What does a papilloma look like?

If such an increase appears on a person's skin, then he asks the question what kind of changes have occurred in the body and are they not dangerous? Read on for useful information about the characteristics of different types of papillomas. This information will help you to know the presence of such formations in order to treat them in time if necessary.

Varieties of papillomas

Why do these processes often appear on the skin with age? These skin changes are provoked by human papillomavirus, or HPV for short. After infection with such a pathogen, the patient develops a papillomatous disease, during which warts of various shapes appear on the skin or mucosa. These growths are benign, but some types of papillomas have a high risk of recurrence as a malignant tumor. For this reason, you should definitely visit a doctor if you notice such changes in your skin!

Medicine recognizes more than 40 types of papillomavirus, which cause various forms of the disease in humans. The type of virus that has entered the body depends on the appearance of the papilloma, because the infection is manifested from the outside by different types of formations on the inside of the body. According to the general classification, the following types of growths are distinguished.

  1. Simple, which are also called vulgar - keratinized growths of a dark color.
  2. Plantar - affects the soles of the feet.
  3. Accords are thread-like formations whose body rests on one leg.
  4. Flat formations or common warts - often occur in adolescents in the area of hands, fingers, face.
  5. Stressed - localized in the mucosa of the oral cavity, genitals or anus.
  6. Squamous cells - consist of squamous epithelium, which is enlarged due to the effects of the virus, and stroma (the base of connective tissue and blood vessels).
  7. Basal cell - grows from cells of the basal layer of the epidermis or from the hair follicles.
  8. Internal - they do not arise in the area of the visible external parts of the body, but where they are difficult to notice, for example, in the larynx or bladder.
papillomas on the fingers

Directed

Such growths are often called warts. Their characteristic features are small size and special shape: a wide base and a sharp tip. These warts are flesh-colored or slightly pink and appear either individually or in groups. They are distinguished by rapid growth: in just a few days, where there was only one growth, a whole group of them is formed. In shape, this family resembles a bouquet of cauliflower. Genital warts are often located on the mucosa: in the mouth, on the tongue, as well as in the genital area or near the anus.

Squamous

This form of skin growth caused by the HPV virus is one of the most common because it can have a very wide localization throughout the body. What does a papilloma of this type look like? These are flat formations of a round or oval shape, slightly protruding above the surface of the skin - no more than 1 mm, may be soft and with signs of keratinization. Often they appear in groups, in color they practically do not differ from the surrounding cap.

Such growths occur mainly in the upper part of the body: on the face (for example, on the nose or lips), neck. They often appear on the mucosa: inside the mouth on the cheeks or tongue. Squamous cell tumors can be diagnosed in the esophagus, larynx, as well as in the organs of the genitourinary system and even in the rectum. People who have such formations are advised to remove them due to the high risk of degeneration into a malignant form.

Basal cell

These growths are often called basal cell carcinomas or warts because they often affect the skin of older people. These formations grow slowly from the basal layer of the epidermis (hence the name) or from the hair follicles, appearing on the surface of the skin in the form of papillae from pink to dark brown. The areas of the body where basal cell carcinomas are common are the armpits, back and lips and nose. Their distinguishing feature is that they never degenerate into cancerous tumors, hence they are considered safe.

basal cell papillomas on the posterior side

What do papillomas look like in intimate places

When it comes to formations in the genital area, then we mean the top formations. Papillomas of this type are overgrown cells of the upper layer of the epithelium, which look like groups of small papillae. Such growths can often affect both sexes. They are located in the groin and directly on the surface of the genitals: in men - in the head of the penis or in the lumen of the urethra, in women - in the vaginal mucosa, the surface of the cervix and in the uterus itself Me

Manifestations of changes in the composition of the genitals, which occur as a result of human infection with the HPV virus, require special attention from the patient. He should consult a doctor and remove the growths on the genitals, because with the passage of such a disease into a chronic form, the risk of infertility and oncology increases greatly.

Photo: what papillomas look like on the body

In order to imagine accurately and clearly for yourself what these formations are, it will be useful for you to look at images of how such formations look. Check out this selection of photos showing examples of different types of papillomas. Check with these pictures the growths that you or your loved ones have, and you can determine in advance if these warts are subject to mandatory removal and prevent serious risks to your health.

papilloma under the armpapilloma in the neck