How do plantar warts develop. What are the most effective treatments for plantar warts. Why are over-the-counter remedies often ineffective. How can you prevent plantar warts from spreading or recurring.

Understanding Plantar Warts: Causes and Symptoms

Plantar warts are a common skin condition that can affect anyone, regardless of age or lifestyle. These pesky growths are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and typically appear on the soles of the feet, where they can cause significant discomfort and pain.

HPV enters the body through small cuts or breaks in the skin, leading to the formation of rough, bumpy growths. Unlike warts on other parts of the body, plantar warts are often flattened due to the pressure of walking and standing, making them resemble calluses.

Key Characteristics of Plantar Warts:

• Appear on weight-bearing areas of the foot
• Often painful when squeezed or pressed
• May have tiny black dots (small clotted blood vessels)
• Can spread through direct contact or contaminated surfaces

Are plantar warts always painful? Not necessarily. While many people experience discomfort, especially when walking or standing, some individuals may have plantar warts without any noticeable symptoms. However, as the wart grows deeper into the skin due to pressure, pain often increases.

The Contagious Nature of Plantar Warts

Understanding the contagious nature of plantar warts is crucial for prevention and management. These viral growths can spread easily through direct contact or exposure to contaminated surfaces.

Common Transmission Methods:

1. Walking barefoot in public areas (pools, locker rooms, showers)
2. Sharing personal items like towels or socks
3. Direct contact with an infected person’s wart
4. Touching your own warts and then other parts of your body

Can plantar warts spread to other parts of the body? Yes, they can. While plantar warts have a preference for the soles of the feet, the virus can potentially infect other areas of skin if given the opportunity. This is why proper hygiene and avoiding touching or picking at warts is essential.

Ineffectiveness of Over-the-Counter Treatments

Many people turn to over-the-counter (OTC) treatments as a first line of defense against plantar warts. However, these products often prove ineffective for several reasons.

Why OTC Treatments Often Fail:

• Insufficient penetration: Plantar warts grow deep into the skin, beyond the reach of most topical treatments
• Inconsistent application: Home treatments require diligent, long-term use
• Potential skin damage: Harsh chemicals can harm healthy skin surrounding the wart
• Incomplete removal: Surface-level treatment may not address the root of the wart

Do OTC wart removers ever work? While some individuals may experience success with over-the-counter treatments, the success rate is generally low, estimated at less than 50%. For persistent or painful plantar warts, professional medical treatment is often necessary.

Professional Treatment Options for Plantar Warts

When it comes to effectively treating plantar warts, seeking professional medical care is often the best course of action. Healthcare providers have access to a range of treatment options that are more potent and targeted than OTC remedies.

Common Professional Treatments:

1. Prescription-strength topical medications
2. Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
3. Electrocautery (burning the wart)
4. Laser therapy
5. Surgical excision (for severe cases)
6. Immunotherapy to stimulate the body’s immune response

How do doctors determine the best treatment for plantar warts? The choice of treatment depends on various factors, including the size and location of the wart, the patient’s overall health, and previous treatment attempts. Your healthcare provider will assess these factors and recommend the most appropriate approach.

Cryotherapy: A Leading Treatment for Plantar Warts

Cryotherapy, or freezing therapy, is one of the most common and effective treatments for plantar warts. This procedure involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, causing the tissue to freeze and eventually die off.

Benefits of Cryotherapy:

• Quick and relatively painless procedure
• Can be performed in a doctor’s office
• Often effective after just a few treatments
• Minimal scarring compared to surgical options

What should you expect during a cryotherapy session? The procedure typically takes only a few minutes. You may feel a brief burning sensation as the liquid nitrogen is applied. After treatment, a blister may form and eventually heal, taking the wart with it.

Is cryotherapy always successful? While cryotherapy is often effective, some warts may require multiple treatments or a combination of therapies for complete removal. Your healthcare provider will monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Prescription Medications for Plantar Wart Treatment

Prescription-strength medications can be a powerful tool in the fight against plantar warts. These treatments typically contain higher concentrations of active ingredients compared to OTC products, making them more effective at penetrating deep into the affected tissue.

Common Prescription Treatments:

• Salicylic acid (higher strength than OTC versions)
• Fluorouracil cream
• Imiquimod cream
• Bleomycin injections

How do prescription medications work against plantar warts? These medications work in various ways, from destroying wart tissue to stimulating the immune system to fight the virus. Some treatments, like salicylic acid, work by gradually peeling away infected skin, while others, like imiquimod, boost the body’s natural defenses against HPV.

Are prescription treatments more effective than OTC options? Generally, yes. Prescription-strength medications have a higher success rate due to their increased potency and the professional oversight that comes with their use. However, they may also carry a higher risk of side effects, which is why they require a doctor’s supervision.

Surgical Options for Stubborn Plantar Warts

In cases where conservative treatments fail or for particularly large or stubborn warts, surgical intervention may be necessary. While surgery is typically considered a last resort, it can be highly effective in removing persistent plantar warts.

Surgical Techniques for Wart Removal:

1. Curettage: Scraping off the wart with a sharp instrument
2. Electrocautery: Burning off the wart with an electric current
3. Laser surgery: Using focused light to destroy wart tissue
4. Excision: Cutting out the entire wart and surrounding tissue

What are the risks associated with surgical wart removal? As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks, including infection, scarring, and nerve damage. However, these risks are generally low when performed by a skilled professional.

How long is the recovery period after surgical wart removal? Recovery time varies depending on the size of the wart and the specific procedure used. Most patients can return to normal activities within a few days to a week, although complete healing may take several weeks.

Prevention Strategies for Plantar Warts

While treating existing plantar warts is important, prevention is equally crucial. By taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing these troublesome growths.

