Human papillomavirus is not a scratch that you can get rid of with a leaf of medicinal herb, but also not a serious illness that threatens a person's life. It's just an infection. The infection, which has over 100 species, is incredibly contagious, does not look back on the age/social status of a potential carrier, and is present in the bodies of over 80% of the population.
Every patient who treats the human papillomavirus must first understand: what he is dealing with, what threatens him with self-treatment, which doctor he should turn to for help and how long/of effort/of money it will cost a complete attempt to get rid of this disease.
HPV: what is it? Disease symptoms. Is it worth treating
Papillomavirus is an infectious disease that affects healthy epidermal/mucosa cells of almost the entire body (including the anogenital area). In other words, HPV is an intracellular parasite that inserts its DNA into human chromosomes. As a result, atypical cells begin to form, which, under the influence of "favorable" conditions, multiply rapidly. In the absence of any intervention, most of the epidermis is a pathological layer, a layer of tumors and pathogenic growths.
But, as practice shows, the result of the invasion of the papillomavirus can actually be twofold:
- Infected people become carriers of the virus, but they themselves, thanks to the body's defenses, do not notice any symptoms of the disease.
- Almost immediately, the body of an infected person begins to cover papillomas. Depending on the primary location of their location and the type of virus itself, they may be different shapes/colors, be itchy/painful, or cause no discomfort at all.
Accordingly, with the existing variant of the manifestation of symptoms, the question of treating or ignoring the papillomavirus is solved by itself. However, there is a special study using the polymerase chain reaction. Its results will help determine the type of pathogen, choose the right drug (for a particular strain), whether it is treated.
As for the medical point of view, it was also divided into two halves. Some experts are of the opinion that it is basically impossible to get rid of the papillomavirus. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the symptoms, examining the "problematic" tumors in time. The only treatment option for this side is surgery/other definitive therapies. The main indications of this approach are:
- regular relapses of the disease;
- pronounced symptoms of the disease, especially on the genitals (genital warts) and mucous membranes (larynx, bronchi, nose, eyes, oral cavity);
- preparation for pregnancy;
- high viral load according to the results of the polymerase chain reaction.
The rest believe in the independent elimination of the virus from the body. To do this, it is enough to support its immune system, which will block the pathogenic microorganism. This can be done with the help of vitamin complexes, immunostimulants, a healthy lifestyle (that is, proper nutrition / giving up bad habits).
Important!This theory is valid for patients under the age of 30. After reaching the mentioned age, the immune system weakens somewhat and cannot eliminate the virus from the body on its own, having faced several strains of HPV at once.
Reasons for development/progression of HPV
Before thinking about how to treat HPV, where to find a good specialist, how much time / money will it take and whether it will be possible to cure HPV in principle, perhaps focus on preventionand try not to infect yourself?
It is good if the attending physician explains to the patient in advance that this is almost impossible. For the simple reason that one out of two people around him can carry the virus, without having a single papilloma. Thank you for this, he can tell his immunity, which has the strength to block the symptoms of the disease. Whether your body's defenses are so powerful cannot be known until after the HPV infection itself. This often happens in three main ways:
- From mother to child.During pregnancy, infection is practically excluded, since the placenta is a reliable barrier that protects the baby from external influences. But during birth, when the baby passes through the birth canal, the risk of transmitting the virus is incredibly high. In addition, it first penetrates the mucous membrane of the child's eyes/nose/oropharynx. Accordingly, the first papillomas in a small patient may appear in the first days. Especially dangerous are those that are localized on the glottis, endangering the life of the baby due to possible strangulation. They are also called papillomatosis of the larynx.
- Contact-household way.It is especially relevant when breaking personal hygiene rules, using other people's towels / cups / clothes, shaking hands, kissing, hugging, etc. The risk of infection increases in enclosed spaces with high humidity (swimming pool, sauna, bath), as well as in preschool/school establishments.
