Small brown growths on a thin stalk sometimes form on human skin. This is what hanging papilloma looks like. Such neoplasms are benign, they do not threaten human life and often do not cause problems. But due to their thin legs and location on the body, they are subject to frequent injury. This makes a person worry and causes psychological and physical discomfort. Treatment of hanging papillomas is the task of a dermatologist. To get rid of skin lesions, they resort to conservative and surgical methods, and sometimes they practice removing papillomas at home.
What do hanging papillomas look like?
Hanging papillomas are formations on the human skin. Outwardly, they resemble elongated warts, as if attached to the human body with a thin stalk.
When papilloma develops, a small papillary growth first forms on the skin. Then it gradually increases and stretches. Its color can vary from light flesh to dark brown. An important sign of hanging papilloma is its lumpy surface.
Types of hanging papillomas:
- Thread-like. The color can blend in with the skin or have pink, brown, yellowish shades. They vary in size from barely noticeable to large formations up to 1 centimeter in size. They can be not only single, but also merging into groups.
- Finger-shaped. They are observed less frequently than filamentous ones and can occur on the scalp. They grow on a thick stalk and reach 2 centimeters in size. Never group. The color is flesh-colored or pinkish.
Which doctor should you contact?
Knowing which specialist to contact in the event of the development of any pathological processes will allow you to take the necessary measures in time and avoid serious problems. If the warts have grown and began to hang, then the viral nature of the formation requires first of all an examination by a dermatovenerologist.
Considering the characteristics of warts, which tend to hang on a thin stalk and are more often than other types subject to mechanical stress, there is a possibility of their degeneration, so the doctor can give a referral to a dermato-oncologist.
After examining the growth tissue using various methods for malignancy, appropriate treatment is selected or removal of the pathology is recommended.
Why do papillomas form?
Papillomas appear due to infection with the human papillomavirus or papillomavirus. There are a large number of its strains, which have different effects on the body. According to statistics, this virus is present in 80% of the world's inhabitants. However, not all of them have benign formations in the form of papillomas on the skin.
The incubation period of the virus ranges from several days to several decades. Therefore, the formation of hanging papillomas often worries adults over 40 years of age. When the virus enters the body of a person with a strong immune system, it lives in it in a latent state. If the immune system weakens, sooner or later papillomas appear on the skin.
Causes of papillomavirus infection:
- during childbirth, during passage through the mother's birth canal,
- when touching a carrier of the virus,
- during sexual intercourse,
- through personal hygiene items, in the pool, transport, etc.
The virus penetrates through cuts, scratches, wounds and other lesions on the skin and invades cells. The duration of the incubation period depends on the state of immune defense. Sometimes people find out about infection decades after the virus enters the body.
Causes
Hanging formations grow during HPV activity. Provocations are:
- frequent colds;
- pregnancy;
- constant stress;
- unhealthy diet;
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking.
Infection occurs through contact with a sick person. The probability of a growth occurring is more than 50 percent. Accidental damage to the skin: a cut, a scratch can trigger the growth of the epidermis.
The cause of the disease is human papillomavirus. Almost all adults and most children are considered to be carriers. They become infected through contact with a virus carrier or through household items. The disease does not always and not everyone develop an aggressive course, covering the entire body with papillomas. To activate cells, special conditions are needed for the development of the disease.
The following factors can provoke the growth of warts:
- pregnancy;
- cut from using a razor;
- decreased immunity;
- eating junk food;
- stress;
- consumption of large quantities of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Also, growths appear in women who take oral contraceptives. In addition, hanging warts on the body sometimes appear as a complication of the flu, if not treated correctly, with subsequent disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. Excess body weight in people plays a major role in the appearance of these formations. Papillomas almost never appear on the body of children, but there is a risk of their occurrence if the mother is a carrier of the virus.
Risk factors
Various factors can trigger the activation of papillomavirus and the appearance of growths on the body:
- smoking,
- alcohol consumption,
- narcotic substances,
- non-compliance with hygiene standards,
- infection with viral infections,
- hypothermia,
- avitaminosis,
- pregnancy,
- endocrine system disorders,
- surgical interventions,
- stress and overwork.
