Human papillomavirus is the second most common virus after the herpesvirus family. Almost every person has had it, many are asymptomatic carriers. However, not everyone gets papillomas, 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 drugs.
Causes of papillomas
The papillomavirus does not always become active; a healthy immune system successfully suppresses the infection. But as soon as the defense is weak, HPV can multiply, causing uncontrolled division of epidermal cells. Most often, warts and papillomas appear on the skin in the following categories of people:
- children and adolescents whose immunity is still incomplete;
- pregnant women due to the natural immune suppression necessary to give birth;
- elderly people;
- smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers;
- obesity;
- patients with diabetes, thyroid diseases;
- immunocompromised patients, including HIV;
- those who have undergone treatment with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids and chemotherapy.
Strategies to combat papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. It includes several areas:
- Tumor removal;
- immunosuppressive therapy as needed;
- General health improvement, optimization of lifestyle.
Modern pharmacology, which offers many drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis, copes quite well with the first two points.
Preparation for self-removal of papillomas
Doctors strongly do not recommend removing papillomas at home; they give some arguments:
- It is difficult for a layman to distinguish a papilloma or wart from other growths. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting microspecimen is examined under high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use modern effective methods (cryodestruction, laser, laser knife, electrocoagulation), which are not available to ordinary people;
- Household chemicals 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.
Effective medicine with mummifying and caustic effects. Its basis is phenol and 3-methylphenol - substances that coagulate proteins. The product is available as an oil solution in a glass bottle. A control device is attached to the lid. The drug is cheap, the bottle is enough to remove a number of tumors.
For small papillomas, filiform or pedunculated, one application is sufficient. If the wart is old, keratinized or dry, it is recommended to first soften the keratin layer with a salicylic acid patch or salicylic ointment and then apply the solution. Apply it several times on large old formations with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
It is forbidden to remove papillomas and condylomas on the mucous membrane with this medicine. This is dangerous to your health!
Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding may use the medicine (according to the doctor's instructions).
Preparations based on acids - nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic. The cost is higher than the previous product.
The medicine works on warts in a drying and killing way. Available as a solution. After use, the growth changes color and falls off after a few days, in this place a crust forms that cannot be removed, otherwise it may remain. The skin must heal itself. Field of application - any vulgar and flat wart, conjunctivitis.
Important!
Do not use the medicine on the face or in the birth area - the burning sensation can 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 women and women who are breastfeeding can only use the medicine according to a doctor's prescription and under his supervision - in the treatment room of a clinic or hospital.
In addition to this remedy, pharmacies sometimes sell another medicine based on acids (lactic acid and salicylic acid). The principle of use, indications and contraindications are the same.
For those who do not want to burn warts with concentrated acid and chemicals, another method has been invented - freezing. This 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 almost 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 substances.
The aerosol is applied using a special disposable foam applicator to apply the ether precisely to the desired location. The product is sprayed for 10-20 seconds (depending on the size of the wart or papilloma). New small formations disappear after one application, large and old ones may need 2-4.
This is an easy to use and safe product developed by a Japanese company. Its only drawback is its high price. The bottle is enough to treat 5-8 warts or 12 small papillomas.
It 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.
Immunosuppressive therapy
Drug treatment for papillomas involves suppressing the activity of the HPV virus to prevent new formations from appearing in place of those removed. For this purpose, antiviral and immunosuppressive drugs are used, which are taken in parallel with operations to remove papillomas and warts, as well as drugs for local treatment.
A commonly prescribed drug by doctors that suppresses HPV. Stimulates the formation of killer and helper cells, production of interleukin-2, increases the activity of monocytes and nuclear cells. All of these help to suppress the replication (multiplication) of viruses in cells.
The tablets are taken orally, 2 pieces 4 times a day at regular intervals. The treatment period 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 tumors have just appeared, then the virus can be suppressed quickly and effectively. The product is suitable for use by children over 3 years old. For them, the dose is calculated based on weight - 50 micrograms/kg. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications to the use of the drug.
The solution is given intravenously or rectally in the form of a suppository. Its basis is a plant polysaccharide that stimulates the production of its own interferons and suppresses the replication of the virus. The cost is quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for a treatment session.
In addition to injections, gel is applied to the skin after tumors have been removed. With such a complex treatment, in 95% of cases it is possible to avoid the appearance of new papillomas.
Cream with immunosuppressive effect. Apply to the skin for 8-10 hours (at night) three times a week until the desired results are 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 nursing women. During pregnancy, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
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 causes almost no side effects. It is applied three times a day to the skin tumor for 2 weeks to a month. The price is low.
The medicine contains an affinity-purified antibody 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 portions, affordable price. It is recommended not to take this medicine separately, but as part of a complex treatment.
Active interferon promoter. Available in tablets with 1 and 10 mg doses. The first is prescribed for children and people over 65, the second for adults, except pregnant and lactating women.
It is recommended to take the medicine every hour - with regular breaks, so that 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 can be 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 that nothing would work out, after applying I had to wait 10 days. During such a period, I almost forgot that I was removing papillomas, but one day I got out of the shower and they were gone - my throat was clean. "
- "I tried several times to remove warts on my hands with acetic acid. It hurt a lot, but the warts disappeared. True, new ones grew in the same place. It seems that the acid does not burn out completely. The doctor recommended a pungent medicine based on phenol. I used it for a week, the warts turned completely white, fell off and never came back. "