Plantar warts are viral skin growths, also called corn. It is clear from medical terminology that such formations are localized in the soles of the feet and legs. They are not dangerous from an oncological point of view, but they 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 papilloma virus (HPV). You can get it in close contact with infected people or on a daily basis. The virus dies quickly from the sun, but feels great in high humidity conditions. Therefore, HPV infection most often occurs in baths, saunas, swimming pools. The penetration of the virus into the body is facilitated by microtraumas and cracks in the skin, as well as reduced immunity.
With strong protective properties, the virus can remain inactive indefinitely after infection. But when the immunity decreases, it begins to actively multiply, provoking the appearance of warts of various localizations on the skin. Only HPV subtypes 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57 are most commonly responsible for their occurrence.
Several predisposing factors contribute to the emergence of the following formations:
- shoes that are too tight or too sized;
- frequent wearing of high heels;
- various foot deformities (including flat feet);
- various diseases of the foot joints (arthritis, arthrosis, etc. ).
Warts on the feet are more common in people with excessive dry skin and hyperkeratosis.
Thus, 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 depends on them and the state of immunity.
How plantar warts appear
The wart on the foot looks like a rounded skin growth. It can vary in size, but rarely exceeds two centimeters in diameter. It rises above the skin level by no more than three millimeters, but at the same time it goes deep inside the root. The color must not differ from the surrounding skin, it may be darker or lighter. Often such formations have a yellow or gray tinge. Visually, when you look inside the elements, black dots or lines appear (they are also clearly visible in the photo). This is what capillaries look like, where blood clots have formed due to the massive compression of horny blood vessels.
Initially, the plantar wart has a smooth surface. But over time, it becomes tough, rough, thickened. It is the horny masses that give these warts a yellow color.
An important symptom of plantar warts is pain when they are compressed. Each step causes severe acute pain to the patient.
These warts are very similar to plantar calli. The resemblance to the cornice is particularly pronounced due to the severe pain of both formations. The main difference is that there is no skin character on the surface of the warts as long as it remains on the skin.
Plantar wart diagnosis
A competent dermatologist will diagnose the disease based on a single clinical picture. In some cases, additional dermatoscopy is required. The absence of skin in the form of formation and the presence of capillaries with blood clots in its structure confirm this diagnosis.
Wart treatment
Plantar warts are more difficult to get rid of than similar formations in other areas due to their deeper penetration into the dermis. In the case of small and newly formed elements, necrotising external preparations may be used. Large and deep warts are surgically removed. At the same time, old formations should first be softened with keratolytics.
External wart removers
In some cases, self-destruction of such formations is possible. But since the plantar wart hurts quite severely, patients are reluctant to wait and try to get rid of them as soon as possible.
To remove small and superficial elements, any remedy for plantar warts with a necrotizing effect is prescribed.
These products contain acids that coagulate skin proteins, causing necrosis. Medicines containing a refrigerant are similar. But they cause a necrotizing effect due to tissue freezing, not chemical damage.
All of these medicines are used in the direction of formation. Care must be taken to ensure that the substance does not fall on the surrounding tissues, as this will cause them to burn. After treatment, the former wart will be replaced by a wound that will be covered with a crust. After healing, the same will fall off. You can perform such treatment at home, but only as directed by your doctor.
In this way, it is only possible to remove a small plantar wart and a shallow penetration into the skin. For large elements, other removal methods should be chosen, as incomplete destruction of the wart tissue will definitely lead to its recurrence.
Surgical methods to remove plantar warts
There are various ways to surgically remove a plantar wart. Gentle methods are preferred:
- laser removal;
- radio wave knife;
- cryodestruction;
- electrical automation.
All of these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can go home literally a few minutes after completion, they just need to treat the wound at home on a regular basis.
The most effective and safest way to remove plantar warts is to cut with a laser or radio knife. When they are made, the dishes clot immediately, which is a good prevention of bleeding and secondary infection. Complications of removing formations from the skin using these methods are extremely rare. The same cannot be said for cryodestruction and electrocoagulation, so these treatments have faded in the background and are rarely used.
If the warts are large or old (covered with a large amount of horny mass), it is recommended to treat them with keratolytics two weeks before the removal procedure. Salicylic acid ointments or acids and other medicines are prescribed for this purpose. Thus, it is possible to peel part of the horny scales, making the formations softer and more flexible. This will make removing the wart easier and faster.
In rare cases where there are many elements or if there is any doubt about their nature, your doctor may recommend a 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 with strict instructions.
Signs of plantar warts in children
Plantar warts are quite common in children over the age of five because they often run barefoot, are injured, and do not always follow personal hygiene rules. Immune disorders due to regular contact with sick children (kindergartens and schools), which increases the likelihood of warts.
It is best to start treatment of these conditions in the child with external means. You can try to exfoliate the shallow elements using salicylic acid ointment followed by pumice. Immunomodulatory drugs have proven themselves well. If they use the wart regularly, they can remove it after a few weeks.
If the elements are deep, use necrotizing agents or remove them with a laser or radio knife.
Plantar Warts Prevention
It is absolutely impossible to protect yourself from warts, but you can reduce the risk of them. To do this, you need to do two things: eliminate predisposing factors and stimulate the body's defenses.
To achieve the first goal, you need:
- Observe personal hygiene rules (do not walk barefoot in public places, wash your feet daily and treat cuts and injuries in a timely manner);
- Choose comfortable shoes by size;
- time to prevent foot deformities and treat joint disease.
A healthy lifestyle, exercise, hardening, the use of vitamin complexes, and immunostimulatory medications as prescribed by your doctor will help keep your body's defenses at a good level.
In case of excessively dry skin and hyperkeratosis, regular medical pedicures and peels are recommended. In case of excessive sweating of the legs, special products should be used to treat hyperhidrosis. By following all these rules, the risk of warts on the soles of the feet will be 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 new relapses. To do this, you should consult a dermatologist and strictly follow all his appointments and recommendations.