Effective Prevention Techniques:

• Wear protective footwear in public areas
• Keep feet clean and dry
• Avoid direct contact with warts, including your own
• Don’t share personal items like towels or socks
• Strengthen your immune system through a healthy lifestyle

Can plantar warts be prevented entirely? While it’s impossible to guarantee complete prevention, these strategies can significantly reduce your risk. Remember that a strong immune system is your best defense against HPV and other viral infections.

Should you avoid public pools and locker rooms? You don’t need to avoid these areas entirely, but taking precautions like wearing flip-flops or water shoes can greatly reduce your risk of exposure to the HPV virus that causes plantar warts.

The Role of the Immune System in Wart Resolution

Your body’s immune system plays a crucial role in fighting off the HPV virus responsible for plantar warts. In many cases, a healthy immune system can eventually clear the virus on its own, leading to the spontaneous disappearance of warts.

Factors Affecting Immune Response:

• Overall health and nutrition
• Stress levels
• Age (children and older adults may be more susceptible)
• Underlying medical conditions

How long does it take for the immune system to clear plantar warts? The timeline varies greatly from person to person. Some warts may disappear within a few months, while others can persist for years. This unpredictability is one reason why many people seek treatment rather than waiting for natural resolution.

Can boosting your immune system help fight plantar warts? While there’s no guaranteed way to speed up wart resolution, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can support your immune system’s ability to fight the virus. This includes eating a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and exercising regularly.

When to Seek Professional Help for Plantar Warts

While some plantar warts may resolve on their own, there are certain situations where professional medical attention is necessary. Recognizing these signs can help you seek timely treatment and prevent complications.

Indications for Medical Consultation:

1. Persistent pain or discomfort when walking
2. Warts that don’t respond to home treatments
3. Rapid growth or spreading of warts
4. Changes in wart appearance (color, size, or texture)
5. Warts in sensitive areas or those interfering with daily activities
6. Weakened immune system or other health concerns

Should you see a specialist for plantar wart treatment? In most cases, your primary care physician can effectively diagnose and treat plantar warts. However, for particularly stubborn or complex cases, you may be referred to a dermatologist or podiatrist who specializes in skin and foot conditions.

What should you expect during a medical consultation for plantar warts? Your healthcare provider will typically examine the affected area and may perform a small biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. They’ll then discuss treatment options based on your specific situation, taking into account factors like the wart’s location, your overall health, and your preferences.

Living with Plantar Warts: Managing Discomfort and Social Concerns

Dealing with plantar warts can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. While treatment is underway, there are several strategies you can employ to manage discomfort and address any social concerns associated with the condition.

Tips for Managing Plantar Wart Discomfort:

• Use cushioned insoles or pads to reduce pressure on the wart
• Apply ice to numb the area and reduce pain
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers when necessary
• Avoid picking or scratching the wart to prevent spreading
• Keep the affected foot clean and dry

How can you address social concerns related to plantar warts? It’s important to remember that plantar warts are a common condition and nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re concerned about spreading the virus, communicate openly with friends and family about the precautions you’re taking. In public settings like pools or gyms, wearing water shoes or sandals can provide both protection and peace of mind.

Can you continue normal activities with plantar warts? In most cases, yes. While you may need to modify some activities to manage discomfort, plantar warts generally don’t require significant lifestyle changes. However, always follow your healthcare provider’s advice regarding activity levels during treatment.

The Future of Plantar Wart Treatment: Emerging Therapies

As medical research advances, new and innovative treatments for plantar warts continue to emerge. These cutting-edge therapies aim to provide more effective, less invasive options for patients struggling with persistent warts.

Promising Emerging Treatments:

1. Photodynamic therapy: Using light-sensitive drugs and specific wavelengths of light to destroy wart tissue
2. Intralesional immunotherapy: Injecting substances to stimulate a local immune response against the wart
3. Pulsed dye laser treatment: Targeting blood vessels that supply the wart
4. Topical immunomodulators: New medications that enhance the body’s ability to fight HPV
5. Combination therapies: Using multiple treatment modalities for enhanced effectiveness

What is the most promising new treatment for plantar warts? While research is ongoing, immunotherapy approaches show particular promise. These treatments work by boosting the body’s natural defenses against HPV, potentially offering longer-lasting results and reducing the risk of recurrence.

When might these new treatments become widely available? Many of these therapies are already in use or undergoing clinical trials. As research progresses and more data becomes available, we can expect to see some of these innovative treatments become more widely accessible in the coming years.

The field of plantar wart treatment continues to evolve, offering hope for more effective and patient-friendly solutions in the future. As always, consulting with a healthcare professional is the best way to stay informed about the latest treatment options and determine the most appropriate approach for your specific situation.

How to Get Rid of Plantar Warts for Good

Skip the home remedies for wart removal. Proper treatment of plantar warts requires the expertise of your healthcare provider.

Posted
by The Iowa Clinic on Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Nose, fingers, toes and everywhere in between, warts can show up anywhere on your skin. They are one of the most common skin conditions. They’re also quite contagious.

Warts are more than an abnormal growth. They’re the result of an infection, specifically a virus more often associated with cervical cancer than a bump on the skin: human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV enters your body through a cut or break in your skin. Then, it forms that ugly, rough bump. Since warts are caused by a viral infection, they are easily spread through contact. Anything that has had contact with a wart — your hand, a towel, a sock, the floor — can spread it.

And when warts show up on your feet, they can be as painful as they are unsightly.

What makes a wart on your foot worse than a wart somewhere else?

Pain.

Warts don’t usually present problems. They are on your skin until they go away on their own or by removal. Warts on the bottom of your feet, known as plantar warts, are the most likely type to give you any other trouble or symptoms.

Because of their location — the soles, heels, toes and balls of your feet — plantar warts send you a painful reminder of their presence with every single step. It feels like you’re walking with a rock in your shoe. Even if you’re barefoot.

