Plantar warts (plantar warts) are benign neoplasms caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).They occur mainly in young people and do not represent a particular danger, since their degree of oncogenicity is very low.
But even so, to remove growths it is better to consult a dermatologist.Modern instrumental methods of wart excision are much more effective than banal celandine and even surgical intervention, but they are used exclusively as prescribed by the attending physician.
This therapy reduces the risk of recurrence of the pathological process to a minimum and also prevents the rooting and proliferation of skin tumors on the soles of the feet.
Causes
A wart is a skin tumor that is benign in nature.The appearance of the spine is caused by the penetration of the papilloma virus into the human body, of which there are about 100 varieties.
After entering the human body, HPV can take a long time to reveal itself, remaining in a “dormant” state.But as soon as favorable conditions are created, it becomes active and immediately begins to multiply, affecting first the soft tissues, and then the layers of the dermis, which sooner or later leads to the formation of warts.
The “dormant” state of HPV is due to:
- strong immunity;
- phagocytosis (a specific protective reaction that is activated when pathological agents penetrate the human body).
The risk of HPV infection depends on:
- the state in which the virus is in the body of an infected person;
- nature of the contact (direct/indirect);
- immunity status of the HPV carrier.
People with weak immune systems are more susceptible to papillomatosis.But other factors can also influence the formation of plantar warts:
- constant stress;
- overwork;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- body exhaustion;
- uncomfortable or tight shoes;
- wounds, scratches, ulcers on the surface of the skin of the feet.
HPV can enter the human body through:
- using towels or other items belonging to a virus carrier;
- handshake.
Factors that predispose to spine formation include:
- increased foot sweating;
- frequent contact with household chemicals (even if the washed clothes have been thoroughly rinsed);
- injuries leading to a violation of the integrity of the skin on the legs;
- corns, calluses;
- diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems;
- use non-sterile tools to care for your nails;
- visiting public baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches.
Human skin consists of several layers, which are:
- epidermis;
- dermis;
- subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Once in the human body, the papilloma virus infects the basal layer of the epidermis (skin) and begins to actively multiply.Cells affected by the papillomavirus gradually ascend through all layers of the epidermis, eventually locating in the stratum corneum of the epithelium.Thus, the skin becomes rough and keratinized, forming a wart.
Symptoms
The incubation period lasts differently for each person.On average, it varies from several weeks to six months.During this time, the number of cells infected with the virus increases rapidly.But since the DNA gene for the HPV type that causes plantar warts does not penetrate the cell nuclei, the risk of developing an oncological process is almost completely eliminated.
A plantar wart is a hard skin growth with clear boundaries and an oval or round shape.The size of the growth varies from 1-2 cm in diameter.The spine has a rod that penetrates deep into the layers of the dermis, and it is this that causes discomfort and pain when walking.It protrudes above the surface of the skin by approximately 1-3 cm.In this case, the neoplasm may have a normal color, or a light brown or pinkish hue.
At the initial stage of the formation of a skin bump, its surface is smooth, however, as it “matures”, it becomes coarser, becoming rough.Its hue becomes grayish-yellow and a crater-like depression may appear in the center.The appearance of brown dots on the surface of plantar warts is also considered a common occurrence.They appear as a result of the process of thrombosis of superficial capillaries that occurs in neoplastic tissues.
In most cases, plantar warts are single growths.However, in some situations, the formation of daughter spines is possible, which indicates excessive papillomavirus activity.A large number of neoplasms create a specific mosaic pattern in the area of the skin where they are located, which is why they are also called “mosaic warts”.
Sometimes the spine can go away on its own without the need for treatment.At the same time, the person leaves no traces in the place where he was located.However, this is not common, as the foot is a place where the tumor is usually injured.As a result, their self-destruction becomes almost impossible.On the contrary, it can become constantly inflamed, bleed and cause pain.
What do plantar warts look like: photo
To understand what the spine looks like on an adult's foot, you can look at the presented photo of a plantar wart.
Diagnosis
In most cases, to diagnose plantar warts, it is not necessary to perform any diagnostic procedures - the diagnosis is based on a visual examination by a dermatologist of the areas of the foot affected by the growths.
However, if there is a need to choose a method for removing a skin tumor, it may be necessary to carry out laboratory tests of a scraping taken from the surface of the spine.
How to treat plantar warts: basics
Local treatment is usually sufficient to treat plantar warts.However, if the virus is very active and daughter tumors occur, the doctor may prescribe systemic therapy based on the use of antiviral and immunomodulatory medications.They help suppress papillomavirus activity and strengthen the immune system, which in turn helps prevent HPV from penetrating deeper and damaging healthy areas of the skin.
However, preference is still given to local treatment, which not only removes the upper part of the spine, but also removes its stem.But it should be noted right away that the use of known folk remedies for warts is often not very successful, so it is better to still seek help from a dermatologist, undergo an examination and subsequent treatment.
The most effective and frequently used methods for treating plantar warts include:
- Chemical destruction.With the help of special drugs, skin tumors are cauterized, which leads to the complete destruction of their tissue structure.It is on the cauterizing property of certain herbs and remedies that the treatment of pimples with the help of folk remedies is based.
