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 too low.
However, to remove growths it is best to consult a dermatologist.Modern instrumental methods of excision of warts are much more effective than banal celandine and even surgical intervention, but they are used exclusively as prescribed by the attending physician.
This therapy minimizes the risk of recurrence of the pathological process and also prevents further rooting and proliferation of skin tumors on the soles of the feet.
Causes
A wart is a skin growth 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 may not reveal itself for a long time, being in a "sleeping" 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 found in the body of an infected person;
- nature of contact (direct/indirect);
- immunity status of the HPV carrier.
People with a weak immune system are more susceptible to papillomatosis.But other factors can also influence the formation of plantar warts:
- constant stress;
- overwork;
- failure to comply with hygiene standards;
- exhaustion of the body;
- uncomfortable or tight shoes;
- wounds, scratches, ulcers on the surface of the skin of the feet.
HPV can enter the human body through:
- use towels or other objects belonging to virus carriers;
- handshake.
Factors that predispose to the formation of spines include:
- increased sweating of the feet;
- frequent contact with household chemicals (even if the washed linen was well rinsed);
- injuries leading to violation of the integrity of the skin of the legs;
- calluses, calluses;
- diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular system;
- use non-sterile nail care tools;
- visit public baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches.
Human skin is composed 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, finally localizing on the stratum corneum of the epithelium.Therefore, 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 period, the number of cells infected by the virus increases rapidly.But since the DNA gene of the HPV type that causes plantar warts does not penetrate into the cell nuclei, the risk of developing an oncological process is almost completely eliminated.
A plantar wart is a hard growth on the skin that has 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 tint.
At the initial stage of skin formation, its surface is smooth, however, as it "matures" it becomes rougher, as a result of which it becomes rough.Its shade becomes gray-yellow, and a crater-like depression may appear in the center.The appearance of brown spots 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 activity of the papillomavirus.A large number of neoplasms create a specific mosaic in the area of the skin where they are located, which is why they are also called "mosaic warts".
Sometimes the spine can disappear on its own, without the need for treatment.At the same time, no trace remains of a person in the place where he was located.However, this is not common, as the foot is a place where the tumor is often injured.As a result, its self-destruction becomes almost impossible.Instead, it can become constantly inflamed, bleed, and cause pain.
What do plantar warts look like: photo
To understand what the spine of an adult's foot looks like, you can look at the presented photo of a plantar wart.
Diagnostics
In most cases, to diagnose plantar warts, it is not necessary to carry out any diagnostic procedures: the diagnosis is based on a visual examination by a dermatologist of the areas of the foot affected by growths.
However, if you need to choose a method to remove a skin tumor, laboratory tests on a scraping taken from the surface of the spine may be necessary.
How to treat plantar warts: basic principles
Local treatment is often sufficient to treat plantar warts.However, if the virus is too active and daughter tumors occur, the doctor may prescribe systemic therapy based on the use of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.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 shaft.But it should be noted right away that the use of well-known folk remedies for warts is often not very successful, so it is better to seek help from a dermatologist, undergo 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 some herbs and remedies that the treatment of thorns with the help of folk remedies is based.
- Use of cytostatic drugs for local use.5-fluorouracil products and ointments have the greatest effect.
- Freeze a plantar wart with liquid nitrogen.This procedure is called cryodestruction.Using a special device into which the necessary drug is inserted, 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 after completion.
- Surgery.In this case, they resort to the process of scraping warts with a special medical device - a Volkmann spoon.It is possible to simply remove the spines with a normal scalpel, but this procedure has long been obsolete.
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 one session.
- Electrocoagulation.Using a special electric scalpel, the spine is carefully removed.Wounds and small scars may remain after the procedure, so it is not used as often as laser coagulation.
- Radio wave removal of plantar warts.Manipulation is performed using ultrasonic frequencies emitted by the drug.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 that have an antiviral effect.This combination of agents helps to significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of the pathological process, significantly increasing the overall effectiveness of treatment.For this, the patient is prescribed ointments or subcutaneous injections of interferons, as well as applications.
Before using drugs, a course of treatment is required 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 use not only ointments: very 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 subject to frequent inflammation and the risk of secondary infection is too high, it may be necessary to use antibacterial or anti-inflammatory drugs.However, in this case, a special place is given to local treatment.
Laser removal of plantar warts
Today, one of the most popular and effective instrumental methods of removing plantar warts is laser coagulation.There are several types of carbon dioxide lasers, which are used to destroy skin tumors.Thanks to this, a separate type of laser is used for each type of growth, which helps to completely remove 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 tissues of the plantar wart, causing 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 optimal option for removing plugs.He will also advise you on how to prepare for the procedure and will also tell you what measures need to be taken to prevent a plantar wart from recurring.
Products ready for the pharmacy
If the plantar wart is not yet deeply rooted and hardened, it can also be removed using ready-made solutions and ointments, freely available in pharmacies.Each product contains an alkali or acid, so it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for use of the selected drug.
A good remedy for thorns is salicylic or boric acid, used in the form of ointments or applications.
Traditional medicine
The arsenal of traditional medicine also includes many highly effective recipes in the fight against various types of warts, including plantar warts.But it is not recommended to use them as independent remedies: in most cases they need to be combined with drugs.
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 2-3 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 should first be steamed and lightly cut, then lubricated with garlic juice and wrapped in a bandage.Perform the procedure every day.The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
- Acetic acid.To prepare the remedy it is necessary 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 drugs, nor the above-mentioned recipes of traditional medicine, 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, abandonment of bad habits and, finally, special drugs - 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:
- equip yourself with individual shoes when visiting public swimming pools, thermal baths, saunas;
- use only your own towels and personal hygiene products;
- wear comfortable shoes;
- fight sweaty feet;
- treat any wounds, cracks and even small scratches on the legs.
For secondary prevention of plantar warts it is necessary to strengthen the immune system using antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.It is necessary to start taking medications prescribed by the doctor immediately after the procedure to remove a skin tumor, which in itself is stressful for the body.
The therapeutic path must be completed to the end, since its interruption will reduce all efforts made to zero, so even a qualified specialist will not be able to eliminate the risk of reformation of plantar warts.