Plantar warts are most common on the parts of the foot that receive the most pressure when you’re standing or walking. Since those are two things you can’t avoid, additional standing and walking increase the pressure on the wart and send it further inward, deep into your skin.

All that pressure also flattens the plantar wart. It ends up looking less like a wart and more like a callus. If you can’t tell the difference by looking at it, give it the squeeze test. A plantar wart is painful when squeezed; a callus is not.

It’s an important test. Many people rub calluses with abrasive objects like pumice stones, nail files and emery boards to remove the thick, rough skin. And that is not recommended for removal of plantar warts.

Painful plantar warts? Get help. 

Self-care of plantar warts can make things worse. Put your feet in the hands of experts.

Find a doctor

What’s the best plantar wart treatment?

Best case scenario, no treatment is necessary. Just leave it alone. Like other warts, most plantar warts eventually go away on their own. It might just take a year or two.

If your plantar warts are painful or spreading to other areas of your feet, waiting is not an option. You need immediate relief.

Many people buy a topical wart remover from the pharmacy, thinking it’s a cure for all kinds of warts. But over-the-counter wart removal creams and liquids are ineffective. Plantar warts are too deep in the skin. You may be able to remove the outer layer, but the seed of the wart is deep in the sole of your foot and it will come back again.

Over-the counter wart removers can actually do more harm than good. They contain acids and chemicals that destroy the skin they touch. You can easily apply too much, damage the surrounding area and open your skin up to further infection, causing plantar warts to spread.

Instead of trying to remove plantar warts at home, see your primary care provider.

Usually, a foot examination is all that’s needed to diagnose plantar warts. Sometimes, your provider will need to trim a tiny portion of the skin to see if it bleeds — a clear signal that it’s a wart and not a callus.

From there, they can recommend the best treatment from a variety of removal options. All of them are designed to get rid of the wart as well as stimulate the immune system to identify the virus and prevent warts from reforming.

Prescription-Strength Wart Medication

Wart removal medicines available over-the-counter work less than half the time. Stronger medications available by prescription only are a better solution. They work the same as the widely available options, peeling away a plantar wart layer by layer. You can apply a prescription-strength medication to your plantar warts at home and follow up with your provider to make sure the wart is entirely removed.

Plantar Wart Freezing

Freezing a wart using cryotherapy is an effective wart removal option. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the plantar wart with a spray or cotton swab. This destroys the tissue and causes a small blister to form over the spot. In a week or so, the dead skin will be gone.

It’s more painful to freeze off plantar warts than regular warts. They are deeper and harder to reach with the chemical. Multiple treatments spaced two to four weeks apart may be needed to remove the entire wart.

Immunotherapy for Warts

Plantar warts are your immune system’s response to an HPV infection. Immunotherapy uses medications or solutions to kickstart an immune reaction to fight off plantar warts. When other treatments don’t work, your provider can inject a substance into the wart or apply a topical solution to stimulate your immune system to aid in treatment.

Plantar Wart Removal Surgery

If every other treatment fails and you’re still troubled by painful plantar warts, surgery is needed. With surgery, there’s always a chance for scarring, which is why it’s a last resort for removing plantar warts.

There are many different types of plantar wart removal surgery. Your provider will choose the best option for your case.

• Electrosurgery – Using an electric needle, your provider cuts out the infected wart tissue.
• Curettage – The plantar wart is dug out with a small spoon-like instrument.
• Laser surgery – Laser treatments burn the tiny blood vessels inside the plantar wart. Eventually, the infected tissue dies and the wart falls off. There is less potential for scarring than other surgeries.

How do you prevent warts from coming back?

Anyone can get plantar warts. But once you’ve had them, you’re more likely to get them again. You may not be able to prevent a recurrence entirely, but you can reduce your risk by following a few basic hygiene tips:

• Don’t touch a wart! This is how they spread. Don’t pick, scratch or touch them at all. Avoid direct contact with someone else’s warts too. If you do come in contact with a wart, wash your hands thoroughly along with any other body part or surface you touched before you washed up.
• Stay clean and dry. Moisture invites bacteria. Follow good foot hygiene by washing your feet regularly and drying them thoroughly after. Change your shoes and your socks when they feel wet.
• Protect the soles of your feet. HPV invades through cuts and breaks in the bottom of your feet. Wear shoes to protect your feet from abrasions or to keep existing cuts safe from infection. HPV spreads more easily at swimming pools, locker rooms and other public places people regularly walk barefoot. Wear flip flops or other shoes in these areas.

Children and teenagers frequent these public places more often and are less likely to practice proper foot hygiene. Check your own feet and your children’s regularly to spot plantar warts early before they spread and contact your provider as soon as you have a concern.

Plantar Wart Home Remedy: 7 Treatments

Plantar warts may go away on their own or with home remedies and over-the-counter products, such as salicylic acid.

Plantar warts occur from a viral infection in your skin called the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus can enter damaged skin more easily, such as cuts, scrapes, or severely dry skin. Plantar warts are common on the soles of the feet.

These types of warts can be painful, and the resulting raised bumps uncomfortable. Plantar warts may also have tiny black spots that some people call “wart seeds.” These spots are actually blood vessels. While not necessarily harmful, plantar warts can grow and eventually make it uncomfortable to stand and walk.

It’s often possible to treat plantar warts at home, but it’s also important to know when you should see a doctor for medical treatment.

While plantar warts aren’t typically dangerous, you might want to get them removed due to discomfort and aesthetic reasons. Warts can get larger over time or spread to other areas. Most wart removal treatments will take several weeks, if not longer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Duct tape

Some people claim you can get rid of plantar warts by using duct tape.

The evidence to support this method is mixed, according to experts. But even if it doesn’t help, using duct tape probably won’t cause harm. To try it, stick a small piece of tape over the wart, and then change the tape every few days.

