Plantar warts (plantar warts) are benign tumors caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).They occur mainly in young people and pose no particular risk because their carcinogenicity is so low.
But, nevertheless, to remove the growth, it is best to consult a dermatologist.Modern instruments for removing warts are much more effective than common celandine or even surgical intervention, but they can only be used as prescribed by the attending physician.
This therapy minimizes the risk of recurrence of the pathological process and also prevents further rooting and spread of tumors in the skin of the soles of the feet.
reason
Warts are skin growths that are benign in nature.The appearance of the spine is caused by the invasion of the human body by papillomavirus. There are about 100 varieties of papillomavirus.
After HPV enters the human body, it may not show up for a long time and remain in a "dormant" 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 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 response activated when pathological factors penetrate the body).
The risk of HPV infection depends on:
- The state of the virus in the infected person’s body;
- Nature of contact (direct/indirect);
- Immune status of HPV carriers.
People with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to papillomatosis.But other factors may also influence the formation of plantar warts:
- ongoing stress;
- overwork;
- Failure to comply with hygiene rules;
- physical exhaustion;
- Shoes are uncomfortable or too tight;
- Wounds, scratches, and ulcers on the skin surface of the feet.
HPV can enter the body through the following ways:
- using towels or other items belonging to virus carriers;
- shake hands.
Factors that lead to thorn formation include:
- Increased sweating of the feet;
- Regular exposure to household chemicals (even if laundry has been rinsed);
- Injury resulting in compromised skin integrity on the legs;
- calluses, corns;
- diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems;
- using unsterile tools for nail care;
- Visit public baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches.
Human skin consists of several layers, they are:
- epidermis;
- Genuine Leather;
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Once inside the body, papillomavirus infects the basal layer of the epidermis (skin) and begins actively multiplying.Cells affected by papillomaviruses gradually ascend through all layers of the epidermis, eventually localizing in the stratum corneum of the epithelium.As a result, the skin becomes rough and keratinized, forming warts.
symptom
The duration of the incubation period is different for everyone.On average, this ranges from a few weeks to six months.During this period, the number of virus-infected cells increases rapidly.But since the DNA genes of the HPV types that cause plantar warts are unable to penetrate the cell nucleus, the risk of developing a neoplastic process is almost completely eliminated.
Plantar warts are hard, well-circumscribed skin growths that are oval or round in shape.The diameter of the growth ranges from 1-2 cm.The spine has a rod that goes deep into the dermis, and it is this rod that causes discomfort and pain when walking.It protrudes from the skin surface by about 1-3 cm.In this case, the tumor may have a normal color, a light brown, or a pinkish tinge.
In the initial stages of skin growth and formation, its surface is smooth, however, as it "matures" it becomes roughened and, as a result, roughened.Its hue changes to grayish-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 common.Their appearance is the result of superficial capillary thrombosis processes occurring in tumor tissue.
In most cases, plantar warts are single growths.However, in some cases, the formation of daughter spines is possible, indicating papillomavirus overactivity.Massive tumors form a specific mosaic pattern in the area of skin where they are located, which is why they are also called "mosaic warts."
Sometimes the spine may disappear on its own without treatment.At the same time, a person leaves no trace behind where he or she is.However, this is uncommon because the feet are a common site for tumors.As a result, its self-destruction becomes almost impossible.Instead, it continually inflames, bleeds, and causes pain.
What plantar warts look like: photos
To get an idea of what the spine looks like on an adult foot, you can view the photos of plantar warts provided.
diagnosis
In most cases, diagnosing plantar warts does not require any diagnostic procedures - diagnosis is based on a dermatologist's visual inspection of the area of the foot affected by the growth.
However, if a method of removing skin tumors needs to be selected, laboratory testing of scrapings from the spinal surface may be necessary.
How to Treat Plantar Warts: Basic Principles
Topical treatments are usually sufficient to treat plantar warts.However, if the virus becomes overactive and daughter tumors develop, doctors may prescribe systemic therapy in addition to antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.They help inhibit the activity of papillomaviruses and strengthen the immune system, thereby helping to prevent deeper penetration of HPV and damage to healthy areas of skin.
However, priority is still given to local treatment, removing not only the upper part of the spine, but also its backbone.But it should be immediately noted that the use of well-known folk remedies for the treatment of warts is usually not very successful, so it is better to seek the help of a dermatologist for examination and subsequent treatment.
The most effective and common methods of treating plantar warts include:
- chemical damage.With the help of special drugs, skin tumors are cauterized, which leads to the complete destruction of their tissue structure.Treatment of the spine with the help of folk remedies is based on the cauterizing properties of certain herbs and medicines.
- Topical cytostatic drugs.Products based on 5-fluorouracil as well as ointments have the highest effectiveness.
