A wart on the lip: why it is dangerous and when it turns into cancer.

Papillomatosis is a common disease of viral etiology, the main clinical sign of which is the appearance of characteristic growths of a benign nature on the skin. According to statistics, more than 85% of the population is infected with papillomavirus. The virus can remain dormant in the body for many years; the main factor that provokes its awakening and the formation of skin growths is a decrease in immune strength.

The need to remove papillomas is due to the risk of degeneration of some types of neoplasms into a malignant form. The aesthetic side is also important - growths are a cosmetic drawback. We will consider below what methods by which papilloma can be removed are relevant and safe.

Causes of papilloma

The only reason that provokes the appearance of neoplasms of a benign nature is HPV or human papillomavirus. The main route of infection is parenteral; in more rare cases, household infection is possible.

After infection, the virus can remain in the body in an anabiotic state for several years until favorable conditions arise. These include mainly a decrease in immune forces, the development of diseases leading to a weakening of the body and the level of resistance. The result of activation of pathogenic flora is the appearance of growths of various shapes and sizes on the skin.

Features of growths on the lips

Warts can appear unexpectedly. A person feels the first signs of their appearance on the lip within several days. Many people have noticed that a compaction has appeared in the area of the future wart, which has increased in size over time. And only after a few days a wart forms. Lumps on the mucous membrane are often confused with stomatitis, which occurs due to biting the lip or the inside of the cheek. And only after the enlargement and subsequent change in color does it become clear that it is a wart that has appeared.

What they look like

Warts on the lips differ from the surrounding skin in their bulge and color. Therefore, their presence is noticeable to others. There are several types of growths:

Papillomas on the leg. Typically appear under the lower lip and at the corners of the mouth. They are pinkish-brown, less often flesh-colored. The neoplasm is fed through the leg. As a rule, they are not painful, but can be easily injured while eating.
Flat warts. They form in groups on the surface of the skin of the lips. They rise above the surrounding healthy skin by 1-2 mm. The range of colors ranges from flesh to brown. It is possible to confuse such warts with moles.
Condylomas on the inside of the lip. The most dangerous of neoplasms. Painful in themselves, they are easily injured by teeth and food particles, which can lead to infection, and in rare cases, to degeneration into a malignant neoplasm.

Reasons for appearance

The main reason why warts appear on the lips is a decrease in a person’s immunity as a result of physical exertion, nervous tension and previous diseases. Growths on the lips appear only after infection with the human papillomavirus. It is the main cause of their occurrence, since it causes the transformation of skin cells followed by uncontrolled division.

The infection enters the body through injuries to the skin or mucous membranes, is transmitted from person to person, and is then localized in the nerve endings under the skin. It may even take several years from the moment of infection to the first appearance of a neoplasm. In most cases, it is impossible to even know at what point the infection occurred. HPV is difficult to treat, and some strains cannot be completely removed from the body.

The only way to deal with warts on the lips is to get rid of them after they appear, and also to prevent relapses to the best of your ability.

The feasibility of removing warts

The need to remove dermatological tumors is due to a wide range of factors, the main ones being:

aesthetic flaws;
risk of degeneration into a malignant form;
physical discomfort - there is a risk of inflammation and bleeding.

The feasibility and necessity of eliminating the external manifestations of HPV is determined by the doctor after a medical examination. The decisive factor may be, among other things, the patient’s complaint about aesthetic dissatisfaction.

Types of warts

A wart is a growth that rises above the surface of the skin or mucous membrane.

Its dimensions, as a rule, are no more than 1 centimeter in diameter.

The tumor can appear on any part of the body, including the face.

On the face, most often a wart forms on the lip, above or below the lip, on the buccal surface of the oral mucosa.

A warty growth can appear on both the upper and lower lips.

The following types of neoplasms are distinguished:

Common (vulgar) warts. These are growths that have a dense structure, soft to the touch, flesh-colored or yellowish in color. New growths form on the red border of the lips. They are not painful, but tend to itch. Vulgar warts appear on the lips not only in adults, but also in children.

Flat- shaped growths may appear on the outside of the lips or on the oral mucosa. Their surface is smooth, oval or round in shape. The color of the growth resembles the color of the skin and almost does not rise above it. The location is also the red border of the lips. Flat warts do not hurt, but they are very itchy.

Hanging neoplasms are located on a thin stalk. At the beginning of development they resemble a bump. They have a brown, pinkish tint or close to the color of the skin.