The idea behind duct tape for warts is that it could help “peel away” the layers of the wart. In theory, the wart could eventually peel completely away. But it’s not known if duct tape really works this way.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid often used in acne treatment. It works by removing dead skin cells, which can sometimes clog your pores.

Higher concentrations of salicylic acid can be found in over-the-counter (OTC) wart creams treatments. These products shed the skin around the wart little by little, until it’s eventually cleared up completely.

To get the most out of this treatment, you’ll need to apply the salicylic acid product on your plantar warts according to the instructions on the packaging, and continue the treatment for as long as directed.

Some products may advise you to to prep the skin by soaking the affected area in warm water before applying the acid.

It can take several weeks of treatment for the warts to completely go away.

OTC freezing sprays

Aside from salicylic acid, you can also buy “freezing sprays” at the drugstore for plantar warts. The spray works by creating a small blister-like injury that may help destroy the wart. This is different from the cryotherapy wart treatments that are available at a doctor’s office.

To use freezing spray, carefully follow the instructions on the packaging. You might have to repeat the process several times to kill the wart. Check the instructions to see if it’s safe to do so. If OTC treatment doesn’t get rid of the wart, talk with your doctor about other treatment options.

Iodine

Iodine is an essential mineral that’s most often associated with thyroid health. But certain formulations can be used for other purposes too — this may include wart removal.

One small study found that a povidone-iodine topical solution helped clear up warts after twice-daily applications over the course of 12 weeks.

Researchers are conducting clinical trials to test povidone-iodine’s safety and effectiveness for wart treatment. In the meantime, you should only use povidone-iodine for warts under a doctor’s supervision.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has historically been used as a topical antiseptic. It’s primarily used for fungal infections, wounds, and acne.

One case report from 2008 found that tea tree oil successfully removed warts on a person’s hand when applied once daily for 12 days. While this single report is promising, much more research is needed before experts can recommend this approach.

Tea tree oil can cause irritation or contact dermatitis for some people. If you use topical products containing tea tree oil, stop using them if you notice a rash or other symptoms.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar continues to be studied for a wide range of health claims. It contains a type of acid called acetic acid. Some older reports suggest that concentrated acetic acid can be used to treat warts. However, these treatments took place in a clinic with careful medical management.

The amount of acetic acid found in apple cider vingar is much less than the acetic acid preparations used in these studies. There’s also no evidence to suggest that apple cider vinegar is safe or effective for treating warts.

Because undiluted apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns, you should not apply it to your skin. All in all, this wart “remedy” is likely one to avoid.

Calluses are caused by repeated friction against the skin. These are most common on your hands and feet. With a callus, you may notice a flat area of thickened skin.

Calluses aren’t the same thing as plantar warts. However, sometimes the two look alike. It’s also possible to have plantar warts inside of a callus.

In some cases, you may be able to tell the difference by looking at the lines on your skin. With warts, you may see interrupted skin lines (your skin lines do not continue on the wart). With a callus, the skin lines are not interrupted.

Calluses can go away on their own when friction against the skin has stopped, such as when changing tight shoes for a better-fitting pair. The outer skin of the callus may also be cut off or filed away.

While plantar warts are caused by the HPV virus, there are other risk factors to consider. You might be at an increased risk of getting plantar warts if you:

• have a history of plantar warts
• are a child or a teenager
• have a weakened immune system
• frequently walk barefoot, especially in germ-prone areas like locker rooms

With the right precautions, plantar warts can often be prevented, even if you’re at a higher risk of developing them:

• Avoid touching warts, including your own.
• Wash your hands before and after touching a wart.
• Don’t pick at a plantar wart with your fingers.
• Avoid using the files and pumice stones you used on affected areas of skin for nonaffected areas.
• Don’t walk barefoot in public areas.
• Keep your feet clean and dry.
• Change your socks and shoes frequently.

Plantar warts that don’t go away or keep coming back despite home treatments should be looked at by a doctor. They can treat the warts in the office with cryotherapy or other treatments. They might also recommend prescription medications to help treat the wart.

For chronic plantar warts, your doctor may refer you to a foot specialist.

If you have any of the following conditions, see your doctor before starting a home wart treatment:

• diabetes
• a weakened immune system
• HIV or AIDS
• solid brown or black warts (these could be cancerous)
• plantar warts that change in color and size
• severe discomfort due to the warts
• changes in your gait

Plantar warts tend to go away eventually, and you may be able to treat them at home.

When in doubt, always ask a doctor for advice, especially if the plantar warts worsen or affect your daily mobility.

How to get rid of plantar warts?

What are warts?

Warts are benign neoplasms of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus, this virus penetrates the skin and mucous membranes. The most common manifestation of HPV infection in humans is the manifestation of plantar warts. More than 150 HPV subtypes are known in the world, some of them can be localized in certain areas of the body. HPV type 1 can mainly affect the feet and soles, which is manifested by the appearance of plantar warts.

How do warts appear?

HPV, which causes warts, is usually contracted through direct contact with infected skin or through contaminated objects. Such violations of the protective function of the skin: cuts, abrasions, burrs, various kinds of dermatitis, can contribute to the development of the disease. Symptomatically, warts appear through neoplasms on the skin, which cause discomfort and pain, both at rest and during walking, which greatly interferes with the life of a modern person.

How to get rid of plantar warts?

The most effective method of treatment is to remove warts that have already shown themselves. Chemical destruction with salicylic acid preparations or removal with liquid nitrogen can be used. These methods are the most proven, affordable and effective, but other removal methods are also acceptable:

Laser burning. With the help of a medical laser, the resulting build-up is removed in layers, it is possible to use local anesthesia. The method least injures the body, does not cause cosmetic defects in the area with the wart.

