Plantar warts are one of the most unpleasant types of spinal skin growth. Such a formation is located on the supporting part of the foot or toes. It is composed of enlarged epithelial cells and has a deep root that extends into the depths of the dermis.
The vertebrae do not pose a particular threat in terms of oncogenicity, but they can be extremely painful and cause significant discomfort when walking. Such growths are difficult to treat and are characterized by a tendency to recur. How to get rid of plantar warts, what methods are considered the most effective and safe? Learn more about this in our article.
Why do thorns appear?
Warts on the feet are benign neoplasms of a viral nature. The reason for their appearance is infection with HPV (papilloma virus). The pathogen is transmitted from person to person through contact or on the skin when in contact with an infected surface. Feels great in a warm & humid environment where it can be stored for a long timeThe risk of infection is especially high in public places - baths, saunas, gyms, swimming pools. The virus enters the body easily through small abrasions or scratches on the body.
A strong immune system suppresses the multiplication of the virus and puts it in a latent state. However, as the body's defenses weaken, the pathogen becomes active and begins to multiply rapidly. Recent illnesses, stress, and violations of personal hygiene standards are becoming factors that weaken the immune system. The following factors contribute to the formation of plantar warts:
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- wear tight, uncomfortable shoes;
- microtrauma of the skin (abrasions, scratches, wounds, abrasions);
- frequent contact with water and detergents that irritate dry skin;
- chronic diseases associated with circulatory disorders in the lower extremities (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, varicose veins);
- foot deformities (flat feet, arthritis of small joints, osteoarthritis);
- permanent formation of calluses, corns.
It can be found by wearing the shoes of a person infected with plantar warts or by visiting a pedicure salon where the instruments are poorly disinfected. Plantar warts in one child often occur after a baby accidentally enters someone else's shoes, walks barefoot on a dirty surface, or uses an infected person's personal belongings in a pool, summer camp, or public shower (towels, clothes, etc. ). Parents should teach their children to follow personal hygiene rules as early as possible and explain why it is not possible to use other people's belongings.
What does plantar wart look like?
The incubation period in which the papilloma virus multiplies is very long - between 1, 5 and 4 months. The pathogen first affects the basal layer of the epidermis, then spreads upwards, which leads to the formation of characteristic growths on the skin.
At first, a wart on the foot of a child or an adult looks like a round plate and a bright plaque of small diameter (up to 2 cm). Soon the surface becomes rough, covered with a dense stratum corneum, rising above the surface of the skin. The color of the spine changes from flesh to yellowish-gray. A crater-shaped depression appears in the center of the neoplasm. Upon closer examination, black dots appear on the surface of the wart. These are surface thrombotic capillaries. This feature allows you to distinguish a plantar wart from corn or callus. A photograph of the plantar wart gives a complete picture of how this formation appears on the skin.
The favorite place for the localization of erections is the foot area, which is subjected to the greatest pressure. The root of the neoplasm deepens into the dermis, irritating the nerve endings, so such warts cause painful sensations when walking. Heel growths are single and multiple. Generally, a large maternal wart appears on the foot at first. If the virus is highly active, it soon develops small daughter formations. Sometimes the spine disappears on its own, but more often the permanent injury causes severe pain due to its growth and the constant pressure of the shoe.
If such formations are painful and cause serious discomfort, how to get rid of warts on the feet? First of all, you should contact a dermatologist for examination and treatment. As plantar warts grow deeper into the dermis, they are not easy to fight. The root of the neoplasm must be completely removed so that the erections do not reappear. This can be done in different ways - medicinal and surgical.
Plant warts: treatment
There are several methods to combat plantar warts. At home, pharmacy products can be used to treat warts on the feet. The doctor should choose a therapy regimen, because the positive effect can be achieved only with the right and competent approach.
Drug treatment
Various methods are used to treat plantar warts at home - from the destruction of pathological tissues by special means without destruction by aggressive chemicals (acids, alkalis). To rule out recurrences, it is necessary not only to eliminate the growth, but also to suppress the activity of the virus.
Complex treatment is based on the following groups of drugs:
- Antiviral and immunomodulatory substances.The cream, which activates local immunity and prevents the spread of the virus, has a good therapeutic effect. It should be applied under the bandage twice a day. For the same purpose, a cream that stimulates the production of interferon is used.
- Keratolytic substances.Preparations based on salicylic or trichloroacetic acid are designed to soften and exfoliate the cornea of the rough layer of the wart. Removing dead scales allows you to go to the bottom of the wart and make it easier for fat or necrotizing solutions to penetrate the root. This is the only way to prevent the formation of new formations and get rid of thorns forever.
- Necrotizing drugs.To combat plantar warts, it is recommended to buy acid or alkaline solutions with a mummifying effect at the pharmacy. Aggressive substances that penetrate the structure of the neoplasm burn the infected tissue, resulting in wart necrosis and death. Precautions should be taken when using such drugs, otherwise you may get a chemical burn on healthy skin. Treatment of plantar sputum in a child with necrotic substances is allowed only after consultation with a dermatologist.
