Human papillomavirus is the second most common virus after the herpesvirus family. Almost everyone has had it, most 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 effectively combat them with the help of drugs.
Causes of papillomas
Papillomaviruses do not always manage to become active; A healthy immune system successfully suppresses infection. But once protection is weakened, HPV can multiply, triggering the 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 the natural immunosuppression required to give birth;
- old person;
- regular smokers and alcoholics;
- fat;
- patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease;
- patients with immunodeficiency, including HIV;
- those who have undergone treatment with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids, and cytostatics.
Strategies to combat papillomas
Papilloma treatment should be comprehensive. It covers several areas:
- Tumor removal;
- Immunomodulator treatment as needed;
- General health improvement, lifestyle optimization.
Modern pharmacology, which offers many drugs for the treatment of papillomatosis, successfully overcomes 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 the layman to distinguish papillomas or warts from other hyperplasias. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting microspecimen is examined under high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use modern effective methods (cryodestruction, laser, radioknife, 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.
An effective remedy with the effect of mummification and cauterization. The basis is phenol and 3-methylphenol - substances that freeze proteins. This product is available as an oily solution in a glass bottle. The applicator is attached to the lid. The drug is cheap, the bottle is enough to remove a large amount of tumor.
For small papillomas, such as threads or pedunculated, one smear 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 use the solution. Apply it on large old formations several times with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
The removal of papilloma and condyloma on the mucous membrane is prohibited with this medicine. This is dangerous to your health!
This medicine is allowed to be used by pregnant and lactating women (on doctor's recommendation).
Preparations based on acids - nitric, acetic, oxalic, lactic. The cost is higher than the previous product.
This drug acts on warts by means of drying and necrosis. Available as a solution. After its use, the growth changes color and falls off after a few days; a crust forms in this place, which cannot be removed, otherwise the scar may remain. The skin must heal itself. Scope of use – any rough and flat wart, condyloma.
Important!
The drug should not be used on the face or in the 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 an area of up to 3 cm². Pregnant and lactating women can use the drug only as prescribed by the doctor and under his supervision - in the manipulation room of the clinic or hospital.
In addition to this drug, pharmacies sometimes sell other drugs based on acid (lactic and salicylic). The principles 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.
This drug effectively helps fight all types of vulgar warts, including plantar warts, as well as filiform and flat ones. There are practically no restrictions on use. This product can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over 4 years of age, as 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). Fresh 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. The only downside 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 made in Ireland. And the cost is a little lower. Indications, contraindications and methods of use are the same.
Immunomodulatory treatment
Papilloma drug treatment involves suppressing the activity of the HPV virus to prevent the appearance of new formations replacing the removed ones. For this purpose, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are used, which are taken in parallel with measures to remove papillomas and warts, as well as agents for local treatment.
Medicines commonly prescribed by doctors that block HPV. 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 block the replication (breeding) of the virus in the cell.
Tablets are taken orally, 2 pieces 4 times a day at regular intervals. The course of treatment is two weeks, then rest for the same period and repeat the treatment.
This drug gives the best results in the early stages, when the tumor has just appeared, then it is possible to suppress the virus quickly and effectively. This product is suitable for use by children aged 3 years and above. For them, the dose is calculated according to weight - 50 mcg/kg. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications to the use of the drug.
This solution is given intravenously or rectally in suppository form. Its basis is a plant polysaccharide that stimulates its own interferon production and blocks viral replication. The cost is quite high. 5 ampoules are enough for a course of treatment.
In addition to injections, the gel is applied to the skin after tumor removal. With such complex treatment, in 95% of cases it is possible to prevent the appearance of new papillomas.
Cream with immunomodulatory 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, this drug is effective against filiform papilloma, senile keratoma, condyloma and other defects.
This medicine is not suitable for children under the age of 18 and women who are breastfeeding. During pregnancy, consultation with a doctor is required.
Products based on interferon alpha-2b in the form of gel, ointment or cream are suitable for all categories, including expectant mothers and babies. The drug is non-toxic and almost does not cause side effects. It is used three times a day on skin tumors for 2 weeks to a month. The price is low.
This medicine contains affinity-purified antibodies to human interferon in a homeopathic dilution. In general, doctors are skeptical about homeopathy, so they rarely prescribe it. But the product also has advantages: non-toxic, children's dose, reasonable price. It is recommended to take this drug not separately, but as part of a complex therapy.
Effective interferon induction. Available in tablets with a dose of 1 and 10 mg. The first is prescribed to children and people over the age of 65, the second to adults, except pregnant and lactating women.
It is recommended to take the medicine every hour - with equal breaks, so the effectiveness will be maximum. Course - 10 days. Tablets of 1 mg are taken three times a day, 10 mg - once.
This drug is completely non-toxic, well tolerated and combined with other drugs.
Personal reviews of 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's a shame to give a lot of money for the second time, I bought an aerosol based on dimethyl ether and propane to try. At first I was afraid that nothing would work; after the application I had to wait 10 days. During such a period of time, I almost forgot that I was removing the papilloma, but one day I got out of the shower, and it was gone - my neck was clean.
- "I tried several times to get rid of warts on my hands with acetic acid. It was very painful, but the warts disappeared. True, then a new one grew in the same place. Apparently, the acid did not burn completely. The doctor recommended a phenol-based cauterization drug. I used it for a week, the wart turned completely white, fell off and never appeared again. "