Since ancient times, the ugly formation on the body has plagued mankind. Warts on the feet are a skin disease caused by a virus. People with skin defects are avoided, are afraid of infection, and, having noticed a neoplasm in one or another part of the body, they try to get rid of it as soon as possible. What people don't apply to their plantar warts, if only they were gone forever. Until now, dermatologists are looking for the most effective and painless way to treat the disease.
What are warts?
Human papillomavirus triggers benign or oncological DNA mutations in skin cells. The body is covered with papillomas, warts, papules. More than a hundred types of HPV have been studied. Warts are skin growths that indicate the presence of the first or third type of papilloma virus in the body. Neoplasms are potentially not carcinogenic, but are highly infectious due to the viability of pathogens in the external environment.
What do warts on the feet look like?
Plantar neoplasms are spherical in shape with clear edges measuring several millimeters or centimeters. In the center, black dots of clogged capillaries are visible. On the feet, they look like old dry calluses that have grown into the skin. The pain of a plantar growth does not manifest itself under direct pressure, but on compression. The absence of papillary lines on the feet is characteristic.
Causes of plantar warts
HPV infection is more common with unprotected sex. The virus penetrates through the microcracks in the mucous membranes of the genital organs. One person's HPV is "on its way", while another is unlucky - the virus remains in the body, without telling itself for a long time. Dermatologists do not rule out that the appearance of papillomas on the surface of the feet is caused by immune disorders and infectious diseases.
Walking barefoot in public places: bathing, swimming pools, body care salons, shared bathrooms, at the beach, trying on shoes with bare feet are the most common causes of plantar warts. The virus lives outside its host and "lurks waiting for its victim" on towels, tiles, washcloths, furniture, on guest slippers, etc. The infection is attracted by areas of dense, tight skin on the plantar and palmar surfaces, where the papilloma virus enters through minor wounds.
Warts on children's feet
Children are restless, often hurt. Parents may not be aware of the presence of HPV in the child's body, which is acquired through cuts and abrasions. With weakened immunity, the virus becomes active, papillomas appear on the legs. Painful methods of dealing with warts on the feet in children are often contraindicated, poorly tolerated. Often, the child's body copes with this foot skin disease on its own.
Types of warts on feet
Warts are a collection of skin lesions caused by papillomas. Depending on external manifestations, impact on human health, the following types of warts are classified:
- vulgar (ordinary) - rounded keratinized blisters;
- flat - a rash in the form of raised spots above the skin;
- filiform (acrochords) - elongated with "torn" edges, formed in the folds of the body;
- genital warts - reminiscent of a rooster's comb;
- senile dementia (keratoma) - occurs in the elderly, is not associated with HPV.
Wart formations are localized throughout the body, in internal organs, in the oral cavity. Warts on the feet, called plantar warts, are a common type. One type includes well-formed, which is a depression pressed into the skin, characterized by rapid growth. The appearance of a subungual growth slightly raises the nail plate.
Plantar wart treatment
It is dangerous to neglect the treatment of plantar warts. Neoplasms on the legs are constantly injured. They are removed to stop the emergence of new growth and entry of infection. There is no complete cure for HPV. Treatment is reduced to turning the disease into a "sleep mode". Available medications, surgery, immunomodulatory removal of plantar warts, using alternative medicine.
The disadvantage of plantar growth treatment lies in its location: the large stratum corneum of the epidermis makes it difficult to deliver the active substance to the depths of the formations on the feet. In preparation for therapy, the top layer of buildup is soaked and peeled off. Traditionally, the treatment of warts on the feet begins with the use of salicylic acid. Warts on the feet are carried out every day, for three months, steamed in a bath, disinfected, then the soft top layer is cleaned with a pumice stone, salicylic acid is applied and applied.
Pharmacy chains advise how to get rid of warts on the feet with the help of drugs containing celandine, phenol, trichloroacetic acid. The drug causes tissue necrosis, eliminates the patient's shortcomings, but leaves traces of deep wart wound healing. Each disease is individual with different degrees, therefore, before choosing a method of how to get rid of warts on the soles of the feet, you should ask your doctor for advice.
ointment
According to the method of action, there are necrotizing, antiviral, herbal ointments. In the first case, the acid or alkali in the base of the ointment burns the painful growth and leaves a scar. At home, for foot care, you can use liquid solutions: with a composition of acetic, nitric, oxalic, lactic acids. In order to avoid burns, the surface of the neoplasm is strictly processed.
Antiviral ointment for warts on the feet is applied to the growth itself and the area around it to reduce the growth of infection. They are used with special ointments. Herbal ingredients only affect the formation of the skin. Known for its effectiveness in the treatment of foot balm with applicators, colhamin ointment.
Modern removal methods
The advent of modern methods of removing warts has replaced the traumatic scalpel. Similar to a surgeon's knife, the electrocoagulator burns the neoplasm in the leg with a current. After a laser or radio wave removal procedure, a depression remains in the leg. Healing takes several weeks. Liquid nitrogen exposure is considered a very painful treatment and requires several treatments. In 2014, British dermatologists published material on the latest antigen injection therapy. This will help patients who are resistant to existing treatments.
Traditional medicine
The procedure with folk remedies for warts on the feet is carried out before bedtime, with the feet already steamed and for a long time. During handling, protect your hands with latex gloves from further spread of infection, disinfect all devices and used items to prevent infection of loved ones. List of folk ways that are considered effective to get rid of warts on the feet:
- Garlic is known for its antibiotic properties. In neoplasms on the sole, the hardened top layer is cut off, a thin clove of garlic is applied.
- You can make "anti-beard dough". It is kneaded from finely grated garlic, vinegar, wheat flour, spread over the surface of the neoplasm and sealed with plaster. After a few days, the dough is removed along with the buildup.
- Apply vinegar-infused onions to your feet, or you can rub the growths with vinegar, then apply fresh onions.
- You can fill the formations with the juices of medicinal plants: celandine, Kalanchoe, calendula, milkweed, dandelion, golden mustache, or stick a piece of apple, mountain ash, figs, potatoes, radishes, cabbage. This procedure is carried out daily, lasting from a few weeks to months, until the buildup is gone.
- You can apply wood ash diluted in water until it becomes a cream.
- The growth is sprinkled with lime which is ground into a powder and wrapped in a bandage. Compresses cannot be wetted.
- Birch and willow bark containing salicyl has been shown to be good in medicine. The bark is applied to the legs, softened in advance with boiling water.
- A hot foot bath with sea salt, soda, laundry soap, tea tree oil or spruce broth helps in the treatment of foot ailments. Treatments can be mixed or alternated.
- Application of wormwood broth is used. 3 tablespoons of dried wormwood decoction are brewed in a glass of boiling water, insist for at least 2 hours.