. Depending on the location of the formations, experts distinguish:
- Papillomas on the neck, which are considered the most dangerous. They are often injured by clothes and chains, and in the summer they are exposed to direct ultraviolet radiation. Violation of the integrity of the papilloma leads to infection of surrounding tissues. In this case, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor. Hanging papillomas on the neck should be removed.
- Papillomas under the armpit cause severe discomfort. Such formations require constant monitoring due to the large number of sweat glands. As a result, a favorable environment is formed for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. There is a high risk of melanoma formation.
- Papillomas in the groin area and under the mammary glands in women are not as dangerous as other types. Cosmetic defects in these areas are removed extremely rarely. Can cause discomfort during epilation and shaving of the bikini area.
- Papillomas on the face can most often be seen in the eyelid area or near the lips. A cosmetic flaw traumatizes the psyche, especially women. First, a small lump appears on the skin, similar to a pimple. Gradually it increases in size. Large formations on the eyelids lead to changes in vision, interfere with washing, and also interfere with sleep.
- Papillomas in the mouth and nasopharynx are rare. Usually these are small formations no more than 1 cm in length.
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The color of the growth can completely match the skin tone, be lighter or darker. An alarming symptom in the presence of hanging papillomas is an increase in size, darkening, bleeding, pain, redness, swelling and unbearable itching.
If these manifestations occur, you should immediately consult a dermatologist.
How to get rid of it at home
You can remove hanging warts at home if:
- Lubricate with fresh celandine juice daily. It is released when cutting a large shoot, yellow, viscous, has a cauterizing effect, the growth will gradually fall off;
- Garlic juice has a similar effect. Cut a clove, rub it on the wart, repeat several times a day. After 14 days the element will fall off);
- classic laundry soap (brown bar, 72%) is prepared on the basis of natural fatty acids and alkalis, which dehydrate and irritate living tissues. Treat at night for 3-5 days.
When using folk remedies, it is necessary to pre-treat the adjacent area with a rich cream so as not to damage healthy skin.
Another way to remove a hanging wart was invented by looking at its structure: you need to tightly bandage the leg with a strong thread (preferably silk) as close to the body as possible. Pre-disinfect the thread with an antiseptic solution, alcohol or cologne. In this case, the blood and lymphatic vessels feeding the formation become constricted, and the tissues begin to gradually die. Complete removal of the growth may take a long time and require repeated procedures.
The process is quite painful. If the pedunculated wart is large, located under the armpit or in the groin, the process of decay may begin, an unpleasant odor, and purulent discharge may appear. Home remedies are dangerous and there is a risk of worsening the condition. Before use, it is recommended to obtain permission from a doctor to use a particular method.
Diagnostics
Each type of papillomas has its own characteristic features. Visual examination is not able to give a complete picture of the disease. The following diagnostic methods are used in medical practice:
- a general blood and urine test to determine the general condition of the body;
- polymerase chain reaction, which is used to identify a DNA virus and determine its oncogenicity;
- biopsy and histology, which will make a final diagnosis.
The main direction in the diagnosis of hanging papilloma is to confirm its benignity. Treatment of papillomas can begin only after receiving the results of all studies.
In cases where the papilloma is damaged by shaving, the damaged area must be treated with hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green. The papilloma itself is sent to the laboratory for histological examination.
Causes of warts
The main reason for the appearance of growths on the skin is the entry of the papilloma virus.
But hanging warts do not always appear on the body after infection; for this you need to have several risk factors. This is a decrease in immunity, predisposition, problem skin. Expert opinion Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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A benign formation does not appear immediately after exposure to HPV; it can appear within a month or even a year.
Another feature of HPV infection is that only when it comes into contact with a damaged area of skin, further warts can appear.
Conservative and surgical treatment methods
Professional treatment of hanging growths includes an appropriate set of therapeutic measures:
- Prescribing antiviral drugs. Medications in this group have contraindications, so their use is carried out in consultation with the attending physician. There is currently no specific antiviral drug that directly affects the human papillomavirus. When a diagnosis is made, Anaferon, Arbidol, Isoprinosine can be prescribed.
- Increasing the body's protective properties with the help of immunomodulatory agents. In complex therapy, Immunal, Likopid, Rybomunil, Estifan are used. For benign skin diseases, vitamins A, E, and C are of particular benefit.
- Application of various ointments and special cauterizing preparations. They are considered an effective element of complex therapy, but require long-term use. These products contain salicylic acid.
- Diet therapy. It is recommended to include citrus fruits, currants, and sweet peppers in your daily diet. Animal fats and sugar are considered dangerous for papillomas.
