Human papillomavirus - which HPV treatment is effective?

Oxolinic ointment for papillomas is quite popular among residents of the CIS countries. Let's look at whether this drug is really an effective treatment for viral skin diseases and how justified its use is.

Oxolinic ointment is a popular antiviral agent, but its effectiveness has not been proven

Let us consider the properties of the drug in more detail.

Mechanism of action

The instructions for use indicate that oxolin has antiviral properties. It blocks the entry points of viral particles in cell membranes, thereby preventing them from entering cells.

According to the developers, the drug is effective against:

• influenza viruses;
• adenoviruses;
• herpes virus;
• human papilloma virus.

When the product is applied to the skin, 5% of the active substance is absorbed, and when applied to the mucous membranes - 3%.

Oxolin does not accumulate in the human body; a small amount of it ingested when using the ointment is excreted primarily by the kidneys within 24 hours from the moment of use.

Application of the drug to intact skin and mucous membranes does not have a locally irritating or toxic resorptive effect.

The emergence of HPV

HPV is transmitted through sexual or household contact. It develops from squamous epithelium and has the external form of growths or warts.

In the world, more than half of the total population has this virus. They are divided into two groups:

• people who are carriers of HPV,
• those in whom it manifests itself in the form of papillomas on the mucous membranes and skin.

Complete recovery from the disease is impossible. There are no medical treatments against this virus. The huge number of infected people is pushing the scientific world towards an in-depth study of the problem, new research, and the development of new vaccines.

Due to the nature of the spread of the papilloma virus, no one in society is immune from infection. People use public household appliances; in large cities, contact occurs constantly in various areas. Therefore, even without having sexual intimacy with the carrier, you can acquire the disease.

Infection is possible with a normal handshake. Used, poorly processed equipment in gyms, unwashed dishes, poorly disinfected saunas and baths also serve to transmit the virus from the carrier.

It is also tragic that a newborn child can acquire the virus by passing through the mother’s infected birth canal. She doesn't even know she's infected.

The danger of HPV lies in the ability of papilloma to degenerate cells, developing into cancerous tumors.

HPV is transmitted through household objects

How to use

Depending on the purpose of the therapy, Oxolinic ointment can be used in different ways:

Composition and dosage forms

The ointment is a homogeneous viscous substance of yellowish or white color. Contains the active substance - oxolin. Its concentration in 1 g of the drug, depending on the purpose, is 0.25 or 3%.

The medicine is produced by the medical industry in two forms:

• in plastic or metal tubes weighing 10 and 30 g containing a 3% drug: for the treatment of skin;
• in tubes of 10 g containing ointment at a concentration of 0.25%: for the treatment of mucous membranes.

The ointment base contains petroleum jelly or paraffin. During long-term storage, the product may acquire a pink tint, which does not affect its pharmacological properties.

Side effects and contraindications

The only contraindication to the use of Oxolinic ointment is individual intolerance to the main active ingredient, that is, to oxolinum.

If the product is applied to areas of the skin or mucous membranes with impaired integrity, the patient may experience symptoms of local tissue irritation (swelling, burning, redness, itching).

Considering that oxolin does not accumulate in the body and is excreted by the kidneys within 24 hours, the ointment can be used in pediatric practice, as well as used by pregnant and lactating women. The drug can be prescribed to persons whose work requires increased concentration, for example, drivers of vehicles, dispatchers.

Indications

The main indication of oxolinic ointment is the prevention of infection with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in case of probable contacts with sick people or during seasonal epidemics.

The medicine has proven itself in the complex treatment of the following infections:

• viral rhinitis, acute respiratory infections;
• inflammation of the eyelid mucosa, keratitis, conjunctivitis;
• skin warts;
• scaly, herpes zoster and vesicular lichen;
• Dühring's dermatitis;
• molluscum contagiosum;
• stomatitis of herpes origin.

The therapeutic effect of the ointment is most pronounced in the initial stages of the disease.

Doctor's view

Oxolinic ointment was registered as a medicine intended to combat a number of viral diseases in 1970. However, the drug is still used only in Russia and post-Soviet countries. It was not distributed abroad.

Currently, most doctors are quite skeptical about oxolin. Its therapeutic effectiveness has not been proven, since no randomized comparative trials have been conducted.

It is not recommended to try to get rid of papillomas on your own using Oxolinic ointment due to the possible malignancy of the tumor. Human papillomaviruses have oncogenic properties, and a wart that is quite harmless at first glance can transform into a malignant tumor. This is greatly facilitated by attempts at self-medication, accompanied by injury to the surface of skin growths.

If papillomas appear on the skin or mucous membranes, a person is advised to seek medical help from a dermatologist or oncologist. The doctor will conduct the necessary examination and recommend the most optimal way to remove the formation in each specific case. The following methods are most often used in clinical practice:

• electrocoagulation;
• laser removal;
• radio knife;
• cryosurgery;
• traditional removal with a scalpel.

The patient is necessarily prescribed a course of treatment with modern antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs with proven effectiveness, which helps to significantly reduce the risk of relapse of the disease.

