How do plantar warts start: Plantar warts – Symptoms and causes

27.06.202314.06.2023 by alexxlab

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Plantar warts: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

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Prescription creams

A doctor may prescribe salicylic acid for plantar warts. This compound is usually the first treatment option for removing warts.

People can apply salicylic acid topically to the wart each day over a few months.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the wart. Researchers have found this method to be less effective than salicylic acid in some situations. Most dermatologists will use both treatments in combination to maximize the likelihood of removing the wart.

To get the best results from cryotherapy, people may need to return every 3 weeks for repeat treatment. Some people require several treatments with cryotherapy to resolve the wart. Cryotherapy tends to be painful and, therefore, may not be suitable for young children.

Immunotherapy

If warts do not respond to other treatments, immunotherapy can stimulate the immune system to fight off the HPV virus that is responsible for their development.

Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapy drug that people can use off label and apply as a cream to the wart. The medical community does not recommend it for use in women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

People can also take oral medication, such as cimetidine, off label in an attempt to boost the immune response, although there is a lack of evidence to recommend its use in all populations. Some researchers have suggested that oral zinc supplementation may be beneficial, but the evidence is similarly inconclusive.

Intralesional candida injection is another type of treatment that studies have proven to be quite successful as an off label treatment for warts. It essentially involves the injection of the antigen from the yeast Candida into one or two warts in the affected area.

This antigen ramps up the immune system, which helps resolve the injected wart, as well as other warts in the area. In people who respond to this treatment, multiple injections are sometimes necessary to make a noticeable difference.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment involves the use of a beam of high intensity light to destroy the wart. This treatment can be effective, but it can sometimes cause scarring.

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the pulsed dye laser method is 60–75% effective in removing warts that are difficult to treat. However, multiple treatments may be necessary.

Only a doctor or certified dermatologist should deliver this treatment.

People should avoid having surgical removal of the wart because residual wart can remain, and the whole wart may grow back.

Share on PinterestApplying salicylic acid to the wart daily may speed up recovery.

People with the following conditions should check with their doctor before treating the wart themselves:

diabetes
circulatory problems
any cardiovascular condition
vascular disease

Home remedies for plantar warts include:

Salicylic acid: People can apply an over-the-counter (OTC) salicylic acid medicine, such as those available for purchase here, to the plantar wart. This method can take up to 12 weeks or even longer to remove the wart.
Pumice stone: People can first soak the foot in warm water for 10–15 minutes to soften the wart, then rub it with a pumice stone or emery board. Pumice stones are available to purchase in drug stores and online.
Duct tape: An anecdotal but unproven method for treating plantar warts is to cover the wart with duct tape. Experts believe that this decreases the oxygen supply to the virus that is causing the wart. There is mixed evidence on whether this method is effective, but it is safe to try.
Freezing creams: People can use OTC creams that will freeze the plantar wart off. These may include dimethyl ether and propane creams, which may be less effective than salicylic acid. As these treatments are unlikely to work well, doctors generally discourage their use. Anyone interested in this type of therapy should make an appointment with a dermatologist to have cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen instead.

People who use a pumice stone or emery board on their wart should take care not to use it on any other part of their body or share it with others, as this can spread the infection. They should also replace it every so often to avoid reinfecting their foot.

People may also find that wearing flat, comfortable shoes helps them walk without irritation or pain.

Share on PinterestWearing shoes or sandals in communal locker rooms may reduce the likelihood of getting plantar warts.

People may be able to avoid getting plantar warts by:

wearing shoes or sandals in locker rooms, swimming pool areas, and communal showers
keeping the feet clean and dry
avoiding contact with warts on other people
avoiding using a pumice stone or emery board that has been in contact with a wart
wearing clean, dry socks when wearing shoes
avoiding going barefoot in communal areas

Plantar warts often go away without treatment within 2 years. However, if a person wants to remove the plantar wart, they can see their doctor for prescription medicine or have a medical procedure to reduce its appearance.

People may also be able to treat the wart at home with OTC products, such as salicylic acid.

Some warts can look similar to other skin growths, so people should also see a doctor if they are unsure what the growth is or notice any unusual symptoms, such as:

bleeding or oozing
shape or color changes
changes in size

People with diabetes, a weakened immune system, or a circulatory health issue that affects the feet should seek the advice of a doctor before trying any treatment that may damage the skin.

Plantar Warts Symptoms & Treatment – My FootDr

Home
Conditions Treated

What is a plantar wart?

Warts are small, rough, thick and often painful lumps on the skin that are caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). When a wart is present on the bottom of your foot, it’s called a plantar wart.

What causes plantar warts?

Plantar warts are spread through direct contact – either with someone that has the virus, or from sharing floors, shoes and socks with someone who has the virus. This means warts can quickly spread through families if care is not taken. Once you have the virus, it will be in your system for life, even if you don’t have any warts currently showing. As the virus is highly contagious, it’s important to seek plantar wart treatment early.

