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 papilloma, warts and other manifestations of it. We will tell you in the article what factors affect the appearance of papillomas and how to fight them effectively with the help of medicines.
Causes of papillomas
The papillomavirus does not always manage to become active; a healthy immune system successfully suppresses infection. But once the protection is weakened, HPV is able to 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 to give birth to a child;
- elderly people;
- smokers and regular drinkers of alcohol;
- thick;
- patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease;
- immunocompromised patients, including HIV;
- those who have undergone treatment with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytostatics.
Strategy to fight papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. It includes several areas:
- Removal of tumors;
- Immunomodulatory treatment as needed;
- General improvement of health, optimization of lifestyle.
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 do not strongly recommend removing 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 micro-specimen is examined at high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use effective modern methods (cryodestruction, laser, radio knife, electrocoagulation), which are not available to ordinary people;
- Household chemicals can cause burns and leave marks if used carelessly.
However, pharmacies today offer many products for the removal of skin tumors. Here is a list of the most common.
An effective medicine with mummifying and cauterizing effects. Its basis is phenol and 3-methylphenol - substances that coagulate proteins. The product is available in the form of an oily solution in a glass bottle. An applicator is attached to the cap. The medicine is cheap, the bottle is enough to remove a large number of tumors.
For small, thread-like or pedunculated papillomas, one application is sufficient. If the wart is old, keratinized or dry, it is recommended to first soften the keratin layer using a patch with salicylic acid or salicylic ointment and only then apply the solution. Apply to large old formations several times with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
Removal of papillomas and condylomas on the mucous membrane is prohibited with this medicine. This is dangerous for your health!
The drug is allowed to be used by pregnant and lactating women (with the doctor's recommendation).
A preparation based on acids - nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic. The cost is higher than the previous product.
The drug acts on the warts in a drying and necrotizing way. Available as a solution. After using it, the growths change color and fall after a few days; a crust forms in this place, which cannot be detached, otherwise a scar may remain. The skin should heal itself. Field of application - any vulgar and flat wart, condyloma.
Important!
The drug should not be used on the face or in the anogenital area - the burning sensation can be very strong and there is a risk that the acid will get into the eyes or mucous membranes!
It is recommended to remove no more than three warts at the same time with the drug, with a total surface 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 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 acids and concentrated chemicals, another method has been invented - freezing. This is an aerosol containing dimethyl ether and propane.
The drug helps effectively 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 old, as it does not contain toxic ingredients.
The aerosol is applied using a special disposable foam applicator to distribute the ether exactly to the desired location. The product is sprayed for 10-20 seconds (depending on the size of the wart or papilloma). Small fresh 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 previous drug, this time manufactured in Ireland. And the cost 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 instead of the removed ones. For this purpose, antiviral and immunomodulating drugs are used, which are taken in parallel with measures to remove papillomas and warts, as well as agents for local treatment.
A drug commonly 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 reproduction (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 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 dose is calculated according to weight - 50 mcg/kg. Pregnancy and lactation are a contraindication for 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 virus replication. The cost is quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for a course of treatment.
In addition to injections, a gel is applied to the skin after the tumors are removed. 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 drug 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 alfa-2b in the form of a gel, oil or cream is suitable for all categories, including expectant mothers and babies. The drug is non-toxic and practically does not cause side effects. It is applied three times a day to skin tumors for a course of 2 weeks to a month. The price is low.
The drug contains affinity-purified antibodies to 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, dose for children, affordable price. It is recommended to take this drug not separately, but as part of complex therapy.
Effective inducer of interferon. Available in tablets with a dose of 1 and 10 mg. The first is prescribed to children and people over 65 years old, the second to adults, except for pregnant and lactating women.
It is recommended to take the medicine every hour - with equal breaks, so 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 medications.
Personal reviews of drugs for the treatment of papillomas
- "I removed small papillomas on the neck in the salon, but a year later they appeared again. It was a pity to give so much money for the second time, I bought an aerosol based on dimethyl ether and propane to try it. Inat first I was afraid that nothing would work, 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 the warts on my hands with acetic acid. It was very painful, but the warts disappeared. True, then new ones grew in the same place. Apparently, the acid does not burn completely. The doctor recommendeda cauterizing drug based on phenol. I used it for a week, the warts completely whitened, fell off and did not appear again. "