What do papillomas look like?

If such a growth appears on the skin of a person, then he asks the question of what changes occur in the body and are they harmless? Read on for useful information about the characteristics of the different types of papillomas. This information will help you recognize the presence of such formations in order to treat them in time if necessary.

Papilloma varieties

Why does this process often appear on the skin with age? These changes in the skin are triggered by the human papillomavirus, or HPV for short. After infection with such a pathogen, the patient develops the disease papillomatosis, in which warts of various shapes appear on the skin or mucous membranes. These growths are benign, but some types of papillomas carry a high risk of being reborn as malignant tumors. For this reason, you should visit a doctor if you notice such changes in your skin!

Medicine knows more than 40 varieties of papillomavirus, which causes various forms of disease in humans. The type of virus that enters the body depends on what the papilloma looks like, since the infection manifests itself outwardly with various types of formations on the integuments of the body. According to the general classification, the following types of growth are distinguished.

  1. Simple, which is also called vulgar - dark-colored keratin growths.
  2. Plantar - affects the sole of the foot.
  3. Acrochords are thread-like formations, whose bodies rest on the legs.
  4. Flat formations or common warts - often occur in adolescents in the area of \u200b\u200bthe hands, fingers, face.
  5. Pointed - localized on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, genitals or anus.
  6. Squamous cells - consist of squamous epithelium, which has grown due to the effects of viruses, and stroma (the basis of connective tissue and blood vessels).
  7. Basal cells - grow from cells of the basal layer of the epidermis or from hair follicles.
  8. Internal - they appear not in visible external areas of the body, but where they are difficult to notice, for example, in the larynx or bladder.
papilloma on finger

Taper

Such growths are often called warts. Its distinctive features are its small size and special shape: a wide base and sharp edges. These warts are flesh-colored or slightly pink and appear either singly or in groups. They are distinguished by rapid growth: in just a few days, during which there is only one growth, a whole group is formed. In shape, this family resembles cauliflower inflorescences. Genital warts are often located on the mucous membranes: 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, as it can have very wide localization throughout the body. What does this type of papilloma look like? These are flat formations of round or oval shape, slightly protruding above the surface of the skin - no more than 1 mm in diameter, can be soft and with signs of keratinization. Often they appear in groups, in color they practically do not differ from the surrounding cover.

Such growths occur mainly in the upper body: on the face (for example, on the nose or lips), neck. They often appear on the mucous membranes: 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 get rid of them because of the high risk of degeneration into a malignant form.

basal cell

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

basal cell papilloma on the back

What does a papilloma look like in an intimate place?

When talking about formations in the genital area, we mean pointed formations. These types of papillomas are cells that grow on the top layer of the epithelium, which look like clusters of small papillae. Such growth equally often affects both sexes. They are localized in the groin and directly on the surface of the genitals: in men - on the head of the penis or in the lumen of the urethra, in women - on the vaginal mucosa, cervical surface and inside the uterus itself .

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

Photo: what a papilloma looks like on the body

In order to accurately and clearly imagine for yourself what this formation is, it will be useful for you to see a picture of what the growth looks like. Check out this selection of photos showing examples of the different types of papillomas. Check with these photos the growths of you or your loved ones, and you can determine in advance whether these warts should be removed, and prevent serious risks to your health.

papilloma under armpapilloma on neck