plantar wart is a product on the skin of a viral nature, it is also called corn. From medical terms, it is clear that these formations are localized on the soles of the feet and toes. From a neoplastic risk point of view, it is not dangerous, but it causes a lot of inconvenience when walking due to its painful pressure.
Causes of plantar warts
All types of warts, including plantar warts, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). You can get it through close contact with infected people or through everyday life. The virus dies quickly from the sun's rays, but it feels good in high humidity. Therefore, HPV infection most often occurs in baths, saunas, and swimming pools. The penetration of the virus into the body is facilitated by micro-trauma and cracks in the skin, as well as reduced immunity.
With the strong protective properties of the body, the virus after infection can remain dormant for an indefinite period of time. But if the immunity decreases, then it begins to actively multiply, which leads to the appearance of warts of different localization on the skin. As for their incidence, subtypes 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57 of HPV are often responsible.
Several predisposing factors contribute to the appearance of such configurations:< / pixel >
- Shoes that are too narrow or not fit
- Wearing high heels too much;
- Various deformities of the foot (including flat feet);
- Various diseases of the joints of the foot (arthritis, arthritis, etc. ).
Warts on the leg are more common in people with excessively dry skin and hyperkeratosis.
Thus, the causes of plantar warts are the same in all cases (human papillomavirus infection), but the predisposing factors are different. The number and size of elements present on the skin depends on it and on the state of immunity.
How do plantar warts appear
The wart on the foot looks like a round growth of the skin. They can be of different sizes, but rarely exceed two centimeters in diameter. It rises no more than three millimeters above the level of the skin, but at the same time goes deep inside with its root. The color may not differ from the surrounding skin, and it may be darker or lighter. Often these formations have a yellow or gray color. Visually, when viewed inside the elements, black dots or lines are visible (also clearly visible in the photo). This is how capillaries look, where blood clots are formed, due to the pressure of blood vessels by the masses. < / pixel >
Initially, a plantar wart has a smooth surface. Over time, however, it becomes stiff, rough and thick. It is the corneal masses that give these warts their yellow color.
An important symptom of plantar warts is pain when pressed. Each step causes severe acute pain to the patient
These warts are very similar to plantar tissue. The similarity to the cornice is especially pronounced due to the intense pain of both formations. The main difference is that there is no cutaneous pattern on the surface of a wart, while it remains on the tissue.
Diagnosing plantar warts
A competent dermatologist will diagnose this disease on the basis of only one clinical picture. In some cases, additional dermatoscopy is required. This diagnosis confirms the absence of a cutaneous pattern on the formation and the presence of capillaries with blood clots in their structure.
treatment for plantar warts
It is difficult to get rid of plantar warts of similar formations in other areas due to their deep penetration into the dermis. In the case of small and newly formed items, external necrotic preparations may be used. Large and deep warts are removed surgically. At the same time, old formations must first be diluted with keratolytic agents.< / pixel >external preparations for removing warts
In some cases, self-destructing of these configurations is possible. However, since a plantar wart hurts so badly, patients do not want to wait and seek to get rid of it as soon as possible.
No treatment is prescribed for plantar warts with a necrotic effect to remove small and superficial elements.
These products contain skin protein coagulating acids, causing necrosis. Medicines containing refrigerant have a similar effect. But it causes necrotic effects through tissue freezing, not through chemical damage.
All these drugs are applied in a point form to the formation. It is necessary to strictly monitor that the substance does not fall on the surrounding tissues, as this will lead to a burn. After treatment, the wound will remain at the site of the previous wart, which will be covered with a crust. After healing, it will fall off on its own. You can perform such treatment at home, but only as directed by the doctor.In this way only plantar warts of small size and shallow penetration into the skin can be removed. For large items, you need to choose other methods of removal, since incomplete destruction of the wart tissue will definitely lead to its recurrence.
Surgical methods for removing plantar warts
There are different methods of removing a plantar wart in surgery. Better to use gentle techniques:
- Laser removal;
- Radio wave knife;
- cryodestruction;
- Electro-ironing.
All these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can literally go home a few minutes after finishing, and only need to treat the wound regularly at home.
The safest and most effective way to remove plantar warts is laser or radiofrequency ablation. When performed, the vessels coagulate instantly, which is a good prevention of bleeding and secondary infection. Complications when removing skin formations using these methods are extremely rare. The same cannot be said about cryodestruction and electrocoagulation, so these treatment methods have faded into the background and are rarely used.
If the warts are large or old (covered with a large amount of cornified lumps), it is recommended to treat them with keratolytic agents for two weeks before the removal procedure. For this purpose, salicylic ointment or acid and other drugs are prescribed. Thus, it is possible to exfoliate a portion of the corneal scales, to make the formations more smooth and elastic. This will make removing the wart easier and faster.
In rare cases, when there are many items or there are doubts about their nature, the doctor may advise surgical excision with a scalpel. With this method of wart removal, the rehabilitation period and high risk of scarring are much longer, so it is only used under strict indications.
Features of childhood plantar warts
Plantar warts are so common in children over the age of five that they often run barefoot, are infected and do not always follow personal hygiene rules. Immune dysfunction due to regular contact with sick children (in kindergartens and schools), which increases the likelihood of developing warts. < / pixel >It is better to start treating such formations in a child with external factors. You can try exfoliating shallow elements with salicylic ointment, followed by pumice. Immunomodulating drugs have proven to be good. When applied regularly to the wart, they can remove it in a few weeks.
If the items are deep, apply necrotic agents or remove them with a laser knife or radio wave.
prevention of plantar warts
It's completely impossible to protect yourself from warts, but you can reduce the risk of them occurring. To do this, you need to act in two directions: eliminating the predisposing factors and stimulating the body's defenses.
To achieve the first goal you need:
- Follow personal hygiene rules (do not walk barefoot in public places, wash your feet daily and treat cuts and injuries in a timely manner);
- Choose a comfortable fit
- Just in time to prevent foot deformities and treat joint diseases.
A healthy lifestyle, exercise, fortification, and taking vitamins and immunostimulating drugs as prescribed by the doctor help to maintain the body's defenses at a good level.
In the case of excessive dry skin and hyperkeratosis, regular pedicure and medical exfoliation is recommended. In case of excessive sweating of the legs, you need to use special means for treating hyperhidrosis. By following all these rules, the risk of developing a wart on the sole of the foot will be minimal.
Plantar warts are not a dangerous disease, but they cause a lot of inconvenience due to the pain when walking. Fortunately, there are many ways in modern medicine to get rid of it quickly and with the lowest risk of new relapses. To do this, you need to consult a dermatologist and strictly follow all appointments and recommendations.