- Use of cytostatic drugs for local use.Products based on 5-fluorouracil, as well as ointments, have a greater effect.
- Freezing a plantar wart with liquid nitrogen.This procedure is called cryodestruction.Using a special device into which the necessary medicine is injected, the growth is frozen (the exposure temperature reaches -220 ° C) and its subsequent removal.The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia and requires careful skin care upon completion.
- Surgical intervention.In this case, they resort to the process of scraping the warts with a special medical device - a Volkmann spoon.It is possible to simply excise pimples with a regular scalpel, but this procedure has long been outdated.
In addition to the manipulations described above, the removal of plantar warts is also carried out using modern instrumental techniques.Among them, the most popular are:
- Laser coagulation, which helps eliminate skin growths in just 1 session.
- Electrocoagulation.Using a special electric scalpel, the spine is carefully removed.After the procedure, wounds and small scars may remain, which is why it is not used as often as laser coagulation.
- Radio wave removal of plantar warts.The manipulation is carried out through the use of ultrasonic frequencies emitted by the medicine.The procedure is as popular as cryodestruction or laser coagulation.
- Ozone therapy.
Instrumental removal of plantar warts can be supplemented with local therapy using drugs with an antiviral effect.This combination of agents helps to significantly reduce the risk of relapse of the pathological process, significantly increasing the overall effectiveness of the treatment.To do this, the patient is prescribed ointments or subcutaneous injections of interferons, as well as applications.
Before using medications, treatment is necessary to soften the keratinized layer of the epidermis on the surface of the spine.For this purpose, keratolytics are used, which, however, do not remove the growth itself, therefore they are not suitable as an independent remedy for papillomatosis.You can't just use ointments - most often doctors recommend gluing calluses or bactericidal plasters.A few days are enough to soften the wart, after which you can proceed directly to the main treatment.
Since the spine is prone to frequent inflammation and the risk of secondary infection is very high, the patient may need to use antibacterial or anti-inflammatory medications.However, in this case, a special place is given to local treatment.
Laser removal of plantar warts
Today, one of the most popular and highly effective instrumental methods for removing plantar warts is laser coagulation.There are several types of carbon dioxide lasers used to destroy skin tumors.Thanks to this, a separate type of laser is used for each type of growth, which helps to completely excise the wart and prevent its reappearance in the treated area.
The principle of action of the laser beam is simple.Due to high temperatures, liquids evaporate from the plantar wart tissues, resulting in necrosis.And although this process takes some time, laser coagulation allows you to remove unsightly and painful tumors in just one procedure.The main advantage of this technique is not even its high efficiency, but the almost complete absence of contraindications and side effects.The disadvantage is the high cost of the procedure, so not all patients will be able to afford it.
Only a qualified specialist - a dermatologist - can choose the best option for removing pimples.He will also recommend how to prepare for the procedure and will also tell you what measures need to be taken to prevent a plantar wart from recurring.
Pharmacy-ready products
If the plantar wart is not yet deeply rooted and hardened, it can also be removed with ready-made solutions and ointments, freely available in pharmacies.Each product contains an alkali or acid, therefore you must strictly follow the instructions for use of the selected medicine.
A good remedy for pimples is salicylic or boric acid, used in the form of ointments or applications.
Traditional medicine
The arsenal of traditional medicine also has many recipes that are highly effective in combating different types of warts, including plantar warts.But it is not advisable to use them as independent medicines - in most cases they must be combined with pharmaceutical medicines.
Here are the most effective recipes:
- Celandine juice.Perhaps this is one of the most popular and effective folk remedies used to treat various types of skin growths.You just need to treat the growths with fresh juice 2 to 3 times a day until they disappear completely.
- Garlic juice.This remedy has a powerful antiviral, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.Before using it to treat plantar warts, the growth must first be steamed and slightly cut, then lubricated with garlic juice and wrapped in a bandage.Perform the procedure daily.The course of treatment is 2 to 3 weeks.
- Acetic acid.To prepare the medicine, you need to infuse the onion in acetic acid for 2-3 hours, then make a compress and secure it with a bandage.Leave overnight.
- Porridge made from rowan berries.
However, the most effective remedy in the fight against warts is not medicines, nor the above-mentioned traditional medicine recipes, nor even modern instrumental methods of removing them, but a strong immune system.In people whose immune status has undergone positive changes, cases of spontaneous disappearance of skin tumors on the feet have been observed.
You can strengthen the immune system in many ways: sports, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, giving up bad habits and, finally, special medications - immunomodulators.Be that as it may, a stable and strong immune system is the key to the absolute health of the entire body.
Prevention
Primary prevention of plantar warts aims to prevent HPV infection.To do this you need:
- wear individual shoes when visiting public swimming pools, baths, saunas;
- use only your own towels and personal hygiene products;
- wear comfortable shoes;
- fight against sweaty feet;
- Treat any wounds, cracks, and even minor scratches on your legs.
For secondary prevention of plantar warts, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system with antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.It is necessary to start taking the medications prescribed by the doctor immediately after the procedure to remove a skin tumor, which in itself is stressful for the body.
The therapeutic course must be completed to the end, as its interruption will reduce all efforts made to zero, therefore even a qualified specialist will not be able to eliminate the risk of plantar warts reforming.