Analogues of oxolinic ointment for the treatment of papillomas

The pharmacological industry produces a number of drugs that are analogues of the drug in question. To combat viral infections (including HPV) use:

• Acigerpin;
• Amiksin;
• Herperax;
• Virolex.

Despite the absence of oxolin in their composition, the mechanism of action on pathogenic microorganisms is similar. They are produced in different forms: gels, ointments, tablets, but are characterized by high efficiency.

What are papillomas

Papillomas (warts) are benign neoplasms arising from epithelial cells of the skin or mucous membranes. Warts localized on the mucous membranes of the genital organs are called condylomas.

Papillomas are caused by infection of the human body with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The source of infection is virus carriers and sick people.

The virus enters the body through any damage to the skin or mucous membranes and infects epithelial cells. It remains in them for a long time without causing clinical manifestations of the disease.

When the immune system is weakened, HPV begins to actively multiply. The accumulation of a sufficiently large number of viral copies in infected cells is accompanied by an acceleration of mitosis, which causes the appearance of growths on the skin and mucous membranes.

How is papillomas removed?

In our clinic, papillomas are removed using radio wave surgery. Just watch this short video and many questions will disappear by themselves.

The papilloma is fixed with special tweezers, after which a loop-shaped instrument is cut off from the skin at the base. At the moment of contact with the skin, a high-frequency radio wave is concentrated at the end of the instrument, which evaporates papilloma cells and at the same time “glues” blood vessels together. As a rule, anesthesia is not required for this procedure - the pain is comparable to epilation with tweezers. In rare cases, pain relief is performed with EMLA cream.

Are papillomas dangerous?

Currently, over 100 strains of human papillomaviruses have been described. Some of them are highly oncogenic, that is, they can provoke the development of a malignant tumor. Therefore, if epithelial growths form, the patient should definitely consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination.

Treatment of papillomas should be prescribed by a doctor

Like any benign tumor, papillomas can transform into a malignant tumor over time. The following factors can provoke this:

• exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
• permanent injury to the tumor.

In addition, warts located on exposed parts of the body cause significant cosmetic discomfort to patients, and condylomas can cause psychological problems in the intimate sphere of life.

How to get rid of papillomas?

There are only two main methods of treating papillomas

1. The simplest and most effective method of treatment is the removal of papillomas using various methods ( laser, radio wave surgery, electrocoagulation
   , etc.). In most cases, a one-time complete removal of papillomas from the entire body is sufficient. I will tell you in more detail about how papillomas are removed using radio wave surgery in our clinic below.
2. Removing papillomas at home
   has recently become a very popular method . Most often, this happens with the help of two types of drugs - acid solutions with names like “Super Celandine” and a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane (the popular drug “Cryopharma”). I can’t say anything about the effectiveness of these two methods, because... I have never removed papillomas this way.

IMPORTANT!!!!

Please do not diagnose yourself with papilloma based on research on the Internet. Before using the above drugs, you should always see an oncologist and make sure that what you are going to remove at home is really a papilloma. If the diagnosis is made incorrectly and any of these liquids are applied to the pigmented nevus, the consequences can be extremely sad.

Reviews

Irina, 35 years old, Samara. “For a long time I couldn’t find anything suitable for papilloma on my neck, although I tried a lot. On the advice of a friend, I tried oxolin and within a week the papillomas fell off. I recommend!" Oksana, 24 years old, Novosibirsk. “I read on the forum that oxolinic ointment helps with growths. There were 2 papillomas under the arm. I applied oxolin for a week, nothing changed. Then she began to apply iodine every 4 hours. On day 5, the skin became clear.” Marina, 32 years old, Tver. “Oxolinka 3% got rid of a wart on my palm. I just treated it with ointment 4 times a day and that’s it. I didn’t take any other pills. The effect was 100% after a week.” Evgeniy, 28 years old, Moscow. “I applied oxolinic ointment for papilloma in the groin. The result was great! I applied it for 2 weeks. And yet, after 2 weeks the growths completely disappeared. It's been three months now and nothing has returned. Satisfied - cheap and cheerful."

Veronica, 30 years old, Khimki.
“I don’t believe that papillomas from oxolinic ointment disappear after 1–2 weeks. I smeared mine, but didn’t see any benefit. Verrucacid helped me. Everything fell away in four days.” Katyusha, 19 years old, Novosibirsk. “I applied oxolinic ointment to a wart on my leg. It stung a little, but after 12 days it completely disappeared. Just first you need to steam your leg. The downside is that it’s hard to find 3% ointment.” Reviews from doctors indicate the good effectiveness of oxolinic ointment in the treatment of papilloma. They also note the disappearance of elements without a trace after just 2 weeks. The disadvantages include the duration of treatment compared to radical methods.

Signs and characteristics of human papillomavirus infection

The virus has high oncogenicity - the ability, by changing the cells of the body, to increase the formation of a malignant tumor. HPV has several strains that develop in certain organs and manifest themselves in different ways. Some form ordinary warts on the skin and intimate places. Others are detected in the respiratory tract, head, and neck.

Signs of infection:

• formation of warts and papillomas,
• development of condylomas.