Electrocoagulation. Due to the impact of high-frequency current on the skin area, the roots of the wart are burned out, but after the wound has healed, scarring and scarring are acceptable.

Surgical removal. Surgical removal of warts is used when the growth roots are deep. Radio wave surgery uses high frequency radio waves (3.8 – 4.0 MHz.), which completely get rid of the wart.

In the treatment of plantar warts, the cryodestruction method has proven itself well. Carrying out this procedure over a diseased area of ​​the skin is extremely effective, due to the extremely low temperature of nitrogen, any organic formations will be destroyed. Cryodestruction has no contraindications, it does not require injections of anesthetics that can cause dangerous allergic reactions. You can read more about the removal of plantar warts using cryodestruction in our article on cryodestruction.

The use of destruction with chemicals (salicylic acid), the use of cryodestruction are the first methods for the removal of simple and plantar warts. Unfortunately, plantar warts can be resistant to the chosen treatment, requiring a repeat procedure in the future. It is worth remembering that even the complete removal of warts does not lead to a cure for the HPV that causes them, so relapse is possible.

What are the advantages of these types of plantar wart removal?

Chemical Destruction is a painless, bloodless removal method with minimal side effects.

Cryodestruction is a method that does not require anesthesia, preliminary preparation and the procedure itself takes several minutes. By using cryosurgery, you choose a bloodless method of plantar wart removal, with minimal side effects, and quick healing allows you to quickly return to a comfortable daily life.

Radio wave removal – this method of surgical treatment allows you to completely get rid of the neoplasm in one procedure. Minimal skin trauma, provides better wound healing.

Ways to prevent the spread and spread of plantar warts:

● Use only personal shoes and leather goods.

● Use changeable shoes when visiting swimming pools, shared showers, changing rooms, baths.

● Use individual hygiene products when processing, cleaning, trimming nails and feet.

● Take care of the skin of hands and feet, avoid excess skin moisture, damage, dryness and cracking.

How to get rid of warts at home

How to get rid of warts at home?

How to get rid of warts quickly and without scars is a topical issue for all categories of people. The problem of the presence of warts worries both children and adults. Warts, especially in open areas of the body, will cause few pleasant sensations. The first thing that comes to mind is the childish “touch a frog – you get warts.” But in fact, the appearance of these neoplasms has a very clear medical explanation.

Despite the fact that they are almost always painless and not felt on the body, their presence upsets the person and he thinks how to get rid of it. In this article, we will consider all methods of getting rid of warts, including household, pharmacological and hardware.

Contents:

• Indications for removal
• What is a wart
• How do I get human papillomavirus
• What do these growths look like
• Can a neoplasm become malignant?
• How to get rid of warts at home? How to get rid of warts and remove them permanently
• Where can you get rid of warts

Often a patient suffering from neoplasms is interested in:

• How to get rid of warts forever?

• How to get rid of a wart at home?

• Which removal to choose: professional or folk remedies?

When you have decided to get rid of the tumor, you need to carefully consider the methods of removal. Only a professional can help get rid of a wart without health consequences.

We will tell you about all the methods of removal, but we recommend entrusting the removal of warts to experienced Coolaser Clinic doctors.

Indications for wart removal

Most often, dermatologists recommend complete wart removal in such cases:

• sensitivity and soreness;

• bleeding;

• rapid expansion;

• aesthetically unsightly appearance (on the face, neck, hands).

Large warts often have a long root. Therefore, it will not be possible to completely remove them with the help of pharmacy products. In this case, the doctor can remove the wart with a coagulator or laser. This hardware method allows you to simultaneously seal the vessels, prevent bleeding and effectively get rid of all the elements of the wart.

What is a wart?

A wart is a benign skin growth. Most often caused by HPV, that is, the human papillomavirus. About 96% of people on the planet are carriers of this virus. Its manifestation on the skin indicates a weakened immune system.

If the growth causes discomfort or significantly reduces the quality of life, you should consult a specialist. How to get rid of warts with a result of 100%, only a professional dermatologist who works in a clinic knows.

How do I get human papillomavirus?

There must be two factors for the virus to manifest itself. The first is the weakened immunity of the patient, on which the virus easily “sits down”. The second is contact with an infected person: soap, a towel, touching the skin, a pool, and so on.

Warts are distinguished by the fact that they easily multiply on the skin. If a wart has appeared somewhere, then, most likely, several more will appear nearby, from which it will be more difficult to get rid of.

This justifies the desire of a person to get rid of an unpleasant neoplasm as soon as possible.

What do these growths look like?

Ordinary

Ordinary neoplasms are formed on the palms and near the nail plates. The surface is hard and uneven. The color varies from flesh to grey. The size does not exceed 10 mm. It is believed that getting rid of them is the easiest.

Plantar

If growths appear on the soles of the feet, discomfort will follow. We spend half of our lives on our feet, so the presence of a wart on the foot leads to severe pain.

Outwardly resembles a corn with a “crater” in the middle, has a characteristic grayish tint. Usually formed as a result of excessive sweating of the legs or small shoes. It is more difficult to get rid of them, because the place of removal is in contact with the shoes.

Flat

Hard, flat, round nodules that do not cause discomfort. Favorite position – face, back hands and forearms. Such formations are small in size from 0.5 to 3 mm. Getting rid of them is not considered a difficult task.

Pointed

These are the worst warts that cause discomfort and significantly reduce the quality of sexual life. This is due to the fact that genital warts are located on the genitals. They must be disposed of immediately. Eliminating them is difficult, painful, but necessary.

The growth of these neoplasms is often characterized by pain and bleeding.

Can a neoplasm become malignant?

Typically, such neoplasms do not have the ability to turn into oncology. However, if a rare form of the virus is detected in a patient by HPV testing, this is cause for concern. It is verruciform epidermodysplasia that causes oncology.

