Papilloma is a type of skin tumor, which in everyday life is often called a «wart». It belongs to the most common type of tumor since the cause for its appearance is the human papillomavirus (HPV). According to medical statistics, at least 20% of people living in all countries on the globe are infected with this virus. How to get rid of papillomas? How to do this effectively? Let’s check all possible methods of the removal of papilloma.
Contents
- Main Facts about Papillomas on the Human Body
- When Should You Consult a Doctor?
- How to Remove Papilloma: Review of Most Frequently Used Methods
- Method number 1: Removal of Papilloma with Liquid Nitrogen
- Method number 2: Electrocoagulation
- Method number 3: Papilloma Laser Removal
- Method number 4: Surgery
Main Facts about Papillomas on the Human Body
So why is this virus present in every 5th person but not everyone has clinical manifestations? The reason is in a state of immunity, that is, the body’s defenses, which prevent the virus from multiplying and causing the appearance of papillomas on the body. Virus particles circulate in the blood and wait for a convenient moment when the immune system is weakened. Then they begin to actively penetrate into the skin cells, changing their structure and leading to the appearance of peculiar neoplasms on it, known as papilloma.
Visually, they can be of various shapes, structures, located on different parts of the body. Their number will also differ and depend on the activity of the virus in the human body. However, the main distinguishing feature of papilloma on the body will be its color — it should not differ from the skin color. Also, papilloma should not hurt or bring a person any discomfort (except purely cosmetic).
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When Should You Consult a Doctor?
There are situations when it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately (as there is a risk of malignancy):
- The papilloma on the body has changed color or has become patchy.
- Papilloma causes pain.
- Papilloma began to bleed.
- Papilloma began to increasein size dramatically .
In case you have noticed any changes listed above, you are recommended to see a specialist as quickly as possible.
How to Remove Papilloma: Review of Most Frequently Used Methods
Removal of papillomas is possible by several methods, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Today, in almost every city there are various medical clinics that provide such a service, since the demand for it is very high. However, it must be taken into account that any invasive procedure (related to the violation of the integrity of the skin and contact with blood) is an operation and should be performed by a professional.
Therefore, before deciding on it, you need to find out which specialist will conduct it, whether he/she has a certificate of a dermatologist or a cosmetologist. Do not trust your health and life to people with questionable competence. A person who does not have a higher medical education but only graduated from a short course of a cosmetologist is not the best choice.
Method number 1: Removal of Papilloma with Liquid Nitrogen
Cryodestruction or removal of papilloma with liquid nitrogen is the most common method, it is quite quick and simple. Papilloma is destroyed by a jet of liquid nitrogen, as if frozen. At the same time during the day it becomes dark burgundy or black, then dries out and after a few days spontaneously disappears. However, a person can help himself to remove it if it does not occur naturally: to do this, it is necessary to steam the remnants of papilloma on the body under hot water and carefully cut it with scissors or nippers. After that, it is necessary to treat the surface with an antiseptic (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, iodine solution).
The advantages of the method include:
- The absence of contraindications. It can be used even for the oral papilloma removal.
- It is possible to remove papillomas on the body with the help of liquid nitrogen for pregnant, lactating women, children, the elderly and people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
- This method does not require anesthesia, since the pain that occurs during cryolysis is moderate and quite tolerable.
The disadvantages of the method include:
- Frequent relapses, since during cryodestruction there is a possibility that the papilloma will not be completely removed, its deepest layers will remain, and after a while it will begin to grow again. Therefore, the procedure often has to be repeated 3-4 times.
- The likelihood of scarring after removal of papilloma. With a one-time procedure, most likely, it will not remain, but given that one time is often not enough, the risk of forming a small scar is high.
- The likelihood of contracting infections that are transmitted through the blood (hepatitis B, C, HIV). In decent clinics, where all employees have sanitary books and use modern methods of processing hands and materials, this risk is reduced to zero. In separate cosmetology offices, which do not adhere to strict sanitation rules, and also taking into account that during cryolysis the contact of the specialist’s hands with the client’s blood takes place — there is always such a risk.