- Autoinfection.It is seen in small children who put everything in their mouths without washing their hands first. The same goes for the habit of biting the nails, as well as the burrs on the fingers. Instead of the latter, characteristic growths appear in the form of flat plaques with a pinkish tint. Do not forget about small scratches / abrasions / other mechanical damage to the skin, through which the virus quickly penetrates the healthy epithelium.
In the absence of any action, as well as concomitant causes of a decrease in immunity (inflammatory processes, chronic diseases, viruses / colds, lack of useful vitamins / micro- and macroelements, living in adverse conditions, low levelenvironment, poor quality/unbalanced diet), papillomatosis spreads rapidly throughout the body, affecting more and more healthy cells. In this case, treatment is unavoidable. It remains only to choose the fastest and most effective method.
Papillomavirus treatment: the most effective methods
Warning!Treatment for human papillomavirus should start with a consultation with a trusted specialist! Only he, having examined your complaints, conducted an examination and made an accurate diagnosis, will be able to draw up an effective treatment plan. He will answer all your questions, including "is it possible to cure papillomatosis in principle? " and "should it be treated at all? ".
If you do not know who to contact specifically, pay attention to where the papillomas that cause you the most inconvenience are located:
- Are the growths "scattered" on the arms, legs, under the arms and on the face/neck? Then a dermatologist can help you.
- Worried about genital warts? These papillomas are treated by a gynecologist / urologist.
- Are the tumors in the rectum, near the anus? Contact a proctologist.
It should be remembered that at the very beginning of treatment it would be wrong to set the goal "to eliminate HPV from the body". No, you have symptoms that cause inconvenience and also threaten to increase oncogenicity. We must start with them, minimizing the risks to life and health. Often a complex method of treating papillomas is used for this:
- Destruction of "problematic" papillomas.
- Body support with immunomodulators.
- Healthy lifestyle.
Such a treatment regimen for HPV will not only help get rid of the manifestations of the disease, but also can eliminate the virus from the body as such. But it should not be counted on its rapid elimination: if a complete cure is possible, it will take at least years.
This is why experts recommend physical methods of removing papillomas as an effective way to stop their growth/spread.
Cosmetology/hardware surgery
This method of removing papillomas is considered a priority not only in medical circles, but also in cosmetology. After all, this is the only way to quickly / without a trace / effectively remove papillomas that cause physical discomfort, develop complexes due to an unsightly aesthetic appearance.
The most popular are:
- laser therapy.The essence of the procedure is the "dissolution" of pathological cells, the sealing of the walls of blood vessels, as well as the rehabilitation of the damaged epithelial layer. The process is absolutely painless, quick and quite effective (from 60 to 92% of papillomas disappear without a trace, without recurrence). However, with regard to wound healing after removal of growths larger than 5 mm, it stretches for up to 4 weeks and leaves small depigmented spots.
- Radio wave / radioknife therapy.This method involves the use of high frequency radio waves to remove skin lesions. Helps cure papillomatosis by coagulating blood vessels, and without bleeding or pain. Eliminates the recurrence of the disease, acts extremely punctually, without damaging healthy tissues. More suitable for removing single tumors.
- Cryodestruction.This involves exposure to the papilloma with liquid nitrogen, as a result of which the growths dry up, turn black and fall off. If their dimensions are greater than 5-6 mm, several sessions will be necessary to obtain the desired result.
Important!The probability of relapse is quite high.
- Chemolysis.Remove neoplasms with trichloroacetic acid. It is used only for the treatment of genital warts. And then with an efficiency of 30-40%.
- Electrocautery.Papillomas are exposed to a high-frequency electric current, as a result of which the protein tissues coagulate, destroying the pathological layer. The procedure is quite painful, but allows the use of local anesthesia. As for relapses, they are quite likely, so you should immediately pay attention to them.
Warning!The specialist performing the procedure must be extremely careful: the smoke during electrocoagulation may contain particles of the human papilloma virus and, if it enters the upper respiratory tract, infect it.