These spiky, slightly lighter pink formations are grouped several at a time into shapes similar to cauliflower inflorescences or a cockscomb. Treatment of HPV of this type must be done in every possible way to prevent the cells from degenerating into cancerous ones.

In women and men, the disease is expressed in a special way. In the female body, the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs is affected faster and more often. Located in the uterine cavity, the virus causes bleeding and infertility.

It is allowed to treat intimate parts with oxolinic ointment. Men, for the most part, suffer from lesions of the rectal mucosa.

Condylomas grow in clusters

Instructions for use

Medicine with oxoline effectively fights many diseases caused by viruses. The cream is used in the treatment of chickenpox, flu, lichen, herpes and papillomas. With regular therapy, the effect of the virus gradually subsides and the source of infection is eliminated.

The cream can be used in the following way:

• The ointment is applied in a thin layer to the papilloma. Movements should be light and circular. If desired, a small gauze bandage can be applied to the lubricated area of ​​the epidermis.
• The product is applied three times a day for at least two weeks. Treatment must be continued until a positive result is noticeable. If after two months the papilloma has not disappeared from the surface of the skin, it is necessary to use other methods of therapy.
• If a slight burning sensation is felt when applying condylomas, the ointment can be mixed with a small amount of Vaseline.

Store oxoline-based cream in the refrigerator with the lid tightly screwed on. Do not use the ointment if it has been stored improperly and after the expiration date.

What are the benefits of the ointment?

The composition of the ointment is quite simple, so contraindications are minimized, but the positive properties are brought to the possible maximum:

1. Affordable price.
2. High efficiency.
3. Versatility.
4. Low allergenicity.

This ointment not only helps get rid of unpleasant growths on the skin, but is also widely used as a means of preventing airborne viral diseases. It can easily be used to treat the nasal mucosa during flu quarantine.

An important advantage of the product is the possibility of use during pregnancy, since oxolin does not affect the health of the young mother and baby. Children from two years of age are also advised to use oxolin-containing ointments.

Despite the many advantages of this remedy in the fight against papillomas, it is still better to consult a doctor before using it. Those who use this drug for any skin tumors are making a big mistake. Look-alike growths can be of a different nature, so it is important to make sure that you have a regular papilloma, and only then can you decide to use oxolinic ointment to treat it.

Sometimes, to effectively remove papillomas, you need more complex drug treatment, which can only be prescribed by a qualified doctor after a thorough examination.

Overdose and interaction with other drugs

Oxolinic ointment has a low degree of absorption, so an overdose from it when treating warts is unlikely. In patients with hypersensitivity to oxolin, excessive use of the drug can trigger the development of allergies. If unwanted symptoms occur, a person needs to monitor his body. If the allergic reaction gets worse, he needs to visit a dermatologist or allergist.

Oxolin does not interact with other medications. The product is not recommended to be combined with cosmetic creams and gels, as they can reduce its antiviral properties.

pros

Oxolinic ointment received a patent in the former USSR more than 30 years ago. The ointment is little known abroad, since its effectiveness has not been proven.

Price

The cost of oxolinic ointment is very low compared to other drugs for removing papillomas. Also, the ointment is much cheaper than operations performed to remove growths.

Efficiency

The product can not only reduce the tumor in size, but also completely remove it from the skin. This is typical for growths caused by different strains of HPV.

Safety

The active components of the ointment are not dangerous and do not enter the bloodstream when absorbed into the skin. Therefore, the drug is approved for use by pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those who suffer from chronic diseases.

Painless

Contact of the drug with the skin can cause a slight burning sensation at the site of use.

Otherwise, after the growth disappears, no traces of neoplasm are visible in the affected area. The skin is clean, there are no scars or scars.

Where else is oxolin found?

The arsenal of drugs for the treatment of papillomas is very large and diverse. The most popular are 3 types of products:

1. Containing acids;
2. Based on plant extracts;
3. Possessing antibacterial action.

The latter are the most effective and gentle; ointments with the addition of oxoline belong to this group. There are quite a lot of similar drugs at the moment, but the cheapest and most effective is simple oxolinic ointment. It is also possible to treat papillomas with other drugs based on this substance.

Susceptibility to infection

The main favorable factor for the development of the disease and its active manifestation is a decrease in immunity. The body does not find the strength to produce the necessary antibodies to fight foreign manifestations. Contributing factors:

• weakening of the immune system,
• frequent stress,
• unhealthy diet,
• overwork, improper planning of the working day,
• failure and changes in hormonal levels, including pregnancy,
• impaired metabolism.

In a strong, strong body, papilloma does not survive. For early detection of the virus, it is necessary to undergo regular preventive examinations. There is a special test for HPV. It detects the concentration of viruses of a certain type.

Unhealthy food weakens immunity and gives the virus the opportunity to develop

Analogs

Level 4 ATC code matches:
Florenal

Oftalmoferon

Oksolin

Zirgan

Oftan I'm coming

Poludan

You can find many different drugs that have similar effects. Analogues of Oxolinic ointment 3 percent - Alpizarin , Atsigerpin , Vartek , Virolex , Amiksin , Gerperax , Vivorax , Zovirax and many others. At the same time, there are no medicines containing a similar active ingredient on the market.