Plantar wart is an outgrowth on the skin of a viral nature, also known as corn. Medical terminology suggests that such formations are localized on the soles of the feet and toes. From the point of view of oncological risk, they are not dangerous, but they cause a lot of discomfort when walking due to their 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 good in high humidity. Therefore, HPV infection is most common in spas, saunas, and 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 the body's strong protective properties, the virus can remain in a dormant state indefinitely after infection. But when immunity decreases, it begins to actively multiply, which provokes the appearance of warts with various localizations on the skin. 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57 HPV subtypes alone are most frequently responsible for their occurrence.
Several predisposing factors contribute to the appearance of such formations:
- Shoes that are too tight or too big;
- frequent wearing of high heels;
- various foot deformities (including flat feet);
- various ankle diseases (arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. ).
Leg warts are more common in people with excessively dry skin and hyperkeratosis.
Therefore, 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
A wart on the foot looks like a rounded skin growth. It can vary in size, but it rarely exceeds two centimeters in diameter. It does not rise more than three millimeters above the level of the skin, but at the same time goes deep inside with its roots. The color must not differ from the surrounding skin or be darker or lighter. Often such formations have a yellow or gray hue. When viewed inside the elements, black dots or lines can be seen visually (they are also clearly visible in the photo). This is what capillaries look like in which blood clots have formed due to the compression of horny vessels by masses.
The plantar wart initially has a smooth surface. But over time it gets hard, rough and thickened. It's the horny masses that give these warts their yellow color.
An important symptom of plantar warts is pain when compressing. Each step causes the patient severe acute pain.
These warts are very similar to plantar calluses. The resemblance to a cornice is especially pronounced due to the severe pain of both formations. The main difference is that there is no pattern of skin on the surface of the warts, while it remains on the calluses.
Plantar wart diagnosis
A competent dermatologist will diagnose this disease based on just one clinical picture. In some cases, an additional dermatoscopy is required. The absence of a skin pattern in the formation and the presence in their structure of capillaries with blood clots confirms this diagnosis.
Treatment of plantar warts
Plantar warts are more difficult to remove than similar formations in other areas because of their deeper penetration into the dermis. With small and newly formed elements, necrotizing external preparations can be used. Large and deep warts are surgically removed. At the same time, old formations should first be softened with keratolytics.
External preparations for removing warts
In some cases such formations can self-destruct. However, since the plantar wart is very painful, patients do not want to wait and try to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Any necrotizing plantar wart remedy is prescribed to remove small and superficial elements.
These products contain acids that coagulate skin proteins and cause necrosis. The drugs that contain refrigerants have a similar effect. However, they cause necrotizing effects by freezing the tissue rather than chemical damage.
All of these drugs are applied selectively to the formation. It is imperative to monitor that the substance does not fall on the surrounding tissue, as this can cause burns. After the treatment, a wound remains on the site of the former wart, which is covered with a crust. After healing, it falls off by itself. You can do such treatment at home, but only as directed by a doctor.
In this way it is possible to remove a plantar wart of small size and with little penetration into the skin. For large elements, you will need to choose other methods of removal, as incomplete destruction of the wart tissue will definitely lead to its recurrence.
Surgical methods for removing plantar warts
There are different ways to remove a plantar wart in surgery. Gentle methods are preferred:
- laser removal;
- radio wave meter;
- cryodestruction;
- Electrocautery.
All of these interventions are carried out on an outpatient basis. Patients can literally go home a few minutes after their completion. All you need to do is treat the wound regularly at home.
The most effective and safest way to remove plantar warts is to remove them with a laser or radio wave knife. When done, the vessels coagulate immediately, which is a good prevention against bleeding and secondary infections. Complications of removing skin formations using these methods are extremely rare. The same is not true of cryodestruction and electrocoagulation, so these treatments have taken a back seat and are rarely used.
If the warts are large or old (covered with a large amount of horny mass), it is recommended that they be treated with keratolytic drugs for two weeks before the removal process. For this purpose, salicylic ointment or acid and other medicines are prescribed. It is thus possible to exfoliate part of the horn scales to make the formations softer and more supple. This makes it easier and faster to remove the wart.
On rare occasions, when many elements are present or there are doubts about their nature, the doctor may recommend surgical removal with a scalpel. With this method of removing warts, the rehabilitation time and the high risk of scarring are much longer, so it is only used under strict indications.
Features of plantar warts in children
Plantar warts are common in children over the age of five because they often walk barefoot, get injured and do not always follow the rules of personal hygiene. Malfunction of immunity due to regular contact with sick children (in kindergartens and schools), which leads to an increased likelihood of warts.
Treatment of such formations in a child is best started with external means. You can try exfoliating flat items with salicylic ointment followed by pumice stone. Immunomodulating drugs have proven their worth. When applied regularly to a wart, they can be removed in a matter of weeks.
If the elements are deep, apply necrotizing agent or remove with a laser or radio wave knife.
Prevention of plantar warts
It is absolutely impossible to protect yourself from the appearance of warts, but you can reduce the risk of them appearing. To do this, you need to act in two directions: eliminate predisposing factors and stimulate the body's defenses.
To reach the first goal you need:
- Follow rules of personal hygiene (do not go barefoot in public places, wash your feet daily, and treat cuts and injuries in a timely manner);
- choose comfortable shoes by size;
- in good time to prevent foot deformities and treat joint diseases.
A healthy lifestyle, exercise, hardening, taking vitamin complexes, and immunostimulating drugs as prescribed by a doctor all help to keep the body's defenses at a good level.
With excessively dry skin and hyperkeratosis, it is recommended that medical pedicures and peelings be performed regularly. With excessive sweating of the legs, you need to use special agents for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. If you follow all of these rules, the risk of developing 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 them quickly and with minimal risk of new relapses. To do this, you need to consult a dermatologist and carefully follow all his appointments and recommendations.