The human papillomavirus is the second most common virus after the herpes virus family. Almost every person has encountered it, many are asymptomatic carriers. However, not everyone gets papillomas, warts and other manifestations of it. We will tell you in the article what factors affect the appearance of papillomas and how to effectively fight them with the help of medicine.
Causes of papillomas
The papillomavirus does not always manage to become active; a healthy immune system successfully suppresses the infection. But as soon as protection is weakened, HPV is able to multiply, causing uncontrolled division of epidermal cells. Most often, warts and papillomas occur on the skin in the following categories of people:
- children and adolescents whose immunity is still imperfect;
- pregnant women due to the natural immunosuppression necessary to give birth to a child;
- elderly;
- smokers and regular alcohol drinkers;
- overweight;
- patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases;
- patients with immunodeficiency, including HIV;
- those who have undergone treatment with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytostatics.
Strategy to fight papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. It covers several areas:
- Removal of tumors;
- Immunomodulatory treatment as needed;
- General health improvement, lifestyle optimization.
Modern pharmacology, which offers many drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis, copes with the first two points quite successfully.
Preparations for self-removal of papillomas
Doctors strongly recommend not to remove papillomas at home; they give several arguments:
- It is difficult for a layman to distinguish a papilloma or wart from other hyperplasias. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting microsample is examined under high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use modern effective methods (cryodestruction, laser, radioknife, electrocoagulation), which are not available to ordinary people;
- Household chemicals can cause burns and leave scars if used carelessly.
But pharmacies today offer many products for the removal of skin tumors. Here is a list of the most common ones.
An effective medicine with a mummifying and cauterizing effect. Its basis is phenol and 3-methylphenol - substances that coagulate proteins. The product is available as an oily solution in a glass bottle. An applicator is attached to the lid. The drug is cheap, the bottle is enough to remove a large number of tumors.
For small papillomas, thread-like or pedunculated, one application is enough. If the wart is old, keratinized or dry, it is recommended to first soften the keratin layer with a plaster of salicylic acid or salicylic ointment, and only then apply the solution. Apply it to large old formations several times with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
Removal of papillomas and condylomas on mucous membranes is prohibited with this drug. This is dangerous for your health!
The drug is allowed to be used by pregnant and lactating women (on the recommendation of a doctor).
A preparation based on acids - nitric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid. The cost is higher than the previous product.
The medicine works on warts in a drying and necrotizing way. Available as a solution. After use, the growths change color and fall off after a few days; a crust forms in this place, which cannot be torn off, otherwise a scar may remain. The skin must heal itself. Area of application - all vulgar and flat warts, condylomas.
Important!
The medicine should not be used on the face or in the anogenital area - the burning sensation may be too strong and there is a risk of acid getting into the eyes or mucous membranes!
It is not recommended to remove more than three warts at a time with the drug, with a total area of up to 3 cm². Pregnant and lactating women can use the drug only as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision - in the manipulation room of a clinic or hospital.
In addition to this remedy, pharmacies sometimes sell another medicine based on acids (lactic acid and salicylic acid). The principle of use, indications and contraindications are the same.
For those who do not want to burn warts with concentrated acids and chemicals, another method has been invented - freezing. This is an aerosol containing dimethyl ether and propane.
The drug effectively helps against all types of vulgar warts, including plantar warts, as well as filiform and flat warts. There are practically no restrictions on use. The product can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over 4 years of age, as it does not contain toxic components.
The aerosol is applied using a special disposable foam applicator to deliver the ether exactly to the desired location. The product is sprayed for 10-20 seconds (depending on the size of the wart or papilloma). Fresh small formations disappear after one application, large and old ones may require 2-4.
This is an easy-to-use and safe product developed by a Japanese company. Its only drawback is the high price. The bottle is enough to treat 5-8 warts or 12 small papillomas.
There is an alternative to the former drug, this time made in Ireland. And the price is a little lower. Indications, contraindications and method of use are the same.
Immunomodulatory treatment
Drug treatment of papillomas involves suppressing the activity of the HPV virus to avoid the appearance of new formations in place of the removed ones. For this purpose, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are used, which are taken in parallel with measures to remove papillomas and warts, as well as means for local treatment.
A commonly prescribed medication by doctors that suppresses HPV. Stimulates the synthesis of killer and helper cells, the production of interleukin-2, increases the activity of monocytes and nuclear cells. All this helps to suppress the replication (reproduction) of viruses in cells.
Tablets are taken orally, 2 pieces 4 times a day at regular intervals. The course of treatment is two weeks, then take a break for the same period and repeat the treatment.
The drug gives the best results in the early stages, when tumors have just appeared, then it is possible to quickly and effectively suppress the virus. The product is suitable for use by children over 3 years of age. For them, the dosage is calculated by weight - 50 mcg/kg. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are a contraindication to the use of the drug.
The solution is administered intravenously or rectally in the form of suppositories. Its basis is a plant polysaccharide that stimulates the production of its own interferons and suppresses the replication of the virus. The costs are quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for a course of treatment.
In addition to injections, a gel is applied to the skin after removal of tumors. With such a complex treatment, in 95% of cases it is possible to avoid the appearance of new papillomas.
Cream with immunomodulating effect. Apply to the skin for 8-10 hours (at night) three times a week until the desired result is achieved. According to user reviews, the drug is effective against filiform papillomas, senile keratomas, condylomas and other defects.
The medicine is not suitable for children under 18 years of age and breastfeeding women. During pregnancy, consultation with a doctor is required.
A product based on interferon alpha-2b in the form of a gel, ointment or cream is suitable for all categories, including expectant mothers and infants. The drug is non-toxic and causes virtually no side effects. It is applied three times a day to skin tumors for a period of 2 weeks to a month. The price is low.
The medicine contains affinity-purified antibodies against human interferon in homeopathic dilutions. In general, doctors are skeptical of homeopathy, so they rarely prescribe it. But the product also has advantages: non-toxic, children's dosage, affordable price. It is recommended to take this drug not separately, but as part of complex therapy.
Effective interferon inducer. Available in tablets with a dose of 1 and 10 mg. The first is prescribed for children and people over 65, the second for adults, except pregnant and lactating women.
It is recommended to take the drug every hour - with equal breaks, so that its effectiveness will be maximum. Course - 10 days. Tablets of 1 mg are taken three times a day, 10 mg - once.
The drug is completely non-toxic, well tolerated and combined with other drugs.
Personal reviews of drugs for the treatment of papillomas
- "I removed small papillomas on my neck in the salon, but a year later they appeared again. It was a pity to give so much money a second time, I bought an aerosol based on dimethyl ether and propane to try. At first I was afraid, that nothing would work, after application I had to wait 10 days. During such a period I almost forgot that I was removing the papillomas, but one day I got out of the shower and they were gone - my throat was clean. "
- "I tried several times to remove warts on my hands with acetic acid. It was very painful, but the warts disappeared. True, new ones grew in the same place. The acid does not seem to burn out completely. The doctor recommended a cauterizing drug based on phenol. Iused it for a week, the warts turned completely white, fell off and never reappeared. "