Filiform (acrochords). These are small growths that appear after 35 years, but can occur earlier.

Genital warts . The localization of such growths is the mucous membrane. The new growths are elongated and arranged in groups, resembling a cockscomb or cauliflower inflorescences. The growths are prone to injury, which causes inflammation and bleeding.

The wart forms gradually and almost imperceptibly.

At the beginning of development, a small compaction forms, which gradually increases.
A white dot forms on the surface of the mucous membrane of the lip or in the mouth, which gradually turns into genital warts.

To date, approximately one hundred types of papillomavirus have been discovered.

Some types of growths have a benign course, while others are capable of malignancy.

They can provoke the development of cancer.

In addition to the types of growths listed above, there are also senile warts (keratoma, keratosis).

The difference between keratosis is that its appearance is not associated with papillomavirus, and keratoma does not provoke the formation of cancer.

In their development, senile warts go through several stages:

✓ brown spots appear, but the wart has not yet formed
✓ formation of papules and nodules
✓ appearance of keratoma - when you try to scrape off the scales, bleeding appears
✓ transition to the cutaneous horn, which is characterized by excessive growth and keratinization of the neoplasm

According to some experts, keratosis and senile warts belong to different diseases.

Methods for removing papillomas: which is better and safer

The choice of method for removing papillomas depends on the type, shape and size of the growths. If they are minor, a medicinal form of therapy is possible, expressed in the use of topical medications. In other situations, surgical intervention or the use of gentle, minimally invasive methods may be required, including cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, and laser destruction. Additionally, the use of antiviral drugs, as well as drugs that stimulate an increase in the body's resistance, is recommended.

Removal of papillomas with laser, advantages

The laser destruction method of growths is positioned as gentle. The use of this method eliminates most complications, guarantees a high result, and has a minimum of contraindications. The undeniable advantages of laser therapy are:

Sterility. This implies that there is no risk of infection of the treated area.
Minimum level of injury due to the direction of the laser beam. This technique completely eliminates the effect of the laser on healthy tissues and mucous membranes.
Possibility of removing large tumors, as well as those located on mucous tissues, intimate areas, and the oral cavity.

It is inappropriate to use laser therapy only in a number of cases where there is a risk of malignancy, that is, degeneration into a malignant form. This is due to the fact that during the procedure, pathogenic tissues are evaporated, which eliminates the possibility of conducting a histological examination of biological materials.

Preparing for the papillomas removal procedure

Two weeks before the procedure, the patient is advised to avoid visiting the solarium, being in direct sunlight, and taking baths with medicinal preparations. It is also important to apply a cream to the skin that protects from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and avoid visiting the sauna or bathhouse. It is mandatory to undergo a medical examination and consult a dermatologist and oncologist.

Laser removal of papillomas on the face

If cosmetic imperfections appear on the skin of the face, it is recommended to use pulsed or erbium laser systems. These methods are distinguished by their gentle action and high level of efficiency. The main advantage is that there is no risk of scarring on the treated area. If the growths are large, it is possible to repeat the session.

Laser removal of papilloma on the eyelid

When the tissue of the eyelids is damaged, as a rule, a pulsed laser device is used, which completely destroys the capillaries inside the formation, which completely eliminates the risk of re-growth. Due to the increased sensitivity of the affected area, the use of local anesthetics is required before starting the procedure.

Laser removal of papilloma on the lip

The mucous tissues of the lips also have increased sensitivity, which necessitates the use of anesthetics and the use of a pulse unit. Laser therapy allows you to get rid of pathological growths quickly and painlessly, eliminating the possibility of complications.

Removal of papilloma on the tongue with a laser

The process of treating the mucous tissues of the tongue with laser radiation is fully consistent with the methods of treating other areas. The only exception in this case is the rules of the rehabilitation period. So, to prevent discomfort, the patient is recommended to follow a gentle diet, excluding spicy foods and alcohol.

Removal of papillomas with laser on intimate places

Growths that appear on the skin and mucous tissues of the genital organs are called genital warts. The use of laser therapy in this case is considered as the most effective and relevant method. Exposure to radiation minimizes the risk of infection and pain. Additionally, it is necessary to take immunomodulatory and antiviral agents that help restore the body's immune forces.

Removal of papillomas on the body

The choice of laser therapy method for the appearance of growths on the body depends on their characteristics and location. If tumors are located in areas of increased sensitivity, it may be necessary to use local anesthetics to prevent pain. If the formations are numerous or especially large in size, the procedure may need to be repeated.

