Human papillomavirus is the second most common virus after the herpes virus family. Almost everyone has encountered it, many are asymptomatic carriers. However, not everyone gets papillomas, warts and other manifestations of this. In the article, we will tell you what factors influence the appearance of papillomas and how to effectively combat them with the help of drugs.
Causes of papillomas
The papillomavirus is not always able to become active, a healthy immune system successfully suppresses the infection. But once the protection is weakened, HPV is able to multiply, causing the epidermal cells to divide out of control. Most often, warts and papillomas on the skin appear in the following categories:
- children and adolescents whose immunity is still imperfect;
- pregnant women due to the natural immunosuppression required for childbearing;
- elderly people;
- smokers and regular alcohol consumers;
- obese;
- patients with diabetes, thyroid disease;
- immunocompromised patients, including HIV;
- those treated with strong antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytostatics.
Strategy to fight papillomas
Treatment of papillomas should be comprehensive. It covers several areas:
- removal of tumors;
- Immunomodulatory treatment as needed;
- General health improvement, lifestyle optimization.
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 the layman to distinguish a papilloma or a wart from other hyperplasias. This requires a biopsy, after which the resulting microsample is examined under high magnification;
- To remove papillomas, doctors use modern effective methods (cryodestruction, laser, radioknife, electrocoagulation), which are not available to ordinary people;
- Household chemicals can cause burns and scars if used carelessly.
However, pharmacies now offer many products to remove skin tumors. Here is a list of the most common ones.
An effective medicine with a mummifying and cauterizing effect. It is based on 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 lid. The drug is cheap, and 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 with salicylic acid or salicylic acid ointment, and only then apply the solution. Apply it repeatedly to the old large formations with a break of 3-5 minutes.
Important!
Removal of papillomas and condylomas on the mucous membranes is prohibited with this medicine. This is dangerous for your health!
The drug is allowed for pregnant and lactating women (on the recommendation of a doctor).
Preparation based on acids - nitric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid. The price is higher than the previous product.
The drug has a drying and necrotizing effect on warts. Available as a solution. After use, the growths change color and fall off after a few days, a crust forms in this place, which cannot be torn off, 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 applied to 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 up to three warts at a time with the drug, with a total area of up to 3 cm². Pregnant and lactating women can use the medicine only as prescribed and under the supervision of a doctor - in the manipulation room of a clinic or hospital.
In addition to this remedy, pharmacies sometimes sell drugs based on other 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 acids and chemicals, another method has been invented - freezing. It 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 warts. There are practically no restrictions on use. The product can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over 4 years of age, as it does not contain toxic ingredients.
The aerosol must be applied with a special disposable foam applicator to deliver the ether exactly 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 require 2-4.
It 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 it was manufactured in Ireland. And the cost is slightly lower. The indications, contraindications and method of application are the same.
Immunomodulating treatment
Drug treatment of papillomas involves suppressing the activity of the HPV virus in order to avoid the appearance of new formations instead of the removed ones. For this purpose, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are used, which are carried out in parallel with measures to remove papillomas and warts, as well as agents for local treatment.
A drug often prescribed by doctors that suppresses HPV. It stimulates the synthesis of killer and helper cells, the production of interleukin-2, and increases the activity of monocytes and nuclear cells. All this helps to suppress the replication (reproduction) of viruses in cells.
The tablets must be taken orally, 2 tablets 4 times a day at regular intervals. The course 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, and then it is possible to quickly and effectively suppress the virus. The product is suitable for children older than 3 years. For them, the dose is calculated by 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. It is based on 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 one course.
In addition to the injections, a gel is applied to the skin after the tumors are removed. With such a complex treatment, the appearance of new papillomas can be avoided in 95% of cases.
Cream with immunomodulating effect. Apply to the skin three times a week for 8-10 hours (at night) until the desired results are 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 lactating women. Consultation with a doctor is necessary during pregnancy.
The product based on interferon alfa-2b in the form of gel, ointment 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 during a course lasting from 2 weeks to one month. The price is low.
The medicine contains affinity-purified antibodies against human interferon in homeopathic dilutions. Doctors are generally skeptical of homeopathy and therefore rarely prescribe it. But the product also has advantages: non-toxic, children's dosage, affordable price. This medicine is not recommended to be taken separately, but as part of a complex therapy.
Effective interferon inducer. It is available as 1 and 10 mg tablets. The first is prescribed for children and people over 65, the second for 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. 1 mg tablets should be taken three times a day, 10 mg once.
The drug is completely non-toxic, well tolerated and combined with other drugs.
Personal opinions about drugs for the treatment of papillomas
- "I removed the small papillomas from my neck in the salon, but they reappeared a year later. It was a shame to spend so much money a second time, I bought a dimethyl ether and propane based aerosol to try. At first I was afraid that nothing would work, I had to wait 10 days after the application. All this time I almost forgot to remove the 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. The acid doesn't seem to burn out completely. The doctor recommended a phenol-based cauterizing medicine. I used it for a week, the warts completely turned white, fell off and never came back. "