Multiple papillomas on the body: should you think about cancer?

Papillomas are areas of pathological proliferation of cells in the upper layer of the skin and mucous membrane. Over time, these benign tumors can become a source of cancer, so many patients are concerned with the question: how to get rid of papillomas. Let's figure out why papillomas occur on the body, why they are dangerous to health, and whether they need to be removed.

Appointment with a dermatologist - 1000 rubles. Removing papilloma using the best method - radio knife - 500 rubles. Consultation with a specialized doctor based on the results of ultrasound and tests - 500 rubles. (optional).

Causes of papillomas

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The causes of the appearance of papillomas on the body are divided into main and indirect, which act as a trigger for the development of the disease.

The main cause of skin papillomas is infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) from the Papillomavirus group. HPV is a generalized term that refers to a whole group of viral agents that can infect epidermal structures and mucous membranes, and in some cases even provoke cancer.

According to statistics, the prevalence of HPV on the planet is global - the virus is in the body of 90% of adults. Science knows 100 strains of the papilloma virus, but not all of them are dangerous - the characteristics, localization zones and likelihood of developing cancer are different for each strain. The most dangerous are considered to be HPV 16.18, 31, 33 and 35, which in 98% of cases cause cervical cancer in women.

HPV does not tolerate aggressive environmental factors well, so it practically does not spread through the air. The main route of transmission is contact. The maximum risk of infection occurs through contact with the skin of a sick person.

The virus first penetrates the basal layer of the epidermis (skin), where it subsides for several months. The incubation period can last up to several years. If the immune system is weak, then the disease will show symptoms within a month, and the average period for symptoms to appear is 6 months.

The following reasons provoke the appearance of papillomas on the skin:

• Decreased immunity - colds, injuries, chronic diseases, HIV, AIDS;
• Microtraumas, scratches, open wounds on the surface of the patient’s skin;
• Hormonal imbalance, which may be associated with pregnancy, lactation, menopause, etc.;
• promiscuous sexual intercourse, oral sex with a carrier of the papilloma virus;
• nervous-emotional tension, stress, physical or mental fatigue;
• bad habits, poor nutrition;
• endometriosis.

Why do papillomas appear on the nipples of women?

Any wart-type skin formation occurs on the human body as a result of infection with HPV infection. Papilloma on the nipple is no exception. The papilloma virus is so common in the modern world that approximately 90% of the world's population is infected with it. The disease is transmitted in three ways: sexual, contact (household) and at birth (from mother to child).

All possible causes of papilloma on the nipples can be grouped:

• mechanical damage to mammary tissue;
• microscopic nipple cracks;
• non-compliance with hygiene rules;
• wearing tight, uncomfortable underwear.

Once in the body, the virus can remain in a passive state for a long time, waiting for a favorable period for it. This usually occurs when the immune defense decreases. Hypothermia, stress, overwork, and taking antibiotics contribute to this. Also, a woman’s immunity weakens during pregnancy due to hormonal changes throughout the body. The impact of such factors leads to the activation of the virus and the formation of its external manifestations throughout the body - papillomas.

The infection enters through wounds on the chest. These could be cuts, abrasions, or abrasions due to wearing tight underwear. Nipple injuries are not uncommon during breastfeeding. Newborn babies can injure their mother's breasts by biting their gums. Another way to acquire HPV is through nipple piercing. In addition to the fact that salons may not have sufficiently sterilized equipment, the puncture wound does not heal for a long time. This opens the door for the virus.

Symptoms of papillomas

Most often the papilloma virus

in women and men it does not manifest itself at all; its diagnosis is possible only through a special analysis. Vivid signs of infection are observed only in a small number of infected people, and even these often disappear after a short time.

For a long time, the patient does not even suspect that he has become a carrier of the infection, contagious to others. The main symptom of infection - a skin neoplasm papilloma - appears when the virus is in full control of the body. In this case, papilloma can grow on any part of the body - on the skin and mucous membranes.

There are a huge number of photos on the Internet that clearly show what papilloma and its colony look like. This is a skin growth in the form of a dome-shaped compaction or papule on a thin stalk. The papule may also have a thickened base. The color of the papilloma is also ambiguous - for some it is a pale pink “wart”, and for others it is a dark brown growth. Some strains of papillomavirus form entire colonies of neoplasms, which gradually merge into one unpleasant-looking multi-headed wart, reminiscent of cauliflower.