While plantar warts can affect anyone of any age, they tend to be more common in children. This is thought to be because their immune system hasn’t reached full maturity. My FootDr offers a variety of plantar wart treatments that are suitable for all ages and pain tolerance levels.

Plantar wart symptoms

Plantar warts are not usually a serious health concern. They can, however, cause extreme pain and discomfort if they arise in high weight-bearing areas, like beneath your heel, the ball of your foot or your toes. This can make running, jumping and even walking uncomfortable, as the thick wart presses inwards on the sensitive nerves of the skin. The tenderness can make us change the way we walk to avoid the pain, and cause strain elsewhere in the body. A little wart can be a big problem. If pain persists, contact a My FootDr podiatrist to undergo plantar wart treatment.

Is it a wart or a corn?

Warts and corns can look very similar on first glance, leading many health professionals and those trying to treat the problem at home to make the wrong diagnosis. As warts and corns have completely different treatment requirements, we highly recommend saving yourself time and money treating the wrong problem, and having a Podiatrist diagnose the cause of your pain.

If you have a wart, the top layer of callus that often overlies the wart must be removed. Before this happens, you cannot confidently differentiate the two – this is where we see many people go wrong. If the mass beneath is a wart, you will notice:

A rougher, granular appearance in the wart tissue
Pain when pinching the wart
Little black dots (dried blood) in the wart tissue
Bleeding when the top of the wart or overlying callus is removed
The natural lines in your skin move around the wart, and not through it

Treating plantar warts

Warning: We strongly advise against using home-care wart pads or creams from the chemist. These solutions almost always contain acid or other keratolytic ingredients to ‘eat away’ and dissolve the wart tissue. We often see patients who have used this unsuccessfully and have had the acid affect the healthy, thin surrounding skin. This causes an extremely painful injury, often producing much more pain than the wart itself, and leaves your fragile skin vulnerable to infection while it repairs.

At My FootDr, we offer plantar wart treatments to suit all ages and pain tolerance levels. This includes:

Using a mild acid in a safe and controlled environment, applied by an experienced Podiatrist. This usually requires multiple applications over several weeks and removes the viral cells slowly, allowing healthy skin cells to replace them.
Cryotherapy to freeze warts using liquid nitrogen. We often use this treatment together with other treatments to maximise the effects.

Surgical plantar wart removal is usually not recommended to treat plantar warts because it can cause painful scarring.

Plantar warts can resolve on their own, though the timing is highly unpredictable with some warts taking weeks and other being present for years. If your wart is causing you pain, discomfort, or is affecting the way you walk, we highly recommend having it treated.

Preventing plantar warts

The following tips may help to prevent plantar warts:

Avoid walking barefoot in public changing rooms and showers
Change your shoes and socks daily
Keep your feet clean and dry
Check your children’s feet periodically, and treat any warts before they spread to other members of the family
Avoid direct contact with warts on other persons or on other parts of the body
Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your skin
Visit a podiatrist immediately if you notice any lumps or sores on the foot

Plantar Wart FAQs

How do you get rid of plantar warts?

Consult your My FootDr podiatrist for any plantar wart removal. We often recommend using mild acid delivered by an experienced podiatrist, or cryotherapy to freeze the wart off using liquid nitrogen.

Are plantar warts contagious?

Yes, they are. They’re spread through direct and in-direct contact with a person who has Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It is important to seek treatment as soon as you detect a plantar wart.

Can I walk after plantar wart removal?

If surgically removing a plantar wart, it is suggested that you don’t put any pressure on your foot for 1-2days and keep the area bandages.

How deep can a plantar wart grow?

Plantar warts grow deep within the skin before showing symptoms like thickened skin, pain and tiny black dots. You can discover how deep your plantar wart is by undergoing treatment with your podiatrist.

How do you stop plantar warts from coming back?

There is no guaranteed cure for plantar warts that will completely stop them from returning, as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes the warts live in your body forever. However, you can prevent the spread by not scratching these warts or touching other parts of your body with them. If plantar warts return, continue with your treatment, or consult your doctor to explore another treatment option.

What happens to a plantar wart if left untreated?

If left untreated, a plantar wart can continue to grow and spread to various parts of your body and infect others that come in contact with you. Besides it being important to manage the spread of the virus, it’s also important for your personal health to treat your plantar wart as soon as possible. Plantar warts can become painful if untreated and effect the way you stand, walk and run. In some cases, this may cause muscle or joint discomfort.

Can plantar warts be surgically removed?

Yes, plantar warts can be surgically removed. However, this method of removal is often not recommended as surgery can cause painful scarring.

Are plantar warts contagious after treatment?

