Plantar wart is a viral growth on the skin, also called corn. From medical terminology it is clear that such formations are localized in the soles of the feet and toes. They are not dangerous in terms of oncological risk, but they cause a lot of discomfort when walking due to their painful pressure.
Causes of plantar warts
All types of warts, including plantar warts, are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). You can get this disease through close contact with infected people or in everyday life. The virus dies quickly from sunlight, but feels great at high humidity. Therefore, HPV infection is most common in baths, saunas, swimming pools. The penetration of the virus into the body is facilitated by microtrauma and cracks in the skin, as well as decreased immunity.
With the body's strong protective properties, the virus can remain dormant for a long time indefinitely after infection. But if immunity is reduced, it begins to multiply actively, causing the appearance of warts of various localization on the skin. For their occurrence, it is the only thing that HPV subtypes 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57 are most often responsible.
Several preliminary factors contribute to the emergence of such formations:
- shoes that are not too narrow or measured;
- wearing high heels frequently;
- various foot deformities (including flat feet);
- Various diseases of the foot joints (arthritis, arthrosis, etc. ).
Warts on the leg are more common in people with extremely dry skin and hyperkeratosis.
Therefore, the causes of plantar warts are the same in all cases (HPV infection), but the predisposing factors are different. The number and size of elements in the skin depends on them and their immune status.
How do plantar warts appear
A wart on the foot looks like a rounded skin growth. It can be of different sizes, but rarely exceeds two centimeters in diameter. It does not rise more than three millimeters above the skin level, but also goes deep with the root. The color may not differ from the surrounding skin or be darker or lighter. Usually such formations have a yellow or gray tint. Visually, black dots or lines can be seen when viewed inside the elements (they are also clearly visible in the photo). Capillaries in which blood clots form due to the compression of Horny vessels by masses look like this.
Initially the plantar wart has a smooth surface. However, over time, it hardens, hardens and thickens. It is the horny masses that give these warts their yellow color.
An important symptom of plantar warts is pain when squeezed. Each step causes severe acute pain to the patient.
These warts are very similar to plantar calluses. The resemblance to a cornice is especially pronounced due to the severe pain of both formations. The main difference is that warts do not have a skin pattern on their surface, but remain on calluses.
Plantar wart diagnosis
A qualified dermatologist will diagnose this disease based on a clinical picture only. In some cases, an additional dermatoscopy is required. The absence of skin pattern in its formation and the presence of capillaries with blood clots in its structure confirm this diagnosis.
Plantar wart treatment
Plantar warts are more difficult to penetrate the dermis than similar formations in other areas. In the case of small and newly formed elements, non-necrotizing preparations can be used. Large and deep warts are surgically removed. At the same time, old formations must first be softened with keratolytic agents.
External preparations to remove warts
In some cases, such builds can self-destruct. However, since the plantar warts are very painful, patients do not want to wait and do not make an effort to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Any remedy for plantar warts with a necrotizing effect is prescribed to eliminate small and superficial elements.
These products contain acids that cause necrosis by coagulating skin proteins. Medicines containing refrigerant have a similar effect. However, they cause necrotizing effects through tissue freezing, not chemical damage.
All of these drugs are applied point by point. It must be strictly observed that the substance does not fall into the surrounding tissues, as this causes them to burn. After the treatment, a wound will remain in the area of the old wart that will be covered with a crust. It will fall off on its own after it heals. You can apply this type of treatment at home, but only as directed by a doctor.
This way, it is possible to get rid of a plantar wart that is only small in size and has a shallow penetration into the skin. For large elements, you have to choose other removal methods as incomplete destruction of the wart tissue will definitely lead to its recurrence.
Surgical methods to eliminate plantar warts
There are various ways to get rid of plantar wart in surgery. Gentle methods are preferred:
- laser removal;
- radio wave blade;
- cryodestruction;
- electrocautery.
All these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can literally go home a few minutes after completion, they just need to treat the wound regularly at home.
The most effective and safest methods to remove plantar warts are excision with a laser or radio wave blade. When performed, the vessels coagulate immediately, which is good prevention of bleeding and secondary infection. Complications when removing skin formations using these methods are extremely rare. The same cannot be said for cryodestruction and electrocoagulation, so these treatment methods disappeared in the background and were rarely used.
If the warts are large or old (covered with a large amount of horny mass), it is recommended that they be treated with keratolytic agents for two weeks before removal. For this purpose, salicylic ointment or acid and other drugs are prescribed. Thus, it is possible to exfoliate some of the horny flakes to make the formations softer and more flexible. This will make getting rid of the wart easier and faster.
In rare cases, when there are many elements or there are doubts about their nature, the doctor may recommend surgical excision with a scalpel. With this wart removal method, the rehabilitation period and the high risk of scarring are much longer, so it is only used under strict indications.
Features of plantar warts in children
In children over the age of five, plantar warts are fairly common because they often run barefoot, get injured, and don't always follow the rules of personal hygiene. Immune malfunctions due to regular contact with sick children (in kindergartens and schools) increase the likelihood of warts.
The treatment of such formations in a child is best started with external agents. You can try exfoliating the superficial elements using salicylic ointment followed by pumice. Immunomodulatory drugs have proven themselves well. When regularly applied to a wart, they can be removed within a few weeks.
If the elements are deep, apply necrotizing agents or remove with a laser or radio wave blade.
Prevention of plantar warts
It is absolutely impossible to protect yourself from wart formation, but you can reduce the risk of them occurring. To do this, you have to move in two directions: remove the priming factors and activate the body's defenses.
To achieve the first goal you need:
- follow the rules of personal hygiene (do not walk barefoot in public places, wash your feet every day and treat cuts and injuries in a timely manner); Choose comfortable shoes according to the size
- ;
- to prevent foot deformities and treat joint diseases over time.
A healthy lifestyle, exercising, getting hard, taking vitamin complexes, and immunostimulating drugs recommended by a doctor will help keep the body's defenses at a good level.
Regular medical pedicure and peeling is recommended in case of extremely dry skin and hyperkeratosis. In case of excessive sweating of the legs, you need to use special means to treat hyperhidrosis. By following all these rules, the risk of developing warts on the soles of the feet will be minimal.
Plantar warts are not a dangerous disease, but they cause many discomfort due to pain when walking. Fortunately, in modern medicine there are many ways to get rid of it quickly and with minimal risk of recurrence. To do this, you need to consult a dermatologist and strictly follow all of their appointments and advice.