- Freezing plantar warts with liquid nitrogen.This process is called freeze destruction.Using a special device filled with the necessary drugs, the growth is frozen (exposure temperature reaches -220 ° C) and subsequently removed.The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and requires careful skin care after completion.
- surgical intervention.In this case, they resorted to scraping out the warts using a special medical device called a Folkman spoon.The spines can be simply removed with a regular scalpel, but this method has long since become obsolete.
In addition to the above operations, modern instrumentation techniques are also used to remove plantar warts.Among them, the most popular are:
- Laser coagulation eliminates skin growths in just 1 session.
- Electrocoagulation.Using a special electric scalpel, the spine is carefully removed.There may be cuts and small scars left after the procedure, so it is not used as often as laser coagulation.
- Radio waves remove plantar warts.This operation is performed by 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 by topical treatment using drugs with antiviral effects.This drug combination helps to significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of pathological processes and significantly increases the overall effect of treatment.For this purpose, patients are prescribed ointments or subcutaneous injections and applications of interferon.
Before using the drug, a course of treatment is required to soften the epidermal horn layer on the spinal surface.For this purpose, keratolytic agents are used, but they do not remove the growth itself, so they are not suitable as a stand-alone treatment for papillomatosis.Not only can you use ointments - in most cases doctors recommend applying calluses or antiseptic plasters.A few days are enough to soften the wart, after which you can proceed directly to the main treatment.
Because the spine is prone to frequent inflammation, the risk of secondary infection is too high, and patients may need to take antibacterial or anti-inflammatory medications.However, in this case, topical treatments have a special status.
Laser Wart Removal
Today, one of the most popular and effective instrumental methods for removing plantar warts is laser coagulation.There are several types of carbon dioxide lasers that can be used to destroy skin tumors.Therefore, each type of growth uses a different type of laser, which helps to completely remove the wart and prevent it from reappearing in the treated area.
The principle of action of the laser beam is simple.Due to the high temperatures, fluid evaporates from the plantar wart tissue, causing it to become necrotic.Although the process takes some time, laser coagulation allows you to remove unsightly and painful tumors in just 1 surgery.The main advantage of this technology is not even its high efficiency, but the almost complete absence of contraindications and side effects.The disadvantage is that the cost of surgery is high and not every patient can afford it.
Only a qualified specialist - a dermatologist - can choose the best option for prick removal.He will also advise how to prepare for surgery and tell you what steps you need to take to prevent the plantar warts from coming back.
Pharmacy ready products
If plantar warts are not yet deeply rooted and hardened, they can also be removed using ready-made solutions and ointments available for free in pharmacies.Each product contains a base or acid, so the instructions for use of the chosen drug must be followed strictly.
Salicylic acid or boric acid are great treatments for the spine, used in the form of an ointment or ointment.
traditional medicine
There are also many recipes in the arsenal of traditional medicine that are very effective in combating various types of warts, including plantar warts.But they are not recommended as independent remedies - in most cases they must be used in combination with medications.
Here are the most effective recipes:
- Celandine juice.Perhaps this is one of the most popular and effective folk remedies for treating various types of skin growths.You only need to treat the growths with fresh juice 2-3 times a day until they are completely gone.
- garlic juice.This drug has powerful antiviral, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties.Before using it to treat plantar warts, the growth must be steamed and slightly cut, then lubricated with garlic juice and wrapped in a bandage.Perform this procedure every day.The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
- acetic acid.To prepare the remedy, you need to soak the onion in acetic acid for 2-3 hours, then compress it and fix it with a bandage.Leave overnight.
- Porridge made from rowan berries.
However, the most effective remedy against warts is not drugs, not the traditional remedies mentioned above, or even the modern instrumental methods of removing warts, but a strong immune system.Cases of spontaneous disappearance of skin tumors of the feet have been observed in people with positive changes in their immune status.
You can strengthen your immune system in many ways: exercise, walking in the fresh air, proper nutrition, giving up bad habits and, finally, special medicines - immunomodulators.Nonetheless, a stable and strong immune system is the key to absolute health for the entire body.
prevention
Primary prevention of plantar warts is aimed at preventing HPV infection.To do this you need:
- Please wear separate shoes when going to public swimming pools, bathhouses, and saunas;
- Use only your own towels and personal hygiene products;
- Wear comfortable shoes;
- Fight sweaty feet;
- Treat any cuts, cracks or even minor scratches on your legs.
For secondary prevention of plantar warts, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs are needed to strengthen the immune system.Medications prescribed by your doctor must be started immediately after skin tumor removal surgery, which in itself is stressful for the body.
The treatment process must be completed to the end, since an interruption in the treatment process will bring all efforts to zero, so even a qualified specialist cannot eliminate the risk of plantar warts re-forming.