Human papillomavirus is the second most common virus after the herpes virus family. Almost everyone has experienced it, many are carriers without symptoms. However, not everyone is affected by papillomas, warts and other manifestations. We will tell you in the article what factors influence the appearance of papillomas, and how to effectively combat them with the help of medications.
Causes of papillomas
Papillomaviruses cannot always be active; a healthy immune system successfully suppresses infections. However, once the protection is weakened, HPV is able to multiply, triggering uncontrolled division of epidermal cells. Most often, warts and papillomas on the skin appear in the following categories of people:
- children and teenagers whose immunity is still not perfect;
- pregnant women due to natural immunosuppression necessary for childbearing;
- elderly people;
- smokers and regular alcohol drinkers;
- fat;
- patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease;
- patients with immunodeficiencies, including HIV;
- those who have undergone treatment with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids, and cytostatics.
Strategies to combat papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. This covers several areas:
- Tumor removal;
- Immunomodulatory treatment as needed;
- Improvement of general health, optimization of lifestyle.
Modern pharmacology, which offers many drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis, quite successfully copes 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 lay people to differentiate papillomas or warts from other hyperplasia. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting microspecimens are examined at high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use modern effective methods (cryodestruction, laser, radio knife, electrocoagulation), which are not available to ordinary people;
- Chemicals for home use can cause burns and leave scars if used carelessly.
However, pharmacies today offer many products to remove skin tumors. Here is a list of the most common ones.
An effective drug with mummifying and cauterizing effects. The 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. The applicator is attached to the cap. The drug is cheap, the bottle is enough to remove a large number of tumors.
For small papillomas, threadlike or pedunculated, one application is sufficient. If the wart is old, keratinized or dry, it is recommended to soften the keratin layer first using a patch with salicylic acid or salicylic ointment, and then apply the solution. Apply to large old formations several times with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
Removal of papillomas and warts on mucous membranes is prohibited with this drug. This is dangerous for your health!
This medicine can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women (on doctor's recommendation).
Preparations based on acids - nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic. The price is higher than the previous product.
This drug works on warts by drying and necrosis. Available in solution form. After use, the growth changes color and falls off after a few days, a crust forms in this place, which cannot be torn off, otherwise a scar will remain. The skin must heal itself. Scope of application – vulgar and flat warts, condyloma.
Important!
The drug should not be used on the face or 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 recommended to remove no more than three warts at a time with the drug, with a total area of up to 3 cm². Pregnant and breastfeeding women can only use the drug as directed by a doctor and under his supervision - in the manipulation room of a clinic or hospital.
Apart from this drug, pharmacies sometimes sell other drugs based on acids (lactic and salicylic). The principle of use, indications and contraindications are the same.
For those who do not want to burn the wart with concentrated acids and chemicals, another method has been invented - freezing. This is an aerosol containing dimethyl ether and propane.
This drug effectively helps fight all types of vulgar warts, including plantar warts, as well as filiform and flat warts. There are practically no restrictions on use. This product can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over 4 years old, because it does not contain toxic components.
The aerosol is applied using a special disposable foam applicator to deliver the ether precisely 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 long ones may require 2-4.
This is an easy-to-use and safe product developed by a Japanese company. The only drawback is the high price. The bottle is enough to treat 5-8 warts or 12 small papillomas.
There has been an alternative drug before, this time made in Ireland. And the cost is slightly lower. Indications, contraindications and how to use them 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 those that have been removed. For this purpose, antiviral and immunomodulating drugs are used, which are taken simultaneously with measures to remove papillomas and warts, as well as agents for local treatment.
Medications commonly prescribed by doctors to suppress HPV. Stimulates the synthesis of killer and helper cells, production of interleukin-2, increases the activity of monocytes and nuclear cells. All this helps suppress the replication (reproduction) of the virus 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 tumor is just appearing, then it is possible to suppress the virus quickly and effectively. This product is suitable for use by children over 3 years old. For them, the dose is calculated based on weight - 50 mcg/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 plant polysaccharides that stimulate the production of its own interferon and suppress viral replication. The costs are quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for treatment.
In addition to injections, gel is applied to the skin after tumor removal. With such a complex treatment, in 95% of cases, the appearance of new papillomas can be avoided.
Cream with immunomodulatory effect. Apply to skin for 8-10 hours (night) three times a week until desired results are achieved. According to user reviews, the drug is effective against filiform papillomas, senile keratomas, condylomas and other defects.
This medicine is not suitable for children under 18 years of age and breastfeeding women. During pregnancy, consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Products based on interferon alfa-2b in the form of gel, ointment or cream are suitable for all categories, including pregnant women and babies. This drug is non-toxic and causes almost no side effects. It is applied three times daily on skin tumors for 2 weeks to one month. The price is low.
This 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, 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 tablet form with doses of 1 and 10 mg. The first is prescribed for children and people over 65 years of age, the second for adults, except for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
It is recommended to take the drug every hour - at equal intervals, so its effectiveness will be maximum. Course – 10 days. 1 mg tablets are taken three times a day, 10 mg - once.
The drug is completely non-toxic, well tolerated and combined with other drugs.
Personal reviews about drugs for the treatment of papillomas
- "I removed a small papilloma on my neck in the salon, but a year later it appeared again. It was a shame to give so much money for the second time, I bought an aerosol based on dimethyl ether and propane to try. At first I was afraid that there would be no result, after applying I had towaited 10 days. During that time, I almost forgot that I was removing the papilloma, but one day I got out of the shower, and the papilloma was gone – my neck was clear. "
- "I tried several times to remove the wart on my hand with acetic acid. It was very painful, but the wart disappeared. True, then a new one grew in the same place. It turned out that the acid did not burn completely. The doctor recommended a phenol-based cautery. I used it for a week, The warts turned completely white, fell off and didn't appear again. "