If a hard, rough papule with a rough top appears on the soles of the feet, then it is a plantar wart or callus. The differences are significant, mainly in origin and treatment methods. The wart grows like a sharp thorn on the inner layer of the skin of the foot, causing severe pain. Doctors recommend removing this skin swelling if it is damaged by shoes and becomes inflamed.
The appearance of the outgrowth on the sole of the foot
The main part of the common wart on the foot grows inwards, towards the dermis. The reason is that from the outside the tumor is squeezed by hard surfaces: shoes, various coverings on which we walk. New growth cells appear from the soft tissue of the skin. In the photo of the plantar wart, a dense plaque or a roller is visible from the outside. The surface of the formation is devoid of skin lines, consists of scales of the horny substance. The adjacent skin changes: it becomes more dense, covered with a layer of keratin.
What a plantar wart looks like:
- a nodule or plaque raised above the epidermis between 1 and 5 mm;
- the shape is round, oval or polygonal;
- the surface is hard and rough to the touch;
- pink, yellow-white or grayish color;
- forming diameter from 1 to 20 mm;
- papillary pattern missing;
- well defined edges.
A wart on the foot is characterized by sharp pain that interferes with walking, up to a temporary disability.
Build-up occurs in areas that are exposed to intense pressure and perspiration. Typical location of the wart on the sole: heels, foot pads and toes. Painful and difficult to remove formations appear on the edge of the nail and under the nail plate. Within all types of warts there are blood vessels that feed living tissues, cells that multiply intensely. Small black dots are visible on the surface: blood clots in the capillaries; may bleed when the stratum corneum is cut.
Plantar warts are more common in school-age children. In about 30% of patients, these formations disappear on their own within the first year. However, it is recommended to start treatment when the first symptoms appear, especially if the plantar wart hurts or there is a high risk of infection from the surrounding people. The infection is also dangerous, when a group of formations appears in one area, individual papules merge into a mosaic plate.
Wart: a manifestation of the papilloma virus
The skin of the feet is often damaged, compressed and sweaty when wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes. If thin-walled blisters appear with a clear liquid inside, then they are corns. Sometimes a layer of keratin forms on the surface, but still, the typical skin lines remain.
The appearance of a wart on the soles of the feet is initially unnoticed or perceived as the formation of a corn. It is necessary to carefully observe the surface of the formation and pay attention to characteristic signs. This is severe keratinization, absence of skin lines, pain when the surrounding skin is compressed. These are the results of the active reproduction of the papillomavirus in the living cells of the epithelium.
Causes of plantar warts:
- Papillomavirus (HPV) infection;
- weakening of local and general immune defenses;
- virus activation, epithelial cell penetration;
- increased multiplication and rapid keratinization of infected cells.
HPV is spread through sexual contact and in the home. Infectious agents penetrate even through minor damage to the skin and mucous membranes: cracks, cuts, weeping.
Papillomavirus types 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57 predominantly infect cells located on the skin of the foot. The plantar type of growths of viral origin belongs to simple (ordinary, vulgar) formations. According to the International Classification of Diseases, they are infectious and parasitic diseases. Class ICD-10: "Viral infections characterized by lesions of the skin and mucous membranes".
Simple warts are benign epithelial tumors. Initially, they do not pose a health hazard. Sometimes such growths undergo a malignant transformation into a cancerous tumor. The process is most often triggered by HPV types for which a high risk of developing cancer is established.
Treatment of warts on the feet
After infection, the incubation period begins: the papilloma virus invades cells, "reformatting" their reproduction and development. Much more often, the infection becomes latent and in such a dormant state it can exist for the entire life of the body. Immunity in this case suppresses the papilloma virus, puts it in sleep mode without special therapy.
Plantar warts can appear 3 to 10 years later or appear several weeks after infection, then disappear in the first year or within two years.
Not everyone is willing to wait, counting on spontaneous healing and clearing the skin of growths. Many go to the doctor at the first sign of HPV infection. Dermatologists suggest using modern methods of removing warts, recommending means for antiviral therapy, strengthening the immune system of the skin and the whole body.
If for a proper choice of therapy it is necessary to establish the type of HPV, the doctor prescribes several additional studies. A biopsy is performed to collect histological material, an analysis is performed to determine antibodies against the papilloma virus.
Treatment options:
- The use of special medications for plantar warts. Dissolution and exfoliation of dead cells occurs.
- Laser excision of simple neoplasms with formation of a scab, under which healing occurs. The scab disappears 7-10 days after the procedure.
- Cryodestruction with liquid nitrogen. Large warts are removed by various procedures. When exposed to low temperatures, a bubble appears, as after a burn.
- Electrocoagulation using an electrode through which a high frequency current is applied to destroy pathological tissues. Painful procedure accompanied by a strong smell of burning skin.
- Surgical excision.
- Drug injection.
At the beginning of treatment, it is recommended to use a special plaster at home. This affordable remedy is used after softening the foot wart with warm water, cleaning it of the keratinized layers with nail scissors and a pumice stone. Then a patch is applied. The course of treatment lasts an average of 1 to 3 months.
Prevention
Papillomaviruses can persist in the environment for a long time. It is necessary to keep your feet clean, do not walk 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 foreign skin particles. Also, don't 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. Sanitize accessories for daily hygiene and medication applications. Socks and a foot towel should be thoroughly washed with hot water, scissors, a nail file, pumice stone should be disinfected. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after touching education, various medical procedures.