- "Good old scalpel".Surgical intervention, despite the abundance of more modern methods, continues to occupy one of the leading places in medicine. Only now they mainly use it to remove large genital warts. Also, this method is effective in getting rid of malignant tumors.
Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the patient's fear of hardware therapy/surgery often plays an important role. In this case, all these methods can be categorically rejected, despite their high efficiency. An exception may be oncogenic formations. But even in this case, the patient may insist on other, more "humane" methods of therapy.
Removal of papillomas using pharmaceuticals
How to eliminate pathological formations with drugs? Quite simple. Consult your doctor who will prescribe a suitable topical product. Regardless of the name and price, the active substance of each of them is an acid or an alkali, under the influence of which the tissues of epithelial formations are destroyed. In other words, necrosis of pathological cells occurs.
The use of drugs is prohibited for self-medication, since there are a number of contraindications that should not be overlooked:
- None of the pharmaceuticals are licensed for self-treatment of genital papillomas. Some are theoretically suitable, but are only applied in the treatment room by an experienced specialist.
- It is strictly forbidden to apply the drug containing sodium tetraborate and sodium hydroxide on the face / neck / chest / armpits.
- An excellent analogue of cryodestruction turned out to be a spray preparation with dimethyl ether and propane. It is allowed to use it at home, but only after consulting a dermatologist and carefully studying the attached instructions. The tool is really effective, but the skin surface affected by it heals for a long time and painfully.
- A special pencil acts on papillomas with silver nitrate, which helps to remove growths with the maximum destruction of pathological bacteria. Already at the end of the first week of use, necrosis of neoplasms is observed. But you need to be prepared for "residual" scars, as well as burns. On closed areas of the body it is not critical, but it is better not to experiment on the face/neck/chest.
- The most "mild" remedy is a drug with a substance obtained by synthesizing N-N-dimethylamino-2-propanol p-acetamidobenzoate with inosine, since it has an antiviral effect. No one will tell you for sure how to get rid of papillomas with these pills. But the body's defenses, in particular the lymphocyte storehouse of the blood, will be significantly strengthened. And with a small spread of papillomatosis, this increases the chances of self-elimination of the virus.
- A phenol solution, specialized in skin warts, as well as genital warts, cauterizing their first manifestations. Dangerous for healthy skin and is not used more than 5 times.
How to get rid of papillomatosis folk methods
Traditional medicine is very popular with many patients, especially those who prefer self-medication. It's no surprise that they ask neighbors, grandmothers and the good old internet the question "how to treat HPV".
This does not mean that these treatment methods are ineffective. No, many will be able to demonstrate a self-cured disease with the help of decoctions, tinctures and lotions. But there are also those for whom folk remedies did not help or only aggravated the situation.
Therefore, before you start using all the collected home recipes for papillomatosis, do not forget to consult a specialist and undergo the necessary examination. Most likely, you will receive a "green light" to use certain means, even advised by those that traditional medicine itself recommends:
| Celandine | A few fresh stems of the plant are enough, from which the juice comes out. They lubricate the surface of the growths, trying not to cling to a healthy epidermis. The procedure is a little painful, but the result is visible after a few days. |
| Iodine | You will need a solution (available in all pharmacies) and cotton swabs (to facilitate application). HPV is often treated with iodine and is considered one of the most effective and inexpensive cures. |
| castor oil | Contains acid which can destroy pathological papillomavirus cells. Allowed for the treatment of growths on the face. It is enough just to lubricate the warts with castor oil twice a day and seal them with a bandage. |
| Garlic | Any old person will tell you how to treat papillomas with garlic. And not about an option, since you can apply a cut garlic clove to the growth or prepare "garlic ointment". |
| dandelions | Plant buds are harvested, filled with cologne and infused. The resulting mixture of papillomas is processed 6-7 times a day. |
Each of the suggested options has the right to life. And it proves that often to get rid of the human papillomavirus, it is not necessary to schedule a treatment several years in advance.