Method number 2: Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation, or cauterization with a high frequency electric current jet, is a rather serious method in which the doctor works with a special electrocautery. He/she can cut off papilloma and take material for histological analysis. Therefore, electrocoagulation is resorted to when the specialist has doubts about the goodness of the papilloma and wants to send it to a more detailed study in the laboratory.
The advantages of the method include the fact that:
- The doctor can remove even the deeper layers of papilloma and some of the surrounding tissues.
- The probability of relapse is very small.
Disadvantages:
- The following can be attributed to the negative aspects: After removal of the papilloma, a scar almost always remains, this fact must be taken into account if the papilloma is in a prominent place, because after the operation a cosmetic defect may occur.
- There are a number of contraindications for electrocoagulation, including pregnancy, childhood and old age, the presence of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, blood system and nervous system.
- Similarly with cryodestruction, electrocoagulation results in contact of the doctor’s hands with the patient’s blood. And this is always the risk of transmission of infections such as hepatitis B and C, HIV.
Therefore, it is worth doing it only in a serious medical clinic; before conducting it, you can request a sanitary book to make sure that the health of the employee who will conduct the electrocoagulation is in order.
Method number 3: Papilloma Laser Removal
Laser papilloma removal is the most modern, safe and effective method for removing papillomas. In this case, the doctor focuses the laser beam on the area of papilloma, so there is no contact between him and the patient. Skin papilloma removal with the use of the laser is very effective.
The advantages of this method include:
- It is contactless. That is, there is no risk of transmission of infections (hepatitis B, C, HIV). That is, the method is absolutely safe.
- No scarring. After the procedure, papillomas disappear without a trace. Low recurrence rate.
- Most often for the complete removal of papilloma is just one procedure is prescribed.
- Modern devices for laser therapy can also simultaneously cool the treated area, that is, the procedure is almost painless.
The disadvantages of the method include:
- For the removal of one papilloma, various clinics charge amounts of several thousand rubles, and this is by no means affordable for everyone.
- Low prevalence. Laser removal of papillomas is practiced in clinics in large cities, more often they are regional centers. Therefore, while it is not available for everyone.
Method number 4: Surgery
Papilloma removal surgery is recommended if there is a sufficiently large papilloma, which is more than 3 centimeters in diameter. To perform the operation, the growth and area around the skin is disinfected, local anesthesia is injected and direct excision is performed. Nasal papilloma removal is also often performed with the use of the surgery method.
The cut neoplasm is sent for histology testing to exclude the oncological basis of growth. After 2 weeks, the wound after the surgical method is delayed, leaving an almost imperceptible trace that can disappear completely over the years.
Among the main indications for the surgical method for the removal of papilloma stands out, first of all, the large size of papilloma. Another indication is surgery to remove intraductal papilloma.
Surgical removal of intraductal papilloma is the most recommended way to get rid of warts. For very large, deep and flat neoplasms, it is impossible to use methods other than surgery. The indication for surgical excision is the malignant nature of the papilloma, the urgency of the removal of the neoplasm, when there is no time to perform any kind of preparatory manipulation.
In case there is a breast papilloma, it is recommended to use breast papilloma removal.
Breast papilloma removal surgery is the best method as the tumor will be removed completely.
Advantages of surgery:
- Surgery is an excellent way out if no other technique can be used to remove papillomas for various reasons. All the above mentioned indications are at the same time advantages of such a technique, since if it is impossible to carry out the removal by any other means, surgery will help you quickly and relatively simply to get rid of an unnecessary neoplasm.
Disadvantages of surgery:
- The formation of scars, which are absent when using many other methods of removing such formations on the skin;
- The operation may be painful;
- The need to use anesthetics, as well as the large area affected by the scalpel during the removal process.
- This method shouldn’t be used for the papilloma on eyelid removal.
In each case, the choice of papilloma wart removal should be chosen by the doctor. Before starting the procedure, a specialist must explain to the patient once again all its features and possible consequences. You should choose the removal method taking into account not only your budget but, first of all, contraindications and the benefits the certain method has.
