The plantar wart or spine is one of the most unpleasant types of growths on the skin. Such a formation is located on the supporting part of the foot or toes. It consists of overgrown epithelial cells and has a deep root that extends deep into the dermis.
Spines do not pose a special danger 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, which methods are considered the most effective and safest? Find out about it from our article.
Why do spines appear?
Warts on the foot are benign neoplasms of a viral nature. The cause of their appearance is infection with HPV (papilloma virus). The pathogen is transmitted from person to person by contact or comes to the skin when it comes in contact with the infected surface. It feels great in a warm and humid environment, where it can be stored for a long time. The risk of infection is especially high in public places - bathrooms, saunas, gyms, swimming pools. The virus easily enters the body with small scratches or scratches on the skin.
A strong immune system suppresses the reproduction of the virus and puts it in a latent state. But as soon as the body's defenses weaken, the pathogen is activated and begins to multiply rapidly. Recent illnesses, stress, and violations of personal hygiene standards are becoming provocative factors that weaken the immune defense. The following factors contribute to the formation of plantar warts:
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes;
- skin microtrauma (scratches, scuffs, wounds, scratches);
- frequent contact with water and detergents that cause dry skin;
- chronic diseases associated with impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, varicose veins);
- foot deformities (flat feet, arthritis of small joints, osteoarthritis);
- constant blistering, corns.
Plantar warts can be found by wearing an infected person’s shoes or visiting a pedicure salon where the tool is poorly disinfected. A plantar wart in a child often occurs after visiting a swimming pool, summer camp, public shower, where the baby can mistakenly put on someone else's shoes, walk barefoot on a dirty surface or use the personal belongings of the carrier (towel, towel, etc. ). Parents should teach their baby to respect the norms of personal hygiene as soon as possible and explain why it is impossible to use other people's things.
What does a plantar wart look like?
The incubation period, during which the papilloma virus multiplies, is quite long - from 1. 5 to 4 months. First the pathogen affects the basal layer of the epidermis and then spreads upwards, leading to the formation of characteristic growths on the skin.
Initially, a wart on the foot of a child or adult looks like a glossy tile of round shape and small diameter (up to 2 cm). Soon its surface becomes rough, covered with a thick horny layer, rising above the surface of the skin. The color of the spine changes from fleshy to yellowish gray. A crater-shaped depression appears in the center of the neoplasm. On closer examination, black spots are visible on the surface of the nipple. These are thrombosed capillaries that come to the surface. The presence of this feature allows you to distinguish a plantar wart from corns or blisters. A photograph of the plantar wart gives a complete picture of how this formation looks on the skin.
The favorite place for the localization of the spine is the area of the foot that is exposed to the greatest pressure. The root of the neoplasm goes deep into the dermis, irritating the nerve endings, so such warts cause painful sensations when walking. The growths on the soles are single and multiple. Usually, a large mother's nipple first appears on the foot. If the virus is very active, small daughter formations will soon form next to it. Sometimes the spine disappears on its own, but more often a permanent injury leads to its growth and the appearance of severe pain due to the constant pressure of the shoe.
How to get rid of warts on the foot if such formations are painful and cause severe discomfort? First of all, you need to contact a dermatologist for an examination and treatment. Plantar warts are not easy to deal with because they grow deep into the dermis. To avoid the reappearance of thorns, the root of the neoplasm must be completely removed. This can be done in different ways - medically and surgically.
Plantar warts: treatment
There are several methods to deal with plantar warts. At home, pharmaceutical products can be used to treat warts on the foot. The doctor should choose the treatment regimen, because a positive effect can be achieved only with a proper and competent approach.
Drug therapy
Various methods are used to treat plantar warts at home - from destruction by aggressive chemicals (acids, alkalis) to freezing of pathological tissues by special means. In order to exclude recurrences, it is necessary not only to remove the growth, but also to suppress the activity of the virus.
Complex treatment is based on the following groups of drugs:
- Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents.A cream that activates local immunity and inhibits virus replication has a good therapeutic effect. It must be applied twice a day under a bandage. A cream that stimulates the production of interferon is used for the same purpose.
- Keratolytic agents.Preparations based on salicylic or trichloroacetic acid are designed to soften and exfoliate the rough stratum corneum of the nipple. Removal of dead scales allows you to reach the base of the nipple and facilitate the penetration of cauterizing or necrotizing solutions to its root. This is the only way to avoid the reappearance of new formations and get rid of the thorns forever.
- Necrotizing drugs.To combat plantar warts, it is recommended to buy solutions based on acids or alkalis with a mummifying effect in the pharmacy. Penetrating into the structure of the neoplasm, aggressive substances burn the infected tissue, as a result of which the wart goes through necrosis and dies. When using such medications, precautions should be taken, as otherwise you may get chemical burns on healthy skin. Treatment of plantar warts in children with necrotic agents is allowed only after consultation with a dermatologist.
