Papules and warts are small growths on the skin of a viral nature. You must be able to distinguish them in order to observe potentially dangerous formations in time and to take the necessary measures. The main thing that distinguishes the papilloma from the wart is the type of pathogenic virus.
Causes of neoplasms
The human papillomavirus (HPV) has more than a hundred different strains. HPV enters the body through domestic contact or unprotected contact. It is possible for the baby to be infected by the mother as it passes through the birth canal.
The formation of growths indicates the rapid division of cells in the basal layer of the skin. This happens under the influence of a virus, the activation of which in most cases is associated with a decrease in the immune defense. Depending on the strain, papules or warts appear on the body.
Characteristic characteristics of papillomas
Papilloma is a benign tumor that does not cause discomfort, except cosmetic. Characteristics of papillomas:
- soft homogeneous structure.
- the presence of one foot.
- small size (up to 10 mm in diameter).
- moderate staining.
Papules can be found on any part of the body except the mucous membranes of the genitals. As a rule, the color of the growth varies from natural skin tone to pink-red shades, however, nipples with high pigment are also not a pathology. Hair growth on a nipple is a variation of the rule.
Nipples are not dangerous if they do not interfere with the patient and are not accidentally injured in everyday life. The formation of growths of this type is due to the action of virus strains 2, 7 and 28. You can be infected with these types of HPV in everyday life and during sexual intercourse.
Characteristics of genital warts
Warts are of two types - pointed growths and broad. The first type occurs with HPV infection and extensive growths are one of the symptoms of syphilis.
The sites of genital warts are the mucous membranes, mainly of the urogenital area, as well as the folds of the skin that are subject to abrasion against the clothes.
The structure of genital warts is papillary. The formations are connected by a slender stem, the growths are fed through small vessels and capillaries. Unlike warts, warts are often inflammatory, ulceration of the developing body is possible.
Genital warts are caused by 16, 18, 54 strains of the virus. These types of HPV are potentially dangerous, especially for women. There is a direct link between these types of viruses and the development of cervical cancer. Infection occurs through sexual contact.
How to distinguish papillomas from genital warts?
The external difference between the growths is easy to notice in the photo - the papules are homogeneous, while the warts have a thin papillary structure.
- The difference between a wart and a wart lies in the color of the growth. The nipples can be very colored, the color of the warts is usually light and does not differ from the mucous membranes.
- HPV, which causes papillae to grow, is spread through home contact, using personal hygiene products, and even through handshakes (in the presence of small skin lesions). Warts are only sexually transmitted.
- Warts become inflamed. Nipples can grow in size, show signs of inflammation and damage, but only as a result of a traumatic outcome.
- The shape of the papillae is mainly a round or oval "head" located on a soft stem. Warts have irregular contours, can be placed in groups. For genital warts, the narrowing from the stem to the end is typical, which makes it possible to distinguish them from the papillae.
- The appearance of different types of growths is due to different strains of the virus.
It is important to remember the main difference between papilloma and warts - the growths on the genitals and mucous membranes must be removed.
Why are increases dangerous?
Papules and warts are considered conventionally safe neoplasms of the skin, but the risk of benign cell degeneration into malignant cells is higher in the latter case.
Warts are cutaneous manifestations of the action of oncogenic types of the virus. Years of research have identified a link between HPV and cervical cancer. Early diagnosis with further removal of genital warts helps to significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer in women.
Increases can be found not only in the skin and external genitalia, but also in the vagina and cervix. Due to the peculiarities of blood circulation in the genitals, the wart receives enough nutrition and can grow quickly. In gynecology, there are cases when the warts on the vaginal wall have increased in diameter by 10 cm.
Indications for removal
Warts should be removed, even if they do not cause discomfort. This is mainly due to the risk of infection of the sexual partner.
Removing the papules on the skin, or not, is a personal matter for each patient. The risk of benign papillary degeneration in a cancerous tumor increases when the developing body is damaged. This can be caused by rubbing clothes, accidental damage to nails or a cloth during hygiene procedures.
You should consult a dermatologist if:
- the papilla has increased significantly in size.
- when pressed, he feels discomfort.
- bleeding or purulent discharge occurs.
- the skin around the growth becomes inflamed.
Removing the accumulation is a matter of five minutes. The procedure is almost painless. It is important to understand that early diagnosis will allow early detection of the occurrence of cell degeneration and will stop the development of oncology.
How are accumulations removed?
Any skin growth should be removed by a professional. Self-cauterization of papillomas with the help of folk remedies is not always effective. Removing genital warts at home is strictly forbidden.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to conduct a series of tests. First of all, the patient's blood is examined to determine the type of virus that caused the tumors to appear.
With multiple warts, the patient is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This allows you to stop the spread of the virus and regulate the immune system to fight HPV. To get rid of genital warts, ointments with an immunostimulant help in the composition (for example, drugs based on interferon). Such drugs are available in the form of suppositories, which allow you to successfully fight the growths on the walls of the vagina.
Methods for removing accumulation:
- freezing;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser burning;
- removal with a radio knife.
- scalpel resection.
When genital warts are removed, the tissues obtained as a result of the procedure are sent for histological analysis. For this purpose, surgical removal or laser removal is indicated.
Electrocoagulation is cauterization of tumors. The method has worked well for removing small papillae.
Cryopreservation is used to remove tumors on the skin, but not on the mucous membranes. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the growth, which causes necrosis of the cells, as a result, the papillae simply disappear.
Radio wave removal or the radio knife is an effective and almost painless method for removing genital warts. Under the influence of radio waves, the tumor cells are destroyed. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Laser burning of genital warts is indicated in the presence of a large number of growths. The advantages of the method are the cauterization of the vessels and capillaries that feed the formation. As a result of the exposure, no traces remain on the skin, the risk of bleeding is excluded. Complete restoration of the skin after removal occurs within 5-7 days.
For the removal of genital warts, folk remedies are not used due to the high risk of damage to the mucous membranes by aggressive components of the composition. Alkaline medicines are also banned.
To understand how warts differ from papillomas, a photo will help. It is recommended that you consult your doctor if formations appear on the genitals and do not try to remove them yourself.