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 the origin and methods of treatment. The wart grows as a sharp thorn in the inner layer of the skin of the foot, causing severe pain. Doctors recommend removing this swelling of the skin if it gets damaged by shoes and becomes inflamed.
The appearance of the growth on the sole of the foot
The main part of the common wart on the foot grows inward, into the dermis. The reason is that from the outside the tumor is squeezed by hard surfaces: shoes, various coatings on which we walk. New growth cells appear from the soft tissues of the skin. In the photo of the plantar wart, a thick plaque or roller is visible from the outside. The surface of the formation is devoid of skin lines, consisting of scales of the horny substance. The adjacent skin changes: it becomes denser, covered with a layer of keratin.
What does a plantar wart look like:
- a lump or plaque raised 1–5 mm above the epidermis;
- 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;
- missing papillary pattern;
- well defined edges.
A wart on the foot is characterized by acute pain that interferes with walking, up to a temporary disability.
There is an accumulation in areas exposed to strong pressure and sweating. Typical localization 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. Inside all types of warts there are blood vessels that feed living tissues, cells that multiply intensively. Small black dots are visible on the surface: blood clots in the capillaries; they can bleed when the stratum corneum is cut.
Plantar warts are more common in school-age children. In about 30% of patients, such 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 if there is a high risk of infection of the surrounding people. Infection is also dangerous, when a group of formations appears in one area, the individual papules merge into a mosaic plaque.
Verruca - 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 calluses. Sometimes a layer of keratin forms on the surface, but even so, the typical skin lines remain.
The appearance of a wart on the soles of the feet first goes unnoticed or is perceived as the formation of a callus. It is necessary to carefully look at the surface of the formation and pay attention to the characteristic signs. This is severe keratinization, no skin lines, pain when the surrounding skin is compressed. These are the results of the active reproduction of the papilloma virus in living cells of the epithelium.
Causes of plantar warts:
- papilloma virus (HPV) infection;
- weakening of local and general immune defenses;
- virus activation, penetration into epithelial cells;
- increased multiplication and rapid keratinization of infected cells.
HPV is transmitted through family and sexual contact. Infectious agents also penetrate through minor damage to the skin and mucous membranes: cracks, cuts, tears.
Papilloma viruses of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 27th and 57th types predominantly infect the cells located in 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. They do not initially 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.
Foot wart treatment
After the infection, the incubation period begins: the papilloma virus invades the cells, “reformatting” their reproduction and development. Much more often, the infection becomes latent, and in such an inactive state it can exist throughout the life of the organism. Immunity in this case suppresses the papilloma virus, puts it into sleep mode without special therapy.
Plantar warts can appear 3-10 years later or appear several weeks after infection, then disappear in the first year or within two years.
Not everyone is ready to wait, counting on spontaneous healing and cleansing the skin of growths. Many go to the doctor at the first sign of HPV infection. Dermatologists suggest using modern methods of removing warts, recommend means for antiviral therapy, strengthen the immune system of the skin and the whole body.
If it is necessary to establish the type of HPV for a suitable choice of therapy, the doctor prescribes several additional studies. A biopsy is performed to collect histological material, an analysis is performed to determine antibodies to 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 the formation of a crust, under which healing takes place. The scab disappears 7-10 days after the procedure.
- Cryodestruction with liquid nitrogen. Large warts are removed in several procedures. When exposed to low temperatures, a bubble appears, as after a burn.
- Electrocoagulation which uses 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 removal.
- Drug injection.
At the beginning of treatment, it is recommended to use a special patch at home. This inexpensive remedy is used after softening the wart on the foot with warm water, cleaning it from the keratinized layers using nail scissors and pumice. Then a patch is applied. The course of treatment lasts an average of 1-3 months.
Prevention
Papilloma viruses can persist in the environment for a long time. It is necessary to keep your feet clean, do not go without shoes, especially in public changing rooms, bathrooms, swimming pools. It is necessary to use special slippers to protect the soles of the feet from contact with surfaces contaminated with particles of other people's skin. 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.
Papilloma viruses are extremely contagious. Disinfects accessories for daily hygiene and pharmacological applications. Socks and a foot towel should be washed thoroughly 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.