Papule - causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Skin rashes caused by inflamed comedones are called papules. They appear in the form of a specific nodule that does not have an internal cavity. Experts say that they most often appear on the face and hands. In urology, their formation on the genitals is quite common. We’ll talk about what a papule is and how to get rid of it in this article.

What is this?

Almost every person has had the formation of papules at least once in their life. For example, after the Mantoux reaction, a papule always forms. But in this case, this is the norm, but the appearance of causeless rashes of this kind can be an alarming symptom. Most often, this pathology affects the male population, although it also occurs in women, but much less frequently.

Often in men, papules form on the genitals. This formation on the penis is not contagious and is not transmitted to a partner; the manifestations have nothing to do with sexually transmitted diseases. According to the results of scientific research, it can be said that African men with dark skin are more susceptible to the formation of skin rashes. In addition, the risk of these nodules increases in men with circumcised foreskins. They do not reach one centimeter in size, but the accumulation of several papules nearby can represent quite extensive skin damage. The pathology can worsen, spreading throughout the dermis and characterized by an inflammatory process.

If the disease progresses without inflammation, spontaneous resorption of the formations is quite likely. A slight darkening may remain at the site of resorption of the papule, but it will disappear over time. These formations can be round, oval or cone-shaped in shape. What is a papule is interesting to many.

Description

Papule - what is it? In medicine, it is customary to call any papules, but this terminology includes only certain formations:

• rising above the skin;
• resembling balls;
• having a size from a few millimeters to 3 cm.

If the diameter of the formation exceeds 1 cm, then it is usually called a nodule.

Pros of natural remedies: low cost, fewer side effects, and easy to access. Natural remedies have been passed down through generations and have stood the test of time. These remedies are as effective as most available medications.

Most home remedies are simple to follow without side effects. They also have a very low likelihood of worsening any systemic or ocular condition. Warm compress and tea bag compress are the most common home remedies. Other remedies include using guava leaves, aloe vera and cucumber slices.

When you put a little pressure on the papule, it immediately becomes pale. Sometimes the formation is accompanied by suppuration and swelling. But unlike a pustule, this type of nodule does not have a white head.

Carrying out self-diagnosis

Dermatologists often refer to various skin formations and rashes of unknown origin as papules. The cause may be malignant or benign formations. At the initial stage, it is quite possible to notice the disease on your own; the main thing is to know what you need to pay attention to. There are papules in a child.

Below are the characteristic signs of formations and the reasons for their development.

Formation of nodules on the face, most often on the cheeks, in the nasolabial triangle and around the eyes. The rashes are clear or pale purple in color. This is how AL amyloidosis is expressed. This disease is the result of a protein metabolism disorder. For what reason do pearly papules occur in men?

Over time, the skin rashes peel off and cracks form. Most often found on the surfaces of the lower and upper extremities, on the fingers and toes. These are signs of horny eczema. It occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to adverse factors on the skin of the hands and feet. Requires treatment by a dermatologist.

There are papular formations on the nose or mucous membranes that have a brown or red tint. Nodules appear on the wings of the nose, the tip, and with a long course of the disease they lighten and grow. This pathology is called fibrous nasal papule. It is quite rare and refers to tumor processes in the body.

Pinkish or light red papules form on the surface of the skin and can reach two centimeters in size. Localization most often occurs on the elbow and knee joints. Over time, scales appear on the formations, which eventually fall off. This is how psoriasis manifests itself.

Nodules appear on the skin of the back, legs, head, abdomen, thighs and buttocks. They appear to have a rough surface that resembles a grater. These are signs of lichen spines. It most often occurs in boys during childhood. The reason is a lack of vitamins.

Features of the treatment of papillary and pustular rashes

The method for removing skin rashes is selected after determining the cause of the papules. Based on a diagnostic study, the dermatologist selects an individual therapeutic regimen. Drug treatment involves the use of antibacterial ointments, iodine solution, antiseptics, the method of application of which is described in the instructions on the packaging.

For severe pustular overgrowth, antibiotics are prescribed. Sometimes papules in a mild form of development act as a cosmetic defect that does not require treatment with pharmaceutical preparations.

Traditional medicine includes home recipes for treating pustules and papules on the face and body using improvised means. Decoctions of oak or calendula bark, lemon juice, chamomile tincture, vinegar, and aloe are used. The substances will help get rid of external manifestations, but will not eliminate the cause of the rash. Before carrying out therapy, self-medication, go to the hospital.