Radical treatment

There are also a number of more radical methods for treating warts on the lips, which are prescribed in severe cases:

The essence of the procedure, called cryodestruction, is to freeze warts using liquid nitrogen. This method can remove a wart growth if there are no deep roots. Nitrogen is applied to the wart using a special applicator.
The duration of the cauterization procedure is from 10 to 30 seconds. After which a small bubble appears at the site of the wart, and over time it dries out. Next, a small crust forms, which disappears on its own within 7 days.
When performing electrocoagulation, high-frequency current is used. The essence of the method is that the wart is cut off using a loop made using thin wire. The whole process is accompanied by exposure to high-frequency current. During surgery, the capillaries are “sealed”, so the procedure is not accompanied by bleeding.
Next, a crust forms at the site of the wart, which disappears after 7 days. The disadvantage of this method is that the procedure may result in scarring.
The best modern remedy that will help remove a wart on the lip is laser therapy. The entire process takes place using local anesthesia. After the procedure, a small depression may remain, which gradually levels out without leaving any trace in the future.
Laser beam treatment has a number of advantages over other methods of getting rid of warts:
there is no need to repeat the procedure. In most cases, excellent results are achieved after the first procedure;

Thanks to the use of local anesthesia, there is no pain during the operation;

As a result of laser use, scars do not form;
The laser removes the root of the wart.

Surgical removal of a wart is quite radical. Doctors resort to this method of getting rid of formations in advanced stages of the disease, when there are growths of significant size, which are excised during the operation and cosmetic sutures are applied.

Removing tumors using chemical methods is ineffective. Therefore, doctors rarely use this method. The essence of the method is that a special caustic substance is applied to the wart. Significant disadvantages are pain and the threat of damage to healthy tissue that surrounds the wart.

Laser removal of papillomas: actions after the procedure

After the papillomas removal procedure, the patient must follow some rules for caring for the treated areas:

For several days after invasive intervention, it is important to prevent moisture from entering the treated area.
You must avoid visiting the solarium and natural tanning for a month. When going outside, be sure to use sunscreen.
You cannot visit the sauna, bathhouse, or swimming pools for two weeks.
If necessary, it is recommended to treat wounds with drugs that promote healing. When choosing, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
When treating facial skin, it is important to avoid caring and decorative cosmetics.

In some cases, the patient may be recommended additional skin care measures.

The main causes of papillomas on the lips in children

The main cause of papillomas on a child’s lips is HPV. Infection with papillomavirus does not always manifest itself in the form of growths on the lips. This is, as a rule, an unpredictable process: for a long time, HPV can remain latent in the child’s blood and become active only under favorable conditions for the pathogen.

The latter should be understood as a weakened immune system, long-term use of antibiotics, hypothermia, nervous strain, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances and other factors.

In the case of children, the pathogen is transmitted through contact and household contact - in places with large crowds of people (swimming pools, gyms, schools, kindergartens), as well as through failure to comply with personal hygiene rules (using someone else's dishes, hygiene supplies). Less commonly, the virus is transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.

After infection with HPV, quite a long time must pass before papillomas appear on the child’s lips. Usually - from several months to several years. As a rule, the first symptoms of the disease appear six months after infection.

In general, the speed of manifestation of the disease depends on the general immune response of the child’s body - the stronger it is, the less likely it is that growths will appear on the body.

It is worth remembering that it is impossible to completely protect a child from HPV. Today in the world, according to various sources, this pathogen is present in the blood of 90% of the population. Therefore, the risk of infection is very high.

Photos before and after laser removal of papilloma

To assess the effectiveness of laser therapy, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with photos that clearly demonstrate the results of its implementation.

Is it dangerous to treat papillomas at home?

If there is no risk of malignancy and the size of the tumors is small, the procedure can be carried out at home using self-prepared products. However, before starting treatment, you need to consult a doctor to eliminate the risk of malignant growths.

How to remove papillomas with tea tree oil

The easiest way to use the oil is as follows: first, make a hole in the patch and stick it on the growth in such a way as to protect healthy tissue. It is necessary to treat the tumor no more than three times a day using a cotton swab. It is necessary to carry out procedures until the problem disappears completely.

How to remove papillomas using walnuts and kerosene

A medicinal tincture is prepared using kerosene and green walnuts, through which the affected areas are treated. To prepare it, the above ingredients should be mixed in equal proportions and then left to infuse for three weeks. Warts must be treated at least three times a day until they disappear completely.