In what areas of the body do papillomas occur?
The appearance of hanging papillomas can be confused with other formations on the skin. Their peculiarity is their appearance on delicate areas of the skin: on the face, in the neck, armpits, in the groin folds and under the breasts.
In these areas, the integrity of the skin is often compromised due to rubbing with clothing, scratching, and the use of scrubs and peels. A warm and moist environment is constantly maintained in the armpits and groin area, under the breasts. All this provokes the penetration of the virus and the development of formations on the skin. Their growth does not have any symptoms and does not cause pain to a person. In rare cases, he may experience mild itching.
Locations
Hanging warts are defined as a benign tumor; they develop from the epithelium of the skin; in appearance they resemble a small tubercle with a thinning at the bottom. The surface is rough, with small tubercles.
They can also be different in color: to match the color of the skin, lighter or darker. If such a papilloma is very small in size, then it does not cause much trouble or inconvenience.
But if it is large enough, then it does not look very aesthetically pleasing, and they also often cling to clothing, as a result of which they are injured and begin to bleed heavily. With such neoplasms, it is better to seek advice from specialists in order to avoid the risk of a benign tumor turning into a malignant one.
Pedicled warts can appear anywhere, but usually appear on areas of the skin that are warm and humid. They are most often found on the neck, in the groin area, under the breast fold, and in the armpit. Based on their location, they are divided into several types:
- Pedicled warts on the neck are most often injured, especially by clothing. If this happens, the area needs to be treated with brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. In addition, in summer, the open neck is heavily exposed to sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on the further development of warts. It is for this reason that it is necessary to close the neck, or even better, remove such formations.
Hanging warts under the arm are the most in need of constant care and control, since due to the large number of sweat glands, a large number of microbes are formed here, so even the slightest injury to the papilloma can lead to melanoma - a cancerous tumor that is formed from melanocytes. Therefore, if warts appear under the armpit, you should immediately seek help from a doctor to remove them.
- Hanging warts in the groin - the greatest inconvenience occurs when epilating this area. If there is a cut, it is necessary to treat it with hydrogen peroxide. When a wart is completely cut off, it is best to take it for analysis.
Are hanging papillomas dangerous?
The appearance of growths in itself is not dangerous to health. But papillomas differ from other formations on human skin in that they are more prone to injury than others. Even with a slight impact during shaving, when using combs, washcloths, due to friction of clothing and jewelry, they can be damaged or torn off. The root continues to live.
The growths can cause discomfort and itching. And if they are damaged, bleeding occurs, which is dangerous due to the addition of a bacterial or fungal infection. In case of injury, it is necessary to treat the wound with an antiseptic, seal it with a fabric plaster, and then show it to a doctor. The specialist will diagnose, prescribe treatment and advise how to remove the tumor.
If hanging papillomas are frequently damaged, the surrounding tissues also become infected, which leads to multiplication and fusion into a large growth.
Alarming symptoms
If you catch the influenza virus, its symptoms will manifest itself as a headache and high fever. If you have a papilloma virus, it may not manifest itself for up to six months.
In the initial stage, the appearance of the wart itself on the armpit is not noticeable at all. It is noticed when it becomes visually noticeable.
Neither during the period of growth, nor later, the wart does not cause pain unless it is injured. If you use an underarm shaving machine, you need to be especially careful not to cut off the wart. In addition to bleeding and inflammation, this is dangerous due to the further spread of the virus.
Important! Hanging warts and pedunculated warts under the armpits are benign neoplasms. However, if they are constantly injured, there is a danger of degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Any modification of a hanging wart should alert a person. You should consult a doctor immediately if the following signs appear:
- The size of the growth has increased;
- The shade and structure have changed;
- Blood oozes from the wart;
- Inflammation accompanied by pain;
Modern methods of treatment
In order to get rid of papilloma, you need to consult a doctor. He will conduct a diagnosis to ensure that the skin lesion is benign and recommend the best removal method.
