Plantar warts are the result of skin that is viral in nature, also called corns. From medical terminology, it is clear that such formations are localized on the soles of the feet and toes. From an oncological risk point of view, they are harmless, but cause a lot of discomfort when walking due to painful compression.
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 sunlight, but feels comfortable in high humidity. Therefore, HPV infection occurs most often in bathrooms, 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 its strong body protective properties, the virus after infection can remain in its dormant state for an indefinite period of time. But if the immunity decreases, it begins to actively multiply, provoking the appearance of warts of various localizations on the skin. For the incidence, only 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57 HPV subtypes were most frequently responsible.
Several predisposing factors contributed to the appearance of such a formation:
- shoes that are too tight or the size is too big;
- often wears high heels;
- various foot deformities (including flat feet);
- various diseases of the joints of the feet (arthritis, arthrosis, etc. ).
Warts on the feet are more common in people with excessive dry skin and hyperkeratosis.
So, the causes of plantar warts are the same in all cases (HPV infection), but the predisposing factors are different. The number and size of the elements on the skin depend on them and their immune status.
How do plantar warts appear
The warts on the feet look like rounded skin growths. They can be different in size, but their diameter rarely exceeds two centimeters. It rises above the surface of the skin by no more than three millimeters, but at the same time it goes deep with its roots. The color may not differ from the surrounding skin, or be darker or lighter. Often such formations have a yellow or gray color. Visually, when viewed inside the element, black dots or lines can be seen (also clearly visible in the photo). This is how the capillaries, in which the blood clots have formed, look like, due to compression of the Horny vessels by the mass.
Initially, plantar warts have a smooth surface. But over time, it becomes hard, rough, thickens. It is the aroused mass that gives these warts their yellow color.
An important symptom of plantar warts is pain when compressed. Each step caused severe acute pain in the patient.
These warts are very similar to plantar calluses. The resemblance to the cornice is especially prominent due to the severe pain of the two formations. The main difference is that there is no skin pattern on the surface of the wart, while calluses remain.
Diagnosis of plantar warts
A competent dermatologist will diagnose this disease based on only one clinical picture. In some cases, additional dermatoscopy is required. The absence of a skin pattern on the formation and the presence of capillaries with blood clot structures confirms this diagnosis.
Plantar wart treatment
Plantar warts are more difficult to remove than similar formations in other areas due to their deeper penetration into the dermis. In the case of small and newly formed elements, necrotizing external preparations can be used. Large, deep warts are surgically removed. At the same time, the old formations must first be softened with a keratolytic agent.
External preparation for wart removal
In some cases, self-destruction of such formations is possible. But because plantar warts are so painful, patients don't want to wait and try hard to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Any remedy for plantar warts with a necrotizing effect is prescribed to remove small and superficial elements.
This product contains acids that freeze skin proteins, causing necrosis. Medicines that contain refrigerants have a similar effect. But they cause a necrotizing effect through tissue freezing, not through chemical damage.
All this medicine was smeared onto the formation. It is important to monitor it closely so that substances do not fall into the surrounding tissue, as this will cause them to burn. After treatment, the wound will remain at the site of the wart, which will be covered with a crust. After recovering, it will fall out on its own. You can perform such treatment at home, but only as directed by a doctor.
In this way it is possible to remove plantar warts which are only small in size and with shallow penetration into the skin. For large elements, you need to choose another removal method, because incomplete wart tissue damage will inevitably lead to its recurrence.
Surgical method for removing plantar warts
There are various ways to remove plantar warts in surgery. Gentle method is preferred:
- laser discharge;
- radio wave blade;
- cryodestruction;
- electrocautery.
All of these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can go home literally minutes after they are done, they just need to treat their wounds regularly at home.
The most effective and safest method of removing plantar warts is excision with a laser knife or radio waves. When done, the blood vessels clot immediately, which is a good prevention of bleeding and secondary infection. Complications when removing skin formations using this method occur very rarely. The same cannot be said about cryodestruction and electrocoagulation, so these treatment methods have disappeared and are rarely used.
If the wart is large or old (covered with a lot of horny masses), it is recommended to treat it with a keratolytic agent for two weeks before the removal procedure. For this purpose, ointments or salicylic acid and other drugs are prescribed. Thus, it is possible to partially peel off the horned scales, to make the formation softer and more flexible. This will make it easier and faster to remove the wart.
In rare cases, when there are many elements or there is doubt about their nature, the doctor may recommend surgical excision with a scalpel. With this method of removing warts, the rehabilitation period and the high risk of scarring are longer, therefore only used with strict indications.
Features of plantar warts in children
In children over the age of five, plantar warts are quite common, due to frequent walking barefoot, injured and not always following personal hygiene rules. Immune malfunction resulting from regular contact with sick children (in kindergartens and schools), leading to an increased chance of warts.
The treatment of such formations in children is best started with external agents. You can try peeling off the shallows with a salicylic ointment, followed by a pumice stone. Immunomodulating drugs are well proven. If applied regularly to warts, they can remove them within a few weeks.
If the element is deep, use a necrotizing agent or remove it with a laser or radio wave knife.
Prevention of plantar warts
It is absolutely impossible to protect yourself from developing warts, but you can reduce the risk of developing them. To do this, you need to act in two directions: remove predisposing factors and stimulate the body's defenses.
To reach the first goal, you will need:
- follow the rules of personal hygiene (do not walk barefoot in public places, wash your feet daily and treat wounds and injuries in a timely manner);
- choose a comfortable shoe based on its size;
- timely to prevent foot deformity and treat joint disease.
A healthy lifestyle, exercising, hardening, taking vitamin complexes, and immunostimulating drugs as prescribed by a doctor will help maintain the body's defenses at a good level.
In case of excessive dry skin and hyperkeratosis, regular medical pedicures and peels are recommended. In case of excessive sweating of the feet, you need to use special means to treat hyperhidrosis. By following all these rules, the risk of getting warts on the soles of your feet is minimal.
Plantar warts are not a dangerous disease, but they cause a lot of discomfort due to pain when walking. Fortunately, there are many ways in modern medicine 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 his appointments and recommendations.