Papules and pustules can be a sign of a disorder in the body. Having discovered elements of a rash, consult a doctor to get medical help and eliminate the formations without the risk of complications.

Localization of formations

The appearance of papules may indicate many pathologies of the skin; only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Experts divide papules into several groups depending on their location. They can be cutaneous (meaning any area of ​​the skin except the face and genitals), genital, reflecting the reaction to Mantoux, and on the face. Forming at different places of formation, they often have different symptoms and different reasons for their appearance.

We have explained what a papule is. Next, we will consider each type separately.

How to treat?

To treat papular and pustular rashes, different methods are used: medications, folk remedies, and herbal medicine.
The choice depends on the type of disease diagnosed. For greater effectiveness, complex treatment is indicated. After eliminating the acute condition of a skin disease, spots and scars may remain on the body. To remove them, biorevitalization, mesotherapy, laser therapy, and grinding are used.

Drug therapy

To treat dermatological diseases, medications of different effects and release forms are used. Bacterial, viral, and fungal skin lesions are treated with antimycotics, antibiotics, and antiviral agents.

To relieve swelling and redness, anti-inflammatory and healing gels and creams are prescribed. To increase the body's defenses, doctors prescribe vitamin complexes.

For liver, intestinal and gastric disorders, medications are used aimed at restoring the functioning of the organ (hepatoprotective drugs, probiotics).

Treatment of spotty skin rash with folk remedies

Alternative medicine also provides a good healing effect. Herbal medicine is carried out and the healing properties of various products are used. Traditional healers recommend many recipes to combat spotty rashes on the skin.

The most effective folk remedies:

• one nutmeg, a little galangal and ginger, pour alcohol. Place in a warm place for a couple of days. Wipe the affected areas of the body with the prepared tincture. Additionally, it is recommended to drink a decoction of elderberry and yarrow flowers, one cup per day;
• Pour a tablespoon of oak bark into a glass of boiling water and simmer for a quarter of an hour. After cooling, strain the liquid. Wipe damaged tissues three times a day;
• lubricate the spotty rash with viburnum juice. Additionally, you should take an infusion: grind the berries and pour boiling water over a tablespoon. Leave for five hours and strain. Drink 150 ml 4 times a day;
• mix 100 g of purified sulfur and 300 g of pork fat. Apply to the affected area of ​​skin until the spotty rash disappears.

Nature of the rash

The development of such a skin rash has a certain character. The initial stage is characterized by strange, specific manifestations on the skin, up to 2 mm in diameter, resembling a nodule. They do not cause any discomfort or pain. Over time, if the pathology is not treated, papules can reach 3 cm in diameter and cause not only aesthetic discomfort, but also pain. Further, erosions, crusts, and pustules appear in place of untreated formations. The color of the rash in this case varies from light pink to dark brown.

Diseases with papules

Rashes are characteristic of the following pathologies: psoriasis, measles, scabies, anthrax, syphilis, atopic dermatitis, herpes, typhus, eczema, Kaposi's sarcoma, streptococcal impetigo.

The diseases differ in the appearance of the papules, their location and other associated symptoms:

• 
  psoriasis

  . It is an autoimmune chronic disease that affects the skin. Manifested by weakness, fatigue, depression. The main symptom is spots that rise slightly above the surface of the skin. Red psoriasis papules vary in size and shape: teardrop-shaped, coin-shaped, and dotted. Initially, the size of the formation is 3-4 mm, but as the disease progresses, the papules increase to 10 or more centimeters. Morphological elements affect the entire body and can merge;
• eczema _ This is a neuro-allergic recurrent pathology that manifests itself in the upper layers of the dermis. This disease is characterized by a rash that causes itching and burning. At first the skin turns red. Then small pink-red papules form. As inflammation progresses, they transform into vesicles and pustules. After opening the formation, weeping eczema occurs. When the inflammatory process subsides, the skin turns pale, erosion becomes crusty;
• scabies _ The disease is contagious and is caused by parasitic scabies mites on the skin. Elements of the rash are represented by scabies. They look like dirty gray lines of a straight or curved shape. Elongated papules and pustules can form under them. The formations cause severe itching. When scratching, erosions occur;
• Kaposi's sarcoma . These are multiple malignant neoplasms on the skin. First, papules form, similar to rashes caused by lichen ruber. Places of localization are the arms, legs, and feet. Papules peel, increase in size (can reach 5 cm), and are painful. After resorption, the nodules leave pigmented impressions. Kaposi's sarcomatosis can metastasize to the lungs, bones, and liver. In this case, the person experiences a bloody cough and diarrhea, and a high fever;
• syphilis . This is a sexually transmitted systemic disease of an infectious nature that affects the mucous membranes, skin, nervous system, bones, and internal organs. Papular syphilides appear during the period of exacerbation of the disease. They can be meliar, lenticular, numular, plaque. In primary syphilis, the formation looks like a round ulcer with a smooth bottom and even edges. Erosion is painful. Small ulcers appear on the mucous membranes. Chancres up to 5 cm in diameter are observed in the abdomen, thighs, chin, forearms and hands. Secondary syphilis manifests itself as nodules, spots, papular-pustular rash, and vesicles. Formations can occur on any part of the body; they do not merge. Their color and shape vary. The skin around the syphilides does not swell or become inflamed;
• streptococcal impetigo . This is a contagious pathology of streptococcal nature. Initially, bluish-red papules appear on the skin, which can be eroded. Then they transform into vesicles with an edematous and hyperemic base. Localized in the area of ​​the buttocks, thighs, back and abdomen;
• atopic dermatitis . This is a non-contagious, chronic inflammatory skin disease. It manifests itself as follicular papules and plaques on the extensor surface of the limbs and trunk. In adults, atopic dermatitis is characterized by pigmentation, secondary leukoderma. Whitish spots form in the cheek area.

Kinds

Today, experts divide papular rash into several types, depending on its location and structure:

• Superficial. It is always localized on the surface of the skin and reaches a size of no more than 5 mm. It usually goes away on its own, leaving dark pigment spots that disappear over time. Such papules form after biorevitalization due to the fact that skin damage occurs during the administration of the drug.
• Deep. The pathology is characterized by penetration into the deep layers of the skin. The size of the formations exceeds 5 mm and has a darker shade from burgundy to dark brown.
• Pearly papules in men. They appear only on the penis. They look like colorless or pink nodular formations that do not reach 5 mm in diameter.
• Cysts. The process of occurrence occurs deep under the skin, a capsule is formed in which the inflammatory infiltrate accumulates.
• Mantoux papule. It develops after vaccination and disappears on its own some time after vaccination.

Dermatologists can make a diagnosis after a visual examination, if the pathology is obvious, or conduct an examination and only then make a verdict. Treatment usually involves following a special diet and eating healthy. To quickly get rid of papules, the doctor may prescribe a special ointment or gel.

What a papule is is described in detail above.

Appearance on the face

The localization of formations on the face indicates the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the superficial layers of the skin. First, the pores become clogged, which allows the sebaceous glands to accumulate sebum. As a result, cysts form, which eventually extend into the upper layers of the skin. The body’s defense systems are included in the process and, as a result, papules appear on the skin. In addition, in this case, manifestations of syphilis, amyloidosis, horny eczema, fibrous papule or psoriasis may be observed. The size of these formations is usually no more than 5 mm. They are rarely painful, but are often accompanied by itching. Dermatologists do not recommend treating these formations on your own, since the situation can be aggravated and further treatment may take a long time.

Papules after biorevitalization should go away on their own. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor.

The appearance of papules on the genitals

The formation of nodules on the penis in men is called pearlescent papule because it has a specific pearlescent hue. The cause is usually clogged pores and sebaceous glands. In general, the disease is not sexually transmitted and is considered something of a cosmetic defect. This pathology is usually treated surgically:

• laser coagulation with carbon dioxide;
• through local cosmetic surgery;
• cryotherapy;
• electrocoagulation with additional curettage.

Treatment of pearlescent skin formations on your own is strictly prohibited by doctors, since an infectious process may develop on the genitals.

Causes

Papules and pustules occur for various reasons. Most often they are formed as a result of the active activity of microbes, viruses, and fungi.

Also, the reasons for the formation of papules and pustules are:

• disruptions in the functioning of the stomach, liver and intestines. Observed in certain pathologies of internal organs, with improper and irregular nutrition;
• hormonal imbalance. Hormone levels change during puberty, pregnancy, menopause;
• physical, emotional fatigue. Lack of wakefulness and rest, insomnia, and stressful conditions lead to weakened immunity. This reduces the body’s resistance to diseases, including those of an epidermal nature;
• blockage of the sebaceous glands. Occurs with cholesterosis, impaired metabolism, poor hygiene;
• allergies to hygiene products, food, animal hair, insect bites.