plantar warts, or spike, looks like a flat formation that is hard to touch on the skin of the foot, which rises slightly above the level of the skin. This type of wart refers to an epithelial tumor, which is benign, and diagnosis, as a rule, does not cause difficulties - the main method is dermatoscopy. The doctor, using a special device, visually determines the nature of the new formation. Warts can occur anywhere on the feet, but usually they form on the balls of the toes, heels, that is, in places with the greatest pressure. The photo clearly shows the appearance of plantar warts, its appearance is rather specific and usually does not cast doubt on the diagnosis. The formation has an unpleasant dirty brown or yellow color, characteristic of rough visible papules that destroy the papillary pattern.
Since the formation is located on the foot, this can cause pain and injury to the wart itself. For these reasons, thorns need to be treated, although there is a small chance that plantar warts will go away on their own without serious treatment.
Unfortunately, it is still not easy to get rid of warts, so it is recommended to consult a dermatologist to reduce the risk of infecting others, as well as reduce the time of treatment of the disease. The use of folk remedies exclusively and independent attempts to get rid of tumors is undesirable. Plantar warts have deep roots, which are almost impossible to remove on their own, so recurrence occurs. Folk remedies often severely injure the surrounding tissue, which can lead to an increase in the area of damage and unpleasant consequences in the form of burns and scars.
symptoms
If you suspect a neoplasm, you should not only know the appearance of plantar warts in the photo, but also remember that the disease has characteristic symptoms:
- significant itching at the site of formation;
- the size of the warts is from a few millimeters to 2 centimeters;
- unlike corn, warts bring pain;
- bleeding when injured;
- pain when walking.
If you experience similar symptoms, call your doctor right away. It is easier to prevent disease than to deal with its consequences.
Causes of plantar warts
Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the feet. The main route of transmission is contact, infection occurs through common objects or directly from person to person. The pleasant environment is warmth and humidity, so it is important to take precautions when visiting baths, swimming pools, saunas and gyms.
The cause of the occurrence can also be a weakened immune system, because under normal circumstances human papillomavirus does not give visible manifestations.
This type of warts can also occur with epidermal microtrauma, dry skin, wearing tight uncomfortable shoes, hyperhidrosis. Also, the cause of warts on the feet can be diseases that lead to deformities of the feet - arthritis of the joints, osteoarthritis, flat feet, as well as diseases that lead to violation of the integrity of the skin of the feet: diabetes mellitus, varicose veins. Keep in mind that frequent stress can indirectly affect the incidence of this disease.
HPV can be acquired inadvertently during normal barefoot walking on an infected surface, the virus can live up to several months without a direct carrier. After entering the body, it may not be noticeable for days or even weeks, which is why it is not always possible to know exactly when the infection is.
Diagnostics
To determine how to treat plantar warts, dermatologists conduct several studies:
- general inspection;
- dermatoscopy;
- diagnostic PCR;
- histological examination.
How to cure plantar warts
When plantar warts appear, the question arises as to how to cure these neoplasms. When the tumor causes excessive discomfort and spreads quickly, the best way out is to contact a dermatologist as soon as possible, he or she will choose the most appropriate treatment option. There are several ways to solve this problem.
The most radical is surgery: the warts and their roots are removed surgically. This method is not the most effective, because the root of the neoplasm is located in the inner layer of the skin. In some cases, it is not possible to remove it completely.
Wart removal can be done using laser and electrocoagulation, as well as using cryotherapy.
In addition to removal in medical institutions, plantar warts can be removed by less radical methods, such as ointments, solutions, special patches, as well as folk remedies. This method of getting rid of plantar warts has several advantages and disadvantages, the main one being the long treatment time.
Removal of plantar warts
One of the most common ways to get rid of plantar warts is to remove them at a specialized medical institution. The dermatologist at the appointment should tell you in detail how to get rid of plantar warts, and, based on the results of the examination, choose the most appropriate method. Despite the fact that the spine is difficult to cure, there is no specific specific way to get rid of it; all relevant methods in the treatment of other types of warts are used. Plantar wart removal can be done on an outpatient basis, but your doctor may prescribe a remedy to help you remove the tumor at home.
Surgical removal of warts
Along with other treatment methods, surgical intervention is used to get rid of the warts. Warts are scraped with a special scalpel under local anesthesia. After this procedure, if the plantar warts are large in size, sutures are placed under the skin, which are removed within one to two weeks. The wound site was treated with a disinfectant solution and an aseptic bandage was applied. There are usually small scars at the disposal site.