If the doctor has doubts about the nature of the neoplasm, he prescribes appropriate studies. The main studies are HPV analysis and biopsy. Do not be afraid of such a procedure, tissue sampling is painless.

But the result of a tissue study can tell 100% about its nature and ability to form cancer. According to the American Cancer Institute, HPV types 16 and 18 often cause cervical cancer.

How to get rid of warts at home?

The most common method is celandine juice. The stalk is cut off, and the secreted juice is soaked abundantly. Thanks to this method, it is easiest to get a skin burn and deterioration of the skin.

Treatment of warts: drugs from the pharmacy

Before using the product from the pharmacy, we strongly recommend that you consult your doctor. If you, nevertheless, did not do this, then use a maximum of one remedy and with caution, carefully read the instructions and contraindications, and only then apply! Applying all means at once in the hope of getting a quick result is a bad idea.

1. Celandine in ampoules or vials.

Ancient Greek doctors believed that celandine can be used in the treatment of eye diseases. Celandine juice was used for eye diseases until the 18th century. Doctors of ancient Greece were confident in the benefits of celandine for the eyes because of the legend that the swallow treats the eyes of its blind chicks with celandine juice. You can read more about this legend on Wikipedia.

According to scientists, the legend about the swallow appeared because the celandine begins to grow with the arrival of the swallows and fades when they fly away. That is why the scientific name of the genus comes from the Latinized Greek name of the plant Chelidonium from the Greek. χηλιδων – swallow.

The plant is popularly called “celandine” because its juice helps cleanse the skin. It is used in the fight against age spots, acne, warts, condylomas, papillomas. Celandine is even used in the treatment of diseases such as lichen.

It can be found in various sources that celandine is called chistuha, cleanliness or even warthog. This plant is considered poisonous and has a bright yellow-orange juice, similar in consistency to milk.

How is wart treated with celandine?

Thoroughly wash the skin around the wart and the growth itself before the procedure. The wart is disinfected and the top layer is carefully removed with a sterile cutting tool. After the procedure, a celandine preparation from a pharmacy is applied to the wound (juice, tincture and essential oil).

If you used celandine juice (from fresh herbs or from a pharmacy), then you need to smear it 3-4 times a day on the problem area. Such treatment can last 1-2 weeks or a little more.

Be careful when buying pharmacy products, you need to buy exactly MOUNTAIN CLEANER, which is made on the basis of celandine juice. Various kinds of drugs that have “celandine” in the name can be alkali-based cosmetic liquids (carefully look at the packaging and composition of the product).

• Apilom Derma Cream.

Apilom Derma Cream is used in the treatment of skin conditions such as warts, papillomas and pigmentation. It is dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription and there are many positive reviews about it. This cream reduces the risk of the formation of new warts, but it is advisable to use it after the removal of the wart on the healed area from it. If you have occasional warts, Apilom Derma can help.

• WARTNER makes products to combat skin conditions such as warts, and there is also a product to combat nail fungus. The main thing is not to confuse and ask Wartner cryo – to remove warts.

• PapiloStop is a good remedy for combating warts, corns, papillomas and corns. It is used on places where warts have been removed and helps in the wound healing process and prevents the recurrence of warts.

• PapiloFit is a product similar to PapiloStop in its mode of action and they are about the same in quality and efficiency. Choose from what is in your pharmacy and what will be cheaper.

• Any cosmetic patch sold for calluses can be used. They are advised to seal the site of wart removal while healing is in progress (the first few days after wart removal).

For best results and permanent relief, we DO NOT recommend using folk remedies . Any self-treatment at home can be dangerous for the body!

Warts: treatment with folk remedies that you did not know about

It is believed that in 30% of cases warts appear and then heal on their own, even if nothing is done about them. But such a process can drag on for many months and many people really want to get rid of them as soon as possible.

The appearance of warts is a problem that worries a large number of people from time to time, so many folk remedies have been invented that have been passed down from generation to generation. You will learn about the most famous folk remedies for the treatment of warts in this article.

We consider it our duty to warn you that self-treatment is not always effective and often harms patients. Self-medication according to folk methods that were passed down to us from our ancestors is not the best idea. We share this information with you because it is interesting and for some people such methods really helped.

1. Celandine tincture

Celandine tincture can be prepared. They take a glass jar, maybe a small one, pour 2/3 of the leaves of the celandine plant (preferably fresh plucked) and pour 70% alcohol. The tincture is kept in a dark, cool place for at least 3 weeks, or more. Do compresses for 15 minutes on problem areas. The tincture is praised as a remedy for plantar warts. You will need to do the procedure several times a day for a week or 10 days.

• Celandine oil

How to prepare celandine oil? In a 0.5 or liter glass jar, you need to pour the leaves tightly to the place where the neck begins. Then fill the jar with olive oil to the brim. The jar needs to be kept in the sun for two weeks (it is important to get direct sunlight) and stir. When two weeks have passed, you need to strain the oil and then use it for compresses in the same way as a tincture. So you need to treat problem areas for about 2 weeks.

• Onion and Garlic Therapy

Onions and garlic are known for their effectiveness in fighting viruses and various diseases, and they also increase immunity. Onions and garlic contain a large number of useful medicinal components that are effective in the treatment and prevention of skin growths. Many people are confident in the effectiveness of this method.

Recipes for making medicine from onion or garlic (one of two):

• You need to take a fleshy onion leaf (remove one of the layers), peel off the film and apply to the wart. Instead of an onion, a clove of garlic, cut in half, is suitable and should be applied with the part where the cut is. Used on education (no need to remove the wart yourself). Apply every day for 2-3 hours or until you feel pain or burning. Continue the procedure every day until the formation disappears.
• You can prepare an ointment. We take garlic or onion and grind it to a gruel, then mix it with melted lard and vinegar in proportions 1:1:4. Before going to bed, you need to apply this composition to the affected areas until the warts are completely cured. It is better to store in ceramic dishes, in the morning do not forget to wash off the composition.
• Soak a clove of young garlic in vinegar essence for 3-4 days. Then cut and apply with a cut to the growth for the night before the wart disappears. This method can also be used to get rid of plantar warts.