Plantar warts can still be contagious in-between treatments, and so it is important to keep them covered as to not infect anyone through direct and indirect content. Once the plantar wart has completely disappeared, the skin in the area will not be contagious. However, it is still important to keep an eye out for the early signs of developing warts around your body, in case another area has been infected.

How long for plantar warts to heal after acid treatment?

After receiving your first acid treatment from your podiatrist, it may take several sessions before your plantar wart is fully removed.

How We Can Help

March 11, 2016

Cryotherapy For Plantar Warts

Cryotherapy involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze plantar warts on the feet. At My FootDr, we use a pressurised canister with a spray tip or contact probe. Each plantar wart receives three applications in each appointment, with each application lasting between 20 and 30 seconds, depending on the size of the plantar wart. The treatment is carried out quickly, and we have a good success rate when using cryotherapy to treat plantar warts in both children and adults.

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Video Gait Analysis

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Big facts on little feet

Did you know as many as 81 per cent of parents have never taken their child to visit a Podiatrist?

Children’s feet and legs develop rapidly, and there are a surprising number of common foot problems that can be difficult for parents to identify.

Plantar wart in a child. What is a plantar wart in a child?

IMPORTANT
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.

A plantar wart in a child is a benign neoplasm of the skin of the feet in the form of a nodule, which is provoked by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The growth looks like a limited growth of the stratum corneum of the epidermis with a villous rod in the center, which causes pain and discomfort when walking. For the diagnosis of papillomavirus infection, the analysis of histological preparations of the wart, laboratory methods for detecting the DNA of the virus are used. Treatment is carried out by minimally invasive methods (laser therapy, cryodestruction, radiocoagulation) in combination with immunomodulatory therapy.

ICD-10

B07 Viral warts

Causes
Pathogenesis
Symptoms
Complications
Diagnostics
Treatment of plantar warts in children
- Conservative therapy
- Surgical treatment
Prognosis and prevention
Prices for treatment

General

The prevalence of plantar warts in childhood is 7-10%, and the maximum frequency of their detection occurs in middle school and adolescence. In infancy and early childhood, growths are extremely rare. In modern pediatrics, various methods of treating the disease have been developed, but they cannot give a 100% result and do not exclude the risk of relapse, which is the reason for the high clinical significance of papillomatosis in children.

Plantar wart in a child

Causes

The disease is caused by an infectious agent – the human papillomatosis virus. There are more than 120 variants of papillomaviruses, but plantar wart occurs mainly when infected with HPV 1 (mupapillomavirus), 2 (alphapapillomavirus) and 4 (gammapapillomavirus) types. The microorganism contains DNA, belongs to the papovavirus family.

Infection is promoted by microtraumas of the skin of the soles, through which the pathogen easily reaches the lower layers of the epidermis. Provoking factors for the formation of warts are any causes that reduce natural immunity. Multiple and recurrent forms of plantar growths more often affect children with congenital immunodeficiency and chronic somatic diseases, patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Pathogenesis

Infection usually occurs through person-to-person contact. Children become infected when communicating with family members or peers at school, kindergarten. Another route of penetration of the pathogen is walking barefoot in locker rooms, public pools, where virus particles are present. In adolescents, HPV is also transmitted sexually. The probability of infection with a single contact of a child with the virus reaches 90%, but often asymptomatic elimination occurs.

The virus resides in the cells of the basal layer of the epidermis for a long time, and in the presence of provoking factors, it begins to multiply. At the same time, the formation and differentiation of skin cells are disturbed, excessive keratinization occurs, a pathologically altered tissue is formed, which slowly increases in size. Warts are not characterized by invasive growth, since they are benign neoplasms.

Symptoms

At the initial stage of wart development, an area of excessive keratinization appears on the plantar surface of the foot, which is lighter than the surrounding skin. Gradually, its size increases, it becomes hard to the touch. Outwardly, the wart looks like a flat nodule; a villous rod can be determined in the center. The formation acquires a dirty yellow or brown color, and in the middle you can see black dots – thrombosed capillaries.

The most common localization of warts in a child is the ball of the thumb and heel, which are subjected to pressure when walking. The growths are single, but with prolonged existence near the first nodule, the formation of a new plantar wart is possible. The patient complains of local pain when walking, and the sensations can be so intense that they provoke lameness. Unlike a corn, a wart is more likely to hurt when the growth is compressed rather than when pressure is applied directly.

Complications

The danger of a large plantar wart lies in the possible deformation of the foot and gait disturbance, as the child tries to spare the damaged area, begins to limp or drag his leg. The growths are subject to constant trauma, so there is a risk of skin maceration, secondary infection and purulent lesions of the foot.