How to get rid of a wart on the lip

Modern medicine offers many ways to solve the problem with growths. All methods of treating warts can be divided into the following groups:

Medicines that act on affected tissues. Cauterization, freezing, drying, gradual dissolution - all of these methods allow you to complete the treatment of a wart in a few days.
Medicines that act on the virus in the body. A decrease in HPV activity leads to a decrease in the chance of reappearance of papillomas and facilitates the treatment of existing ones. Such drugs are prescribed in combination with medications to get rid of the formations themselves.
Hardware procedures. Some people wonder whether it is possible to remove a papilloma in one or two days. This task is accomplished by a laser, liquid nitrogen, a radio wave knife and high-frequency electric current. The disadvantage of hardware procedures is the high price compared to drug treatment.
Traditional medicine is included in a separate group. Various compositions have a drying effect on the neoplasm tissue or cauterize it. Using folk remedies, you can treat common warts in a few days.

Laser therapy

During a procedure using a laser, damaged tissue is burned out with a directed beam of light. The doctor controls the depth of penetration of the laser beam, cutting off the formation tissue layer by layer. The following advantages speak in favor of the decision to remove a wart on the lip using this procedure:

The method of performing the operation allows you to get rid of virus-affected tissues layer by layer without harming the surrounding healthy skin.
Using a laser, you can remove a tumor on any part of the body, even on the lip, since there will be no scars.
The laser beam not only removes the papilloma, but also cauterizes the resulting wound. There is no need to worry about bleeding or infection.
The recovery period after surgery is several days.

Laser may not be suitable for everyone. The use of this method is prohibited for certain diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, herpes and some chronic diseases.

Medication

Among cauterizing medications, phenol-based products are popular. With their help, you can remove ordinary papillomas and flat tumors on the skin of the lips. An example of this kind of remedy is Verrucacid for warts, consisting of phenol and metacresol. This remedy is best used under the supervision of a doctor to avoid possible complications. Before using the drug, you need to lubricate the skin around the tumors with a thick cream or zinc ointment, then carefully treat the tumor with a cotton swab dipped in the product. As a rule, one or two procedures are enough for a crust to form at the site of the papilloma. It will fall off on its own within a week. The disadvantage of such medications is that they cannot be used to treat mucous membranes.

In this case, it is better to focus on antiviral therapy, which is carried out using interferon drugs. They may come in the form of tablets or ointments. One of the most popular remedies is Viferon ointment. This drug must be applied to the tumors several times a day. It can be used to combat condylomas in the oral cavity. The components of the drug suppress the activity of the virus, which prevents an increase in the size and number of growths. If you do not injure such warts, then after a week or two of treatment they will dry out and fall off on their own.

Electrocoagulation

This method of removing warts is based on the influence of high frequency electric current, which burns out the nerve tissue of the wart. Because of this, the nutrition of the wart cells stops, and it disappears quite quickly. This treatment can only be used for those warts that are located on the surface of the skin of the lips. If the tumor is “rooted” deep under the skin, you will need to choose a different treatment method.

Cryotherapy

This is one of the most effective methods with a minimum of contraindications. Wart removal is carried out using liquid nitrogen, which is applied using a special applicator. This method cannot be used if you are intolerant to cold. After burning off the growth with cold, a crust forms in its place, which disappears on its own after a few days.

Surgical

This type of treatment is becoming less and less popular due to the large number of complications and long recovery period. At the site of the wart, a wound remains, which can easily become infected. In addition, scarring is common after tumor removal. For these reasons, fighting papillomas in this way is not recommended and is used only as a last resort, when it is necessary to remove a malignant neoplasm, but the patient does not have the money for hardware procedures.

Folk remedies

Some people experience warts quite often. Therefore, they know how to remove neoplasms that have appeared on the face once again at home. For this use:

Oils. Tea tree oil has a drying effect. Castor oil not only dries out the growth, facilitating its removal, but also prevents the re-formation of papillomas.
Iodine and acetic acid. These products are used to precisely lubricate tumors.
The juice of some plants, for example, celandine or garlic. They also lubricate problem areas several times a day.

It is important to remember that in this way you can get rid of papillomas and flat warts located on the outside of the lips. In no case should you use all of the above means to remove tumors on the mucous membrane of the mouth, since such experiments are fraught with burns or poisoning.

Before removing a wart, you need to make sure that it does not hurt or bleed, since these signs indicate that the growth may be of poor quality. And malignant growths can only be removed in a clinical setting.