Variety of papillomas: 7 main types

Scientists know more than 100 types of HPV, but the most common are 10 types of papillomas:

• Plantar papillomas
  . Causes papilloma on the leg - papillomavirus types 1, 2, 4. Plantar papillomas look like growths on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts can be single or multiple. Over time, it becomes painful for a person affected by the disease to walk. Plantar papilloma is often confused with a callus and is not sought medical attention, while the infection affects new areas of the skin.
• Vulgar papillomas
  . These are oval, keratinized lumps with a yellowish tint, usually appearing on the hands of adults. In children, such tumors can be found on the knees.
• Flat papillomas
  . The result of activation of HPV types 3, 10. The growths look like flat, smooth bumps.
• Lewandowski-Lutz papillomas . The second name is epidermodysplasia verruciformis. The infection results in the formation of many mottled, multi-colored warts on the arms and legs.
• Filiform papillomas. Formed in older people. Warts look like yellowish bumps. Placed on the eyelids, groins, armpits, and neck. Threaded papilloma injured by clothing or as a result of scratching requires urgent treatment, otherwise inflammation and complications cannot be avoided.
• Juvenile papillomas . Associated with infection with papillomavirus types 6, 11. Formed in the larynx. As a result, breathing becomes difficult and speech deteriorates. The virus spreads during childbirth, transmitted to the newborn from the mother.
• Genital warts . The occurrence of genital warts is the main manifestation of infection, the source of which was the human papillomavirus. Visually, genital warts look like ordinary warts, can be small in size (up to a centimeter), have a flesh-colored or pinkish color, a slightly bumpy or completely smooth surface. The most common place for the formation of genital warts is the external genitalia. In men, these formations appear on the scrotum and penis. In women - on the labia majora and minora, on the cervix, near the clitoris, in the vagina. If condylomas are irritated, itching and bleeding may occur during sexual intercourse. Such papillomas transform into cancerous tumors.

Diagnosis of papillomas on the nipples of men and women

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, a person should go to a medical facility. A dermatologist, mammologist or oncologist diagnoses warts on breast halos. The first stage of the examination is inspection and palpation. If the formation is small enough to be examined, a special device is used - a dermascope. The device allows you to see the growth on a larger scale. This is followed by a series of tests to identify the papilloma virus, the stage of its development and the type of oncogenicity. The most commonly used are PCR (polymerase chain reaction), ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), Designe test and Pap test.

Important stages in diagnosing papilloma on the nipple are:

1. Scraping of epithelial tissue to identify changes in cells.
2. Cytological analysis.
3. Mammography and ultrasound examination, if there is a suspicion of the presence of internal warts in the nipples.
4. Biopsy of the formation. A small piece of tissue is cut off from the growth for further examination.
5. Histological examination of the growth tissue to determine its malignancy.

Based on the entire examination, the doctor will understand what to do next - observe the formation, remove it, or resort to additional tests and consultation with specialized doctors.

People can carry out basic diagnostics without leaving home. To do this you need to stand in front of a mirror. Raise your hands up and carefully examine the nipple and entire breast for changes. If a formation is detected, but its size is too small to be seen, you can photograph the wart. Enlarge the resulting photo as much as possible and study it.

You should be wary if the skin around the papilloma becomes red or swollen. This may indicate the onset of an inflammatory process that will lead to complications. Chest pain and an unpleasant smell of discharge should also cause concern. Bleeding or suppuration of papillomas is a signal of the need for urgent medical attention.

Complex conditions are a consequence of untreated papillomas

• Local epithelial hyperplasia . Consequence of infection with papillomavirus types 13, 32. The affected area looks like a rash of papillary neoplasms on the tongue and along the edges of the lips. Papillomas can merge with each other, forming a clearly visible area.
• Precancerous conditions and cancer -
  many forms of the human papillomavirus cause the development of neoplasms prone to malignant degeneration. It is in this regard that early diagnosis and detection of papillomavirus makes it possible to detect and remove oncological tumors of the cervix and other organs in the early stages of their development.