Drug therapy
Growing small hanging formations on the neck, face and other parts of the body can be removed without surgery, with the help of medications. Pharmacologists have developed products that can effectively combat skin growths. For conservative removal of papillomas, dermatologists prescribe special ointments and creams.
Antiviral ointments are also used as therapy. But they can only cope with recently appeared growths that have not had time to get stronger and grow. To remove HPV, it must be treated from the inside, using antiviral drugs, and care must be taken to strengthen the immune system.
Surgical methods
To combat hanging papillomas, as well as many other types of skin tumors, hardware methods of disposal are used.
- Freezing with liquid nitrogen. Eliminates growths quickly, but requires careful care of the wound formed after the operation. The procedure is expensive.
- Laser removal. This method is often used. It allows you to get rid of large tumors in one session.
- Current therapy or electrocoagulation. Uses a current of a certain strength. Does not always provide effective results. There is a possibility that the procedure will have to be repeated several times.
- Radio wave method. Quickly removes formations on any part of the body. After its use, wounds remain on the skin. Over time, they tighten and leave almost no traces.
- Surgical intervention. The main disadvantage of this method is that after removing the growths, scars remain. And patients are forced to undergo rehabilitation.
Treatment of hanging warts
Modern medicine has a large number of methods to help get rid of hanging warts. The choice of the optimal treatment method for a particular case is carried out by a dermatologist. First of all, a diagnosis is needed - warts can look similar to other skin diseases, so you need to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. Further, taking into account the age and state of health of the patient, the location and causes of occurrence, quantity, size and other individual characteristics, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment.
Treatment methods for hanging warts:
- surgical removal;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser vaporization;
- cauterization with liquid nitrogen;
- exposure to drugs;
- traditional medicine methods for home use.
Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages that are worth considering. For example, after treatment of hanging warts, there should be no traces left in the form of scars or cicatrices on the neck. Flat warts on the foot should be removed gently in order to be able to walk while the wound heals. Growths near the eyes do not allow the use of aggressive agents that can damage the eyeball and impair vision. Let's consider the main methods to understand their essence and features.
Traditional medicine to combat papillomas
An alternative to professional methods are folk methods that can be used at home.
If papilloma appears on the skin, you can try:
- treat the growth every day with fresh celandine juice,
- rub with a clove of garlic,
- At night, apply onion soaked in vinegar to the skin area,
- make compresses from castor oil.
These folk recipes are not recommended for removing growths on the face to avoid the appearance of scars or pigmentation.
When dealing with hanging papillomas, you should stick to traditional removal methods and consult a doctor. Incorrectly selected drugs and methods can cause the growths to increase in size and begin to cause serious inconvenience. And for prevention, you need to be careful about your health, eat more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins C and B.
Folk remedies
Treatment with folk remedies can also give visible results.
Photo: using celandine juice
It is most noticeable in cases where we are talking about how to remove the growths themselves.
The juice of various plants, which are taken fresh, is widely used for this:
- It is enough to lubricate the papilloma with celandine juice every other day; usually 5-6 procedures are enough for the wart to turn black, dry out, and then fall off;
- Dandelion juice is used up to 4 times a day daily directly on the wart;
- applications of garlic or onion are applied to the papilloma 2-3 times a day; it is better to make a paste from these plants and fix it to the wart with a plaster for a couple of hours;
- a cut of an aloe or kolanchoe leaf is applied to the growth and fixed with a bandage overnight.
Photo: using garlic
Other recipes include an iodine solution, a drop of which is applied to the wart daily, and laundry soap, with a slightly damp piece of which the papilloma is rubbed and left for 3 hours.
Tinctures made from dandelion flowers, green walnut peel, and propolis are widely used. All of them combine the bactericidal, astringent properties of plants with the drying effect of the alcohol base of the tincture.
Photo: burning out growths with iodine
The main thing to remember is that if the use of a folk remedy does not produce an effect or signs of an inflammatory process appear, you still need to consult a doctor.
