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. What factors affect the appearance of papillomas and how to effectively fight them with the help of drugs, we will tell you in the article.
Causes of the appearance of papillomas
The papillomavirus does not always manage to activate, a healthy immune system successfully suppresses the infection. But as soon as the protection weakens, HPV can multiply, provoking uncontrolled division of epidermal cells. Most often, warts and papillomas on the skin appear in the following categories of people:
- children and adolescents whose immunity is still imperfect;
- pregnant women due to the natural immunosuppression necessary for childbirth;
- elderly;
- smokers and regular drinkers of alcohol;
- obesity;
- patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland diseases;
- patients with immunodeficiency, including HIV;
- those who have been treated with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytostatics.
A strategy to combat papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. It includes several areas:
- Removal of tumors;
- Immunomodulatory treatment if necessary;
- General improvement of health, optimization of lifestyle.
Modern pharmacology, which offers many drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis, copes quite successfully with the first two points.
Preparations for self-removal of papillomas
Doctors strongly do not recommend removing papillomas at home, they give several arguments:
- It is difficult for a layman to distinguish a papilloma or a wart from other hyperplasias. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting micropreparation 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 scarring if used carelessly.
However, pharmacies today offer many products to remove skin tumors. Here is a list of the most common.
An effective medicine with mummifying and scalding effects. Its basis is phenol and 3-methylphenol - substances that coagulate proteins. The product is available as an oil 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, filiform or stalked, one application is sufficient. If the wart is old, keratinized or dry, it is recommended to first soften the keratin layer using a salicylic acid patch or salicylic ointment and only then apply the solution. Lubricate 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 for use by pregnant and lactating women (on the recommendation of a doctor).
Preparation based on acids - nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic. The price is higher than the previous product.
The drug acts on warts in a drying and necrotizing way. It is available as a solution. After its 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. Scope of application - any 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 danger that the acid will get into the eyes or mucous membranes!
It is recommended to remove no more than three warts at once with the drug with a total area of up to 3 cm². Pregnant and lactating women can use the drug only on the prescription of a doctor and under his control - in the manipulation room of a clinic or hospital.
In addition to this drug, pharmacies sometimes sell another drug based on acids (lactic and salicylic). 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 was invented - freezing. It 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. There are practically no restrictions on use. The product can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over 4 years old, as it does not contain toxic components.
The aerosol is applied using a special disposable applicator to deliver the ether exactly to the desired location. The product is injected 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.
It 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 previous drug, this time made in Ireland. And the price is a little lower. Indications, contraindications and method of use are the same.
Immunomodulatory treatment
Medical treatment of papillomas involves suppressing the activity of the HPV virus to avoid the appearance of new formations in the 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 local treatment agents.
A drug often prescribed by doctors that suppresses HPV. It 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 (multiplication) 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 the 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 old. For them, the dosage is calculated by weight - 50 μg/kg. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications 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 own interferons and suppresses the replication of the virus. The price is quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for a course of treatment.
In addition to injections, a gel is applied to the skin after tumor removal. With such 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. A doctor's consultation is necessary during pregnancy.
A product based on interferon alfa-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 practically does not cause side effects. It is applied three times a day to skin tumors for 2 weeks to a month. The price is low.
The drug 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 inducer of interferon. It is available in tablets with a dosage of 1 and 10 mg. The first is prescribed to children and people over 65 years old, the second to adults, with the exception of pregnant and lactating women.
It is recommended to take the medicine 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 reappeared. It was a pity to give so much money the second time, I bought an aerosol based on dimethyl ether and propane to try. At first I was afraid nothing would come of it; after application i had to wait 10 days. During such a period of time, I almost forgot that I was removing papillomas, but one day I got out of the shower and they were gone - my neck was clean.
- "I tried several times to remove warts on my hands with acetic acid. It was very painful, but the warts disappeared. True, then new ones grew in the same place. Obviously, the acid doesn't burn completely. The doctor recommended a cauterizing drug based on phenol. I used it for a week, the warts turned completely white, fell off and never came back. "