How dangerous are papillomas on the body: why they need to be removed

Papillomas are harmless only in appearance. These neoplasms, in the absence of timely and adequate treatment, quickly spread throughout the body to healthy tissue. This process is called autoinaculation. The result of the proliferation of neoplasms is at least multiple warts.

Of course, warts - papillomas on the body - are very ugly, but this is not the only problem. A good dermatologist will tell you why papillomas on the body are dangerous - such neoplasms are susceptible to melanization - malignant degeneration of the tumor. How quickly the process will proceed and whether it will begin at all depends on the location of the papilloma and the type of HPV. Genital warts growing on the cervix are especially dangerous. The degeneration of such formations into cancer occurs in every second case.

The structures that form on the skin as a result of damage by the papilloma virus are usually not accompanied by pain, itching or burning, which often causes negligence on the part of the patient. But since papillomas almost always come into contact with clothing, there is a high risk of damage. The result will be severe bleeding, infection and the formation of unsightly scars on the skin. From all this follows the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to remove papillomas on the body - of course it is necessary!

Why are papillomas dangerous for women?

Men almost never encounter intraductal or intrastreamal neoplasms. But in women they grow more often. Especially between the ages of 35 and 55.

Intrastream papillomas are small benign growths in the mammary glands. These are not cancerous tumors. Although their symptoms are similar.

Single neoplasms are usually fixed closer to the nipple, since this is where the large mammary glands are located. Multiple tumors form in small ducts.

How dangerous are they?

The growths themselves do not develop into cancer, but they slightly increase the risk of its occurrence.

Intrastreamal papillomas of the mammary gland are noticeable by swelling next to the nipple. They also cause discharge. Sometimes clear liquid. In some cases with blood, which is clearly visible while feeding the baby.

Since the signs of these tumors are similar to those of breast cancer, they should be shown to a doctor. At home you will not be able to make an accurate diagnosis.

However, it is better to check any papillomas with a dermatologist. Just in case.

Outdated and modern methods of removing papillomas on the body

It is impossible to get rid of papillomas at home without consequences. The procedure is performed by a dermatologist, and in the case of precancer, by an oncologist. Before this, the patient must undergo tests, including:

• blood test for tumor markers;
• PCR diagnostics;
• taking papilloma tissue for histological examination.

In St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, several methods are used to remove papillomas on the body. To understand which method to choose, let's look at the table.

Can removal of papillomas be considered a treatment for HPV?

Unfortunately no. By removing papillomas, a dermatologist only eliminates manifestations of papillomavirus that can develop into cancer. The virus itself remains in the body. There are currently no specific drugs to cope with the human papillomavirus, and therefore the main therapy is aimed at mechanically eliminating tumors caused by the virus.

The infection is stopped with antiviral agents, which will be effective if the immune system is strong. Therefore, immunotherapy is carried out in parallel. While the virus lives in the body, papilloma cannot be cured forever.

How does the infection develop?

The virus, entering the human body, remains in it forever and most often remains in a state of “hibernation”. When exposed to certain factors, an exacerbation develops and signs of the disease appear - formations on the skin - papillomas.

What can provoke an exacerbation of the disease?

• Decreased immunity
• Acute and chronic stress
• Vitamin and mineral deficiency
• Skin damage

Which doctor treats papillomas and where is the best place to remove papillomas on the body in St. Petersburg?

Many patients are interested in which doctor treats papillomas. This is done by specialists - dermatologists, gynecologists, urologists and oncologists. It all depends on the location of the tumor.

Specialists at the Diana Clinic in St. Petersburg conduct an initial examination and confirm the diagnosis. Then the papillomas are removed with a laser and radio knife, using the latest devices. By contacting our medical center, the patient receives a detailed consultation and can undergo all tests, including oncology. Removal of papillomas is carried out without pain or complications.

Papillomas and pregnancy

If papillomas were found on the body of a pregnant girl, or the period of her infection occurred during this period, then there is a high risk that the fetus may also be infected with them intrauterinely. During pregnancy itself, papillomas are not necessarily transmitted to the baby; they may not infect him at all or may be transmitted during childbirth. Also, new mothers should not forget that they can infect their baby with HPV through blood, clothing and breast milk. Moreover, the removal of papillomas in this case is individual.