The difficulty of this method is that the doctor must remove all the roots during the operation, otherwise the plantar warts will reappear. Therefore, this method is used today only if all other treatment methods are ineffective.
Removal with liquid nitrogen
Removal with liquid nitrogen involves exposing the neoplasm to very low temperatures, this is the most common modern and fastest way to treat plantar warts.
This method is based on the freezing of the formation tissue itself. In fact, in wart cells, under the influence of a very low temperature of -196 degrees Celsius, rupture occurs, which leads to the death of the wart.
Cryodestruction is performed manually or with hardware. If large warts or procedures are performed on children, then it is necessary to use local anesthesia.
The time of direct exposure to liquid nitrogen is up to 30 seconds. After the first cauterization, the physician should pause to assess the effectiveness of the effect and the need for re -cauterization.
After freezing, bubbles with colorless or reddish liquid form at the site of the wart, which indicates the beginning of the inflammatory process. This is a common response to cauterization procedures.
Cryosurgery is considered painless, but in the treatment of plantar warts, it must be repeated several times to achieve the final effect. After the warts fall off, no scars remain.
The advantages of liquid nitrogen removal are:
- freezing eliminates further spread of the disease to nearby skin;
- lack of special training;
- short duration of the procedure;
- the risk of developing scars or scarring is minimal.
The disadvantages of plantar wart cryodestruction are:
- the need for a second course with a large area of damage or because of the size of the wart;
- human factor - the professionalism of the doctor who performs this procedure is a guarantee of success. Physicians must properly assess the timing and level of nitrogen exposure to tissues, otherwise burns may occur;
- the discomfort brought on by a swollen bladder, and the need to process it, are also considered disadvantages of the method.
In general, feedback on the treatment of plantar warts by cauterization with liquid nitrogen has been positive, as this is the simplest, most effective and affordable method.
Laser removal
Laser removal is considered to be one of the most effective and safe methods. After laser treatment, the warts are no longer contagious. The procedure itself is painless, a special nozzle is built into the laser, which cools the impact site. In addition, one or more anesthetic injections are given prior to surgery. Patients usually feel a slight tingling sensation during the procedure. After removal of the neoplasm, there is no permanent effect, as the laser burns directly the diseased tissue. The laser method allows maximum control of the depth of exposure, which is individual in each case. Therefore, even with deep tissue wounds, it is possible to completely remove the roots, which means preventing the regrowth of warts.
The operation takes place under sterile conditions, there is no direct contact with the skin or warts, and the duration of the operation is only a few minutes. The positive results of plantar wart removal with laser also make this method the most attractive.
The main disadvantage of laser plantar wart removal is the high cost, which usually includes a doctor’s consultation, anesthesia, and the surgery itself. In addition, the wound after removal heals for a long time and requires compliance with hygiene rules.
Plantar Warts Treatment
Before treating plantar warts, you need to make sure that the diagnosis is accurate and then proceed to the procedure. In addition to surgery, your doctor may prescribe immunotherapy and topical medications.
The need for immunotherapy, as a rule, is justified, because the disease is caused by a virus, which is actively developing in a weakened state of the body. Topical immunotherapy directly affects the virus in two ways. In the first case, the drug stimulates the immune system, and in the second, antigen is injected into the body of the wart, which also activates the immune system, so that the warts can disappear faster.
Treatment of plantar warts takes quite a long time, it is important not to forget to strengthen the immune system and maintain hygiene. If removal and treatment are not used, then the warts can go away on their own for more than a year, while the person is a source of infection for everyone around. You should carefully consider this unpleasant disease and be sure to contact a dermatologist who will surely tell you how and how to treat plantar warts.
Treatment of plantar warts directly depends on compliance with all hygiene standards and doctor's prescription; daily treatment of the formation is a guarantee of successful recovery.
Treatment at home
Any new formation on the skin cannot be ignored, as cancer tensions are increasing around the world. Do not neglect an appointment with a specialist, he can prescribe treatment of plantar warts at home. In these cases, special solutions, ointments, and wart spots are usually prescribed.
Ointment is one of the lightest methods of treatment, it acts on the wart itself, as a result of which it gradually dies and disappears. The following types of ointments are used in treatment:
- antivirus ointment;
- acid -based ointments;
- various ointments based on herbal medicine.
Any type of ointment is applied according to the directions on the warts several times a day according to the instructions. When treating plantar warts, before using the drug, it must first be steamed in warm water. It is advisable to use any ointment at night so that you do not have to step on the formation and wash off the ointment.
