If a hard and rough papule with a rough tip appears on the soles of the feet, it is either a plantar wart or a callus. The differences are particularly significant with regard to origin and treatment methods. The wart grows like a sharp thorn in the inner layer of the skin of the foot, causing severe pain. Doctors recommend removing this skin swelling if it is damaged and inflamed by shoes.
The appearance of the outgrowth on the sole of the foot
The main part of the wart on the foot grows inward into the dermis. The reason is that the tumor is squeezed from the outside by hard surfaces: shoes, various coatings on which we walk. New growth cells emerge from the soft tissue of the skin. In the photo of the plantar wart, a dense plaque or roller is visible from the outside. The surface of the formation is free of skin lines, consists of scales of the horny substance. The adjacent skin changes: it becomes denser and covered with a layer of keratin.
What a plantar wart looks like:
- a lump or plaque raised 1–5 mm above the epidermis; The
- shape is round, oval, or polygonal. The
- surface feels hard and rough.
- color pink, yellow-white or gray;
- formation diameter from 1 to 20 mm;
- Papillary pattern missing;
- edges well defined.
A wart on the foot is characterized by acute pain, which can affect walking or even temporary disabilities.
A build-up occurs in areas exposed to strong pressure and sweat. Typical site of the wart on the sole: heels, foot pads and toes. On the edge of the nail and under the nail plate, painful and difficult to remove formations appear. All types of warts have blood vessels that supply living tissue, cells that multiply intensely. Small black dots are visible on the surface - blood clots in the capillaries; You may bleed if the stratum corneum is cut.
Plantar warts are most common in school-age children. In about 30% of patients, such formations go away on their own within the first year. However, it is recommended that treatment be started when the first symptoms appear, especially if the plantar wart is painful or if there is a high risk of infection for the people around it. Infection is also dangerous when a group of formations appear in an area and individual papules fuse into a mosaic plaque.
wart - a manifestation of the papillomavirus
The skin on the feet is often damaged, compressed and sweaty when wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes. If there are thin-walled bubbles with a clear liquid inside, they are corns. Sometimes a keratin layer forms on the surface, but the typical skin lines are retained.
The appearance of a wart on the soles of the feet initially goes unnoticed or is perceived as a callus formation. It is necessary to carefully look at the surface of the formation and pay attention to the characteristic signs. This is severe keratinization, the lack of skin lines and pain when the surrounding skin is compressed. These are the results of the active reproduction of the papillomavirus in living cells of the epithelium.
Causes of plantar warts:
- Papillomavirus (HPV) infection;
- weakening of the local and general immune defense;
- Activation of the virus, penetration into epithelial cells;
- increased proliferation and rapid keratinization of infected cells.
HPV is transmitted through household and sexual contact. Infectious agents also penetrate through minor damage to the skin and mucous membranes: cracks, cuts, crying.
Papillomaviruses of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 27th and 57th types mainly infect cells in the skin of the foot. The plantar growth type of viral origin belongs to simple formations (ordinary, vulgar). According to the International Classification of Diseases, these are infectious and parasitic diseases. ICD-10 class: "Viral infections characterized by skin and mucosal lesions. "
Simple warts are benign epithelial tumors. Initially, they do not pose a health risk. Sometimes such growths turn maliciously into a cancerous tumor. The process is more often triggered by types of HPV that are at high risk of cancer.
Foot wart treatment
After the infection, the incubation period begins: the papillomavirus penetrates the cells and “reformats” their reproduction and development. Much more often, the infection becomes latent and, in such an inactive state, can exist throughout the life of the organism. The immunity in this case suppresses the papillomavirus and puts it into sleep mode without special therapy.
Plantar warts can appear 3-10 years later or a few weeks after infection, and then go away in the first year or within two years.
Not everyone is ready to wait and rely on spontaneous healing and cleansing of the skin from growth. Many see a doctor at the first sign of HPV infection. Dermatologists suggest using modern methods of removing warts, recommending means of antiviral therapy and strengthening the immune system of the skin and the whole body.
If it is necessary to determine the type of HPV for an appropriate choice of therapy, the doctor prescribes several additional studies. A biopsy is done to collect histological material, an analysis is done to determine antibodies to the papillomavirus.
Treatment options:
- The use of special drugs for plantar warts. The dissolution and peeling of dead cells occurs.
- Laser removal of simple neoplasms with the formation of a scab under which healing takes place. The crust disappears 7-10 days after the procedure.
- Cryodestruction with liquid nitrogen. Large warts are removed in several procedures. At low temperatures, a bubble appears like after a fire.
- Electrocoagulation using an electrode through which a high frequency current is applied to destroy pathological tissue. Painful procedure accompanied by a strong smell of burning skin.
- Surgical removal.
- drug injection.
It is recommended to use a special patch at home at the beginning of treatment. This affordable remedy is used after the wart on the foot is softened with warm water and the keratinized layers removed with nail scissors and pumice stone. Then a patch is applied. The course of treatment lasts an average of 1–3 months.
Prevention
Papillomaviruses can persist in the environment for a long time. It is necessary to keep the feet clean, not without shoes, especially in public changing rooms, bathrooms, in the pool. It is necessary to use special slippers to protect the soles of the feet from contact with surfaces contaminated with other people's skin particles. Also, do not wear other people's socks and shoes.
Do not scratch the wart, otherwise similar growths will appear on other parts of the leg.
Papillomaviruses are extremely contagious. Disinfect accessories for daily hygiene and medication use. Socks and a foot towel should be washed thoroughly with hot water, scissors, nail file and pumice stone should be disinfected. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after touching the training and various medical procedures.