- Cryopreparations. . . The principle of action of such funds is based on the freezing of nipple tissue. Under the influence of ultra low temperatures, the fluid inside the pathological cells freezes and breaks them 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 an expert can properly assess the situation and advise how to get rid of plantar warts at home. Self-medication often leads to a short-term effect and recurrences, because it is not possible to stop the spread of the virus.
Plantar warts in a child
Treatment of warts on the foot of the child is carried out by gentle methods. Baby skin is soft and thin, so aggressive products can cause irritation or burns. It is best to use drugs with keratolytic action that soften and peel the cornea. This method of treatment is not quick - it will take 2-3 weeks to remove the wart.
It is necessary to start using keratolytics in the initial stages of neoplasm formation. In this case, it is possible to avoid the recurrence of accumulations. If the spine has grown deep, you will have to resort to hardware treatment methods that provide the desired result and guarantee the absence of recurrence.
If the plantar wart does not cause much concern, you can treat it with folk remedies - acetic acid solution, lemon juice, garlic tincture. The acidic environment has a destructive effect on the virus, stops its reproduction and prevents the growth of growths.
Surgery
Classic surgery with the use of a scalpel is rarely resorted to. Such an intervention is allowed only when removing large growths, which cannot be eliminated by other methods. The operation is performed using local anesthesia. The surgeon cuts out the nipple and thoroughly cleans the wound, trying to completely remove the deep root. Disadvantages include pain, risk of wound infection and later development of complications, a long recovery period, during which the person is limited in mobility.
It is better to remove plantar warts with hardware techniques that are less traumatic and safe. Referral to the procedure is given by a doctor after a preliminary examination and identification of possible contraindications. The main treatment options are:
Electrocoagulation
The essence of the method is cauterization of tissue accumulation with high-frequency electric current. The procedure is performed with the use of local anesthesia, because it is accompanied by painful feelings. This option is only suitable for removing medium-sized thorns, with shallow germination into the depths of the dermis. If large formations are cauterized, the risk of scarring and recurrence is not excluded.
The rehabilitation period after electrocoagulation lasts quite a long time, requiring treatment of the wound with antiseptic solutions, excluding infection. During the recovery process, the patient is restricted in movement, because the load on the feet causes painful sensations.
Cryodestruction
This is one of the most popular and affordable methods for treating plantar warts. The procedure takes only a few minutes and consists of treating the tumor with liquid nitrogen. Extremely low temperatures provide an instant freezing effect. Frozen fluid ruptures the cells of the pathological neoplasm from the inside - as a result, the wart goes through necrosis and dies within 10 days.
During the session, the doctor presses the coolant applicator on the neoplasm for a few seconds, previously protecting the surrounding healthy tissue. Blanching of the skin in the treatment area testifies to the effectiveness of the procedure. Soon a blister forms at the site of the nipple that must not be touched or pierced. It is recommended that you cover it with a band-aid to avoid injury. After a few days, the blister will dry out and a crust will form in its place. Once it falls off, renewed, healthy skin remains at the nipple site.
The procedure should only be performed by an experienced technician. Excessive exposure time causes deep tissue damage, followed by scarring, and too superficial exposure does not destroy the root of the wart, which will lead to the appearance of new growths.
Laser removal
The modern procedure gives the best aesthetic result, allows you to control the depth of exposure, eliminates the risk of complications. Laser radiation evaporates the nipple tissue layer by layer, simultaneously coagulating blood vessels and disinfecting the operative field. Such an effect eliminates the risk of bleeding, infection, guarantees the absence of recurrence, because it prevents the spread of viral particles. 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 a long recovery period. A small wound remains in the place of the removed nipple, which is sealed with plaster. After the procedure, the patient can go home immediately and lead a normal life. The rehabilitation period is very short - complete healing takes only a few days.
Radio knife removal
The essence of the latest technique is the use of radio waves that allow you to remove plantar warts in the fastest and safest way. Strong thermal radiation burns the accumulation without direct contact with the surrounding tissues. The fluid in the cells of the tumor immediately evaporates, which causes the destruction of the nipple. At the same time, healthy skin is not damaged; during the procedure the doctor adjusts the depth and duration of the exposure. At the same time, high-frequency radio waves disinfect the surgical field and cauterize blood vessels, which eliminates the risk of bleeding.
Which method of plantar wart control to choose, the patient decides together with the attending physician. Before naming the procedure, the dermatologist finds out possible contraindications.
List of restrictions on the use of any hardware methods:
- inflammatory processes on the skin in the area of treatment;
- diabetes;
- infectious, respiratory diseases (ARVI, ARI);
- hypertension;
- exacerbation of herpesvirus infection;
- pregnancy.
The question of the use of apparatus methods in relation to the child is discussed with the doctor. Some procedures have age restrictions, so you should find out in advance all the nuances of the proposed methods and ensure that there is no harm to the health of the child.