Use folk recipes based on onion and garlic with caution, as there is a risk of burns. Lubricate areas of healthy skin with a greasy cream so that the components act exclusively on the growth itself.

Treatment of warts with vinegar

Vinegar is not used as an independent remedy for warts, but in combination with other remedies. The most famous folk recipes based on vinegar:

Vinegar with flour and garlic

The ingredients must be mixed in equal proportions, a slurry should be obtained. It is necessary to lubricate the growths with the resulting composition. Such a remedy is stored in a closed container for no more than two days, on the third day you need to prepare a new portion. As a rule, the wart can fall off in a week or 10 days, and in its place there will be a hole. In order for the healing to be successful and not to leave a scar, you need to use healing creams or ointments.

Lemon in vinegar

Soak a whole lemon (without peel) in vinegar for 2 weeks. After that, the slices are divided into small pieces and applied to the warts. The procedures continue until the complete disappearance of education.

Concentrated vinegar essence

Some people have been reported to have treated warts with concentrated vinegar essence. Soak a cotton pad in vinegar and apply to the wart overnight. Vinegar is considered an aggressive substance and should be used with caution, healthy skin should be covered with cellophane or smeared with a large layer of greasy cream so as not to injure. Be careful, vinegar can cause severe burns.

Treatment of warts with iodine

Iodine is an old folk remedy for treating not only the wart itself, but also the virus that caused it. The solution is used several times a day, up to 5 times for large formations. You should smear not only the wart itself, but also areas of healthy skin around it. The disadvantage of the method is the duration of treatment – more than a month. Often there are burns or the skin is sensitive to iodine and it hurts, then you should not use this method.

Pay attention to contraindications:

• not for children under 6 years of age;
• not to be used if pregnant or breastfeeding;
• not for iodine allergy;
• not for hormonal disorders;
• should not be used on open wounds (if a wart has been torn off, then it is not necessary to smear it with iodine).

Removal of warts with thread

Only silk or cotton thread can be used. According to this technique, warts can be treated for no more than 10 days. Usually helps with small or medium formations. There are several ways to bandage warts:

• You can completely tie off the wart and in about a week it will begin to dry out and then fall off.
• To speed up the process of cell destruction in the wart, you can soak the thread in vinegar essence and then tie it around the entire wart. Possible burns on the skin due to vinegar!
• There is a variant when the wart is pulled tight. Every day, the wart itself and the skin around it are treated with tar or 72% laundry soap (you can use any if there is no 72% soap).

It is very important to remember that if the wart has not gone away in 10 days, then the thread must be removed and go to the doctor if it has become inflamed, because there could be an infection and this is very serious. This method is very ambiguous, but it helped some. It is believed that it is one of the dangerous ways to remove a wart.

How to get rid of warts with salicylic acid

There are several types of products based on salicylic acid:

• Salicylic acid solution (5% or 10%) should be applied to the wart once a day at night. Wash off the solution in the morning. Carefully apply the salicylic acid solution to the wart, or anoint healthy skin with a fat cream beforehand, and then apply salicylic acid. This solution can cause skin irritation and burns if not used with care. Can be used for a maximum of 10 days.
• Salicylic ointment is considered a more gentle option and can be used for up to two consecutive months and simultaneously on several warts at once. The advantage of the ointment is that it can also be used on visible areas of the skin, such as the face.
• Salicylic acid patch is commercially available. For plantar warts, this is a convenient option. It is necessary to cut off a patch of such a size that it will cover only the wart itself in terms of area, and will not fall on healthy skin. Change the patch at least once a day and the duration of treatment should not exceed 2 weeks. Monitor the condition of the skin under the patch, if there is inflammation, itching or fever in this place, then you can no longer use this method! Seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms occur.

Papilloma patch

It is important to remember that products based on salicylic acid are very aggressive to the skin and should be used with extreme caution. There is a high risk of getting serious deep chemical burns, after which scars and scars will appear.

Treatment of warts with ashes

This method uses only wood ashes. For example, you can burn a few matches without sulfur to get it. Add a little water to the ash powder to make a thick slurry, and apply it to the wart once a day. Within a week, they promise that this method will help get rid of a medium-sized wart. To keep the ash longer on the wart, seal it with a plaster or bandage after application. After about a week, the process of dying off the wart will begin. This method is considered one of the safest folk methods, but its effectiveness has not been proven.

Vine Euphorbia for warts

It is advised to take the milk of Vine Euphorbia (from the stem) and anoint the wart and the skin around it. The tool is considered quite safe. Not the most convenient method, because one plucked plant is enough for no more than 1-2 applications.

Fresh sour apple juice + onion

Pick an apple and onion that are approximately the same size and chop them in any way (on a grater, blender). Then you need to squeeze the juice into any container with a lid, preferably a glass jar. Apply the mixture at night for a week. To enhance the effect, you can add 1:1 vinegar essence to the juice. This method is rarely effective, but it has a place to be.

Potato treatment for skin lesions

Elderly people often used products that are always available in case of any adversity. We are talking about potato juice, which, according to popular belief, helps to get rid of warts. It is necessary to cut a clean potato tuber in half, rub the wart with the inner parts of the potato (at the cut site). Then you need to bury the potatoes in the ground. It is believed that when it dies, the wart will disappear too. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.

According to many doctors, if you strongly believe in the remedy, then the placebo effect can work and the patient will be healed. The potato does not contain components that could help in the fight against warts, but as a placebo it is quite applicable method. Some parents, in this way, convinced their young children that the potato effectively fights warts and the method worked in some rare cases.