- Removal of tumors is carried out strictly in medical conditions. Laser burning, surgical excision, and the use of liquid nitrogen and a radio wave knife show good results. In many cases, surgical intervention leaves scars, so it is used only when hardware methods of therapy are contraindicated. The most common is laser treatment. It has virtually no contraindications or complications.
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Removing hanging papillomas using the above methods shows good results, but does not provide 100% protection against the appearance of new ones. Papillomas on the body are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a symptom of the disease. Paying close attention to your health will help you avoid the development of serious complications.
Removing hanging papillomas at home is strictly prohibited. In folk medicine, celandine juice, propolis extract, garlic, calendula, and dandelion are often used. The risk of relapse of the disease in this case is very high.
Methods for removing hanging growths
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Before removing hanging growths, it is necessary to undergo tests and consult with a dermatologist to make sure that the therapy is harmless. The doctor can prescribe treatment suitable for the individual case. Warts are easily damaged and in most cases it is recommended to remove them, including surgically. You can get rid of hanging warts using several hardware methods.
- Laser – used on any part of the body. The growth is separated, the base is cauterized, and the capillaries are sealed with a narrowly directed beam of light with a given wavelength. Pain is minimal, healing is rapid, relapse is excluded. The operation lasts several minutes, adjacent tissues are not damaged. Recovery takes several days. It is impossible to conduct a histological examination of the removed fragment.
- Diathermoelectrocoagulation - the use of high frequency current in its effect resembles a burn. As a result, the wart should dry out, turn black, and fall off without additional exposure. As a rule, no trace remains in its place. The formations removed by the coagulator loop are sent for histological examination.
- Cryodestruction is a method based on the use of extremely low temperatures. The formation is instantly frozen using liquid nitrogen. Ice crystals formed from the liquid contained in it rupture the intercellular membranes, and the tissues die. The use of painkillers is not required. A wound may form on the skin that needs to be treated and protected from damage.
- Radio wave removal is excision using a special device (tungsten electrode), which directs concentrated energy of radio wave vibrations to the affected area. The most painful of the proposed methods, but the postoperative period is short and healing is easy. Suitable for axillary and groin areas.
All manipulations must be carried out only in a specialized medical institution, by trained and competent personnel, using certified equipment. It is not recommended to go to beauty salons and cosmetologists. They may not be able to distinguish a wart from a mole or cause harm in other ways, causing dangerous complications.
Conservative treatment is used less frequently to combat growths.
For small warts, it is recommended to use freezing (Cryopharma, WartnerKrio) and cauterizing (Verrukacid, Feresol, Supercelandine, castor oil, salicylic acid, iodine) drugs, patches (Salipod). External exposure should be combined with antiviral therapy and immunomodulatory drugs. Medicines are selected and prescribed by the doctor based on the tests performed.
Threat to humans
Hanging papillomas themselves do not pose a serious danger to the human body. Experts consider papillomas potentially dangerous and recommend carefully monitoring them. In most cases, problems begin after damage to the formation. Wounds on papillomas occur when:
- shaving, when a sharp blade partially or completely cuts it off the surface of the skin;
- mechanical impact, which is often noted in cases of wearing tight clothing;
- attempts to independently tear off or bandage a papilloma with a thread;
- increased sweating.
As a result of injuries to hanging papilloma, inflammation of the affected area occurs, further spread of the virus throughout the body, and degeneration of the formation.
Therefore, if hanging papillomas are detected, you should consult a dermatologist. If necessary, the patient is additionally referred to an oncologist, an infectious disease specialist and a therapist.
It is possible to reduce the risk of papillomas by following simple recommendations: eat right, carefully monitor personal hygiene, exercise, take vitamins, do not use other people's things (combs, cosmetics, shoes, clothes).
Treatment of hanging papillomas with modern methods shows good results. The most important thing is to take your problem seriously and not delay your visit to a medical facility.
Pedunculated wart: drug therapy
Medicines can make the virus go dormant.
At the same time, as doctors note, the neoplasm itself, which has already formed, will not go anywhere even if you take the drugs regularly.
However, if the body's immune system is weakened, medication cannot be avoided.
First of all, doctors recommend using drugs from the group of antiviral drugs.
Today there are no drugs that can kill HPV.
However, drugs such as Acyclovir, Groprinosin can significantly reduce its activity.
In addition to antiviral drugs, doctors always recommend the use of immunostimulants.
Medicines in this group help strengthen the immune system, as their name suggests, and increase the effectiveness of fighting infection in the body.
Suitable immunostimulants include, for example, Polyoxidonium, Immunal, etc.
Naturally, in each specific case the doctor must select medications individually.