To get rid of plantar warts at home, you can use a special patch based on salicylic acid. This tool has a low cost and proven effectiveness. The patch is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, the principle of its use is very simple - the wart is sealed with a piece of patch, and a regular medical patch is installed on top. You need to change patches at regular intervals. It may take about two weeks to remove small warts, and you should not leave warts without spots for long. When treatment is continued, the wart area is reduced, after 12 hours it is covered with a crust, which then disappears. After a successful treatment, small pink spots remain on the skin, which should disappear completely with time.
When using the patch, care must be taken - when applying, healthy areas of skin should be avoided, otherwise severe irritation may occur. There are contraindications to the use of this method of removing warts, so the decision to prescribe a patch should be made by a doctor.
Another way to treat plantar warts at home is hyperthermia. Feet affected by warts are soaked in the hottest water. Such a procedure is repeated several times. In some cases, hyperthermia shows a positive effect. The mechanism of the procedure is based on the excitation of small blood vessels in the legs and the activation of local immunity.
At home, you can use treatment with low temperatures by analogy with the removal of warts with liquid nitrogen. To do this, you can use a pen-applicator or a special spray. As with cryosurgery, multiple applications may be required.
Treatment with folk remedies
Despite the fact that modern medicines are much more effective and with its help the process of getting rid of plantar warts is faster, the effectiveness of treatment with folk remedies is undeniable. Traditional medicine has accumulated extensive experience in combating warts, and some methods remain effective.
- Celandine juice is one of the most popular ways to get rid of thorns. You can use fresh plant juices or buy medicines at pharmacies that contain, in addition to celandine juice, other herbal extracts. The juice is applied once or twice a day to the affected area.
- Acetic acid, along with various supplement products, is also used to get rid of warts. In addition to acids, onions and flour are used. You can drip directly and the acid itself on the affected area, but this method is quite dangerous because of the high risk of severe burns.
- Apple cider vinegar: a smear soaked in a solution (important not to use undiluted vinegar) is rubbed on the affected skin area, the skin area is first treated with a coarse nail file.
- Garlic is another folk remedy for treating warts. Raw garlic should be rubbed on the formation until it is completely gone, but this method can be used no more than three weeks.
- Banana peel is rubbed with the inside into the affected skin area, believed to be able to stretch the warts.
To paint the site of the lesion and not affect the adjacent tissue, you can use a piece of adhesive tape. Holes are made in it according to the size of the neoplasm, and the adjacent healthy skin remains intact. This prevents burns and other injuries.
Plantar warts in children
With age, a person develops immunity to HPV, so children and young people are more susceptible to this infection. Most often, the disease affects children older than five years. A doctor will help identify plantar warts in children, because in some cases it may resemble old corn.
Although plantar warts in children disappear on their own, their treatment should not be ignored, it is also worth keeping in mind the possibility of infecting the whole family and people around them. Plantar warts in children almost always cause severe painful discomfort when walking, therefore, it requires immediate treatment and a visit to the doctor.
Because children are sensitive to pain, it is quite difficult to find therapy. For starters, it is worth using a variety of ointments - they are affordable, easy to use and effective. Folk remedies are also widely used, its safety can not be doubted.
Effective methods to get rid of plantar warts in children are liquid nitrogen and laser removal. Removing warts using this method is one of the most radical methods. They are used in cases when solutions and ointments do not have the desired effect.
After treatment, it is important not to forget about the prevention of plantar warts in children. This strengthens the immune system, maintains hygiene and wears comfortable shoes. It should be remembered that the risk of infection is very high in public places and from others, so you need to make sure that the child does not walk in other people’s shoes or barefoot. Any objects in direct contact with the formation must be washed thoroughly at high temperatures. All these actions will help prevent the development of the virus in the future.
danger
If the procedure to get rid of plantar warts is not carried out in a timely manner, this can lead to serious consequences, such as:
- the appearance of warts in other areas of the skin;
- skin cancer.
Doctors strongly advise not to self -medicate - cutting, piercing or burning the warts will worsen the condition and lead to the formation of new warts.
Risk groups
The risk groups are:
- people with hormonal disorders in the body;
- infected with HIV.
Prevention
For the prevention of plantar warts, patients are recommended:
- strengthen immunity;
- eat more vitamin -rich foods;
- take care of the skin of the feet properly;
- do not wear tight shoes, shoes made of synthetic materials;
- in public places (dressing rooms, bathrooms) do not walk barefoot.