Treatment of warts with Aloe

Aloe is considered a universal cure for many diseases and misfortunes. It is recommended to apply an aloe leaf with its juicy side to the wart and, as it dries, change to a fresh leaf. It is recommended to continue treatment until the growth disappears. The duration of the treatment of warts with aloe juice will be quite long, most likely more than a month. But you definitely won’t harm yourself, and the skin around the warts will be moisturized.

Tea tree oil helps in the treatment of warts

Only 100% tea tree oil is suitable for use without any additives or impurities. If you plan to apply to rough areas of the skin, such as on the legs, then you can not dilute with water. If you plan to treat warts on delicate areas of the skin, such as the neck or face, then dilute 1: 1 with boiled water. Some people’s skin is sensitive to tea tree oil and may experience itching, burning, and even allergies. In such cases, treat healthy areas of the skin with a greasy cream so that the oil does not get on them, and dilute the oil itself with boiled water 1 part oil and 2 parts water.

How to get rid of warts with dry ice and cryo-freezing preparations at home

In order to remove a wart, you can use a dry ice cube, apply it to the wart and hold until it becomes unbearably painful. After use, dry ice should be stored in the freezer until the next use. Repeat the procedure to get the effect you need 5-6 times a day or more. After a week of such exposure, there is a high chance that the wart will fall off.

Removing warts with this method is painful, dangerous and requires repeating this procedure many times, so we advise you to think carefully whether this method is worth your attention, if it is, then be patient and be extremely careful!

Treatment of warts with conspiracies and prayers

We are skeptical about conspiracies and prayers, but we cannot deny the effect of the placebo principle for those who believe in it.

Conspiracies are a very popular way from antiquity, with the help of which people were saved from various ailments and misfortunes. There are many different types of conspiracies designed to treat warts. In this article, we will share with you the most interesting of them.

Plot on a thread or a rope

You need to take a thread or a rope and go outside the house, touch the warts with a thread or rope. Then count the number of papillomas or warts on the body and tie the same number of knots on a thread or rope. You need to say the phrase: “My dear and young month, take the wart from me with you.” It is important to bury the thread or rope as deep into the ground as you can, and when it rots, your growths will fall off. Suitable conspiracy for the treatment of warts in children.

Conspiracy for meat

Such a conspiracy is carried out on a moonless night and it is important that there are no dogs nearby, otherwise the meat will be dug up. You need to lubricate all papillomas, warts and other growths on your body with raw meat, while saying: “The meat will rot, the warts will not live.” After the ceremony, bury the meat deep into the ground and it is believed that when the meat rots, papillomas and warts will disappear. This method is not hygienic, so you should think carefully about its appropriateness.

Spell for bacon and peas

Boil yellow peas until tender (a handful or even less is enough), maybe even a little overcooked. Add a piece of lard (very small) to the porridge. You need to say these words: “Warts, lard and peas. The growths will go away when the products in the ground disappear. Put the porridge with lard in a box, bag or bag (whatever is convenient) and bury it deep in the ground, next to your house. The ritual is performed only once for one wart.

Ritual with bath broom

The rite is suitable for lovers of bath procedures. You will need: a bucket of water and a broom. Steam the broom in boiling water and pour cold water over it from the ladle. Leave the broom in an empty vessel so that the water drains from it. It is necessary to pour cold water from the ladle three times. While watering the broom, you need to say the words: “As water flows from the broom, it will take all the warts and sores with it. Amen!”. After the third drain into an empty vessel of water from a broom, you need to anoint all the growths on the skin with this water. At the end of the ceremony, bury a broom in the ground, pouring the rest of the water from the vessel onto it.

Prayer to cure warts

There are prayers that some people think help cure warts. No items, conditions or anything else are required, you just need to touch the growths and say a prayer three times. If the warts have not gone away in 30 days, then repeat the prayer three times again.

The prayer itself: “The Mother of God and the Son of God, save the servant of God (name) from bodily adversity. Help remove sores, growths and warts from the body. Amen!”

How to get rid of warts and remove x permanently by professional methods

Dermoscopy of a neoplasm in a clinic

Only an experienced doctor using professional methods can quickly and efficiently get rid of a neoplasm. Wart removal should be performed by licensed physicians who are trained in the use of equipment for diagnosing and treating the skin.

Electrocoagulation

Innovative way to get rid of neoplasm using a special device, electrocoagulator. A high frequency current removes the build-up, in place of which a crust forms. The crust falls off, leaving no traces in the form of scars.

This method of getting rid of the disease is suitable for shallow neoplasms.

Cryodestruction

This is removal using low temperature nitrogen. Differs in high efficiency and fast rehabilitation. For absolute disposal, it is sometimes recommended to repeat the removal.

Laser removal

Laser wart removal is the safest method known. The impact of the laser will not only relieve you of the build-up, but also coagulate small capillaries. This prevents bleeding and inflammation of the tissue from starting.

You can find out what is better to remove neoplasms: laser or liquid nitrogen in THIS ARTICLE

The type of laser is selected individually for each patient.

• Radio wave therapy.

Radio wave surgery is a non-contact surgical method for removing warts. High-frequency waves of 2. 7-4.0 MHz are applied to a special nozzle, an electrode. The electrode itself does not come into contact with the skin.

The doctor removes diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact.

• Surgery.

The classic, thousands of times proven removal method. Most often, surgery is used to get rid of plantar warts. When there is no other way to remove them.

Removal of warts by hardware techniques is distinguished by the speed of the procedure, painlessness, short rehabilitation period and complete disposal of the growth.

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Where can I get rid of warts?

To reduce the risk of warts, experts recommend taking care of your health and hygiene. Washing your hands frequently, reducing physical contact with strangers, and taking vitamins will help your immune system get rid of viruses effectively.