- Cryopreparations. . . The principle of operation of such funds is based on the freezing of wart tissue. Under the influence of ultra-low temperatures, the fluid inside the pathological cells freezes and breaks down from the inside. As a result, the wart dies within 7-10 days. The best products with a freezing effect are produced in aerosol cans equipped with a special applicator for application.
The procedure should be started after consulting a dermatologist. Only a specialist can properly assess the situation and give advice on how to get rid of a plantar wart at home. Self-medication often causes short-term effects and recurrent relapses because it is not possible to stop the spread of the virus.
Plantar warts in a child
Warts on a child's foot are treated with gentle methods. Children's skin is thin and delicate, so aggressive products can cause irritation or burns. It is best to use keratolytic drugs that soften and exfoliate the corneas. This method of treatment is not quick - the removal of warts will take 2-3 weeks.
In the early stages of neoplasm formation, the use of keratolytics should be started. In this case, it is possible to avoid the recurrence of accumulation. If the spine is deeply enlarged, you should resort to hardware treatments that provide the desired result and guarantee the absence of relapses.
If plant warts do not cause much discomfort, you can treat it with folk remedies - acetic acid solution, lemon juice, garlic tincture. An acidic environment has a destructive effect on the virus, stopping it from multiplying and preventing it from growing.
Surgery
The classic operation with a scalpel is rarely used. Such an intervention is only allowed when removing large growths that cannot be removed by other methods. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon cuts the wart and cleans the wound thoroughly, trying to completely remove the deep roots. Disadvantages of the method include pain, the risk of wound infection and the development of subsequent complications, a long recovery period in which a person's mobility is limited.
It is better to remove plantar warts using techniques that are less traumatic and safer. The procedure is applied after a preliminary examination by a doctor and the identification of possible contraindications. The main treatment options are:
Electrocoagulation
The essence of the method is to cut the assembly tissue with a high-frequency electric current. The procedure is performed using local anesthesia, as it is accompanied by painful sensations. This option is only suitable for removing medium-sized thorns with shallow germination deep into the dermis. If large formations are cut, the risk of scar formation and recurrent relapses is not ruled out.
Rehabilitation after electrocoagulation is very long, except for infection, the wound needs to be treated with antiseptic solutions. During the recovery process, the patient's movement is limited, because the load on the foot causes painful sensations.
Cryodestruction
This is one of the most popular and affordable ways to treat plantar warts. The procedure takes only a few minutes and involves treating the neoplasm with liquid nitrogen. Ultra low temperature gives instant freezing effect. The frozen fluid tears the cells of the pathological neoplasm from the inside - as a result, the wart undergoes necrosis and dies within 10 days.
During the session, the doctor applicator presses on the neoplasm for a few seconds with a refrigerator to pre-protect the surrounding healthy tissue. The effectiveness of the procedure is evidenced by the whitening of the skin in the treatment area. A blister soon forms at the site of the wart that should not be touched or punctured. It is recommended to cover it with a plaster to avoid injury. After a few days, the blister will dry out and a crust will form in its place. After a fall, renewed, healthy skin remains in place.
The procedure should only be performed by an experienced technician. Excessive exposure time damages deep tissues, then a wound is formed, and too much superficial exposure does not destroy the root of the wart, leading to the growth of new growths.
Laser removal
The modern procedure gives the best aesthetic results, allows you to manage the depth of exposure, eliminates the risk of complications. Laser radiation evaporates the wart tissue layer in layers, clotting blood vessels and disinfecting the surgical site. Such an effect eliminates the risk of bleeding, infection, prevents the spread of viral particles and guarantees the absence of relapses. Different types of lasers are used to remove warts - erbium, acid or pulse.
The laser procedure is safe, effective and painless and does not require long-term recovery. At the site of the removed wart, a small wound remains, sealed with a plaster. After the procedure, the patient can go home immediately and lead a normal life. The rehabilitation period is very short - full recovery takes only a few days.
Removal with a radio knife
The essence of the latest technique is the use of radio waves, which allow you to remove plantar warts in the fastest and safest way. Strong heat radiation burns the accumulation without direct contact with the surrounding tissues. The fluid in the cells of the neoplasm evaporates immediately, which leads to the destruction of the wart. At the same time, healthy skin is not damaged; During the procedure, the doctor adjusts the depth and duration of exposure. At the same time, high-frequency radio waves disinfect the surgical site and empty the blood vessels, which eliminates the risk of bleeding.
With plantar warts, the patient decides with the attending physician which method to choose. Before prescribing the procedure, the dermatologist finds possible contraindications.
List of restrictions on the use of any hardware method:
- inflammatory processes in the skin in the treatment area;
- diabetes;
- infectious, respiratory diseases (ARVI, ARI);
- hypertension;
- exacerbation of herpesvirus infection;
- pregnancy.
The use of child-related devices is discussed with the doctor. Some procedures have an age limit, so you should learn all the nuances of the proposed methods in advance and make sure that there is no harm to the health of the baby.