In the thickness of the plantar wart there are capillaries with blood clots, which can be damaged by mechanical friction, causing bleeding. The long existence of the growth and its maceration are predisposing factors to cell malignancy with the development of skin cancer. Another complication of the plantar outgrowth is an epidemiological danger: an infected child becomes a source of infection for relatives and classmates.

Diagnostics

Detection of a plantar wart is not difficult for a pediatric dermatologist during a routine examination of a child. Outwardly, the growths differ from calluses, so the doctor quickly differentiates them. Highly specialized research methods are prescribed to confirm the viral etiology of the process and clarify the morphology of the skin lesion of the plantar part of the foot in order to exclude malignancy. The diagnostic plan includes:

Histological examination. When stained by Papanicolaou, the laboratory assistant sees a pathognomonic sign of infection with the papillomavirus virus – the presence of koilocytic atypia of cells affected by the virus. In nonspecific manifestations of infection include hyperplasia of the stratum corneum, active proliferation of basal cells.
HPV DNA determination. To verify papillomatosis and identify the type of pathogen, amplification (PCR, LCR), non-amplification (dot-blot, southern blot) and signal amplification (hybrid trap system) methods are carried out. The affected tissue is taken as a material for research.
Immunologist consultation. An additional examination of the child is necessary in case of plantar growths of more than 2 cm2, the formation of 5 or more warts of one localization, or frequent recurrence of the process. The doctor prescribes an immunogram and other special methods to rule out immunodeficiency.

Treatment of plantar warts in children

Conservative therapy

Drug treatment of the papillomatous process in children is not effective enough, since there are no drugs with a direct toxic effect on the viral envelope. Immunocorrective agents are used that increase the child’s own resistance and eliminate the clinical symptoms of the infection. In pediatrics, stimulants for the formation of interferon are prescribed, but interferons themselves are contraindicated due to high allergenicity.

Among topical medicines, solutions for the chemical destruction of plantar warts are recommended, which contain acetic, lactic or oxalic acids in safe concentrations. The method is widely used due to the fact that the process of removing the build-up can be visually controlled, healing is fast, and there are practically no complications. For a child, chemical destruction is painless.

Surgical treatment

With severe pain, rapid growth of warts and the risk of spreading the papillomatosis virus, pediatricians recommend removing the neoplasm. Manipulation, as a rule, is carried out in children after 10 years, which is caused by better tolerance of the procedure and a higher incidence of pathology in this age group. In pediatric dermatovenereology, 4 minimally invasive methods of destruction of the plantar growth are used:

Laser therapy. When exposed to a carbon dioxide laser, it is possible to remove a wart in 1 session without pain and bleeding. The technique is performed without contact, so there is no risk of tissue infection and complications.
Electrocoagulation. Cauterization with an electrode is indicated for single neoplasms with a diameter of not more than 10 mm. The method is accompanied by the isolation of the DNA of the virus along with the smoke, so adequate protective measures are applied.
Cryodestruction. The area of the plantar wart is frozen with a cryoprobe to completely destroy the pathological tissue. Over time, the crust disappears, and normal skin forms under it, which closes the defect without a scar.
Radiocoagulation. Modern devices (Surgitron) are used for targeted and controlled removal of deep or large warts. The manipulation takes place without complications, and scars do not remain at the site of exposure.

Prognosis and prevention

In 28% of cases, there is a spontaneous regression of the clinical manifestations of the plantar wart even without therapy. In other situations, recovery is achieved with a combination of local minimally invasive interventions and immunotherapy, so the prognosis is favorable. There are concerns about recurrent and large growths associated with innate immune disorders in a child.

Non-specific preventive measures include maintaining foot hygiene, avoiding direct skin contact with surfaces in public pools and other places where HPV can potentially become infected. If a family member has a papillomavirus infection, to prevent infection, the child’s things (socks, towels) should be washed separately in hot water to destroy the pathogen. Specific prevention is HPV vaccination for children aged 9 years and older.

You can share your medical history, what helped you in the treatment of a plantar wart in a child.

Sources

Viral warts. Clinical recommendations of the Russian Society of Dermatovenerologists and Cosmetologists. – 2016.
Human papillomavirus. Epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis and prevention of papillomavirus infection / O.V. Narva // Infection and immunity. — 2011.
Clinical and epidemiological features of the course of papillomavirus infection in children / T.V. Protsenko, Ya.A. Goncharova // Health of the child. — 2008.
Features of the clinical course, diagnosis and approaches to the treatment of human papillomavirus infection in childhood / L.P. Mazitova, L.K. Aslamazyan, L.S. Namazova, T.S. Shaipov// Pediatric pharmacology. — 2006.
This article was prepared based on the site: https://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/

IMPORTANT
Information from this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Warts: where they come from and why warts appear

What are warts?

Warts are small tumor-like growths on the skin. There are several types of warts:

Common warts . Common warts are dense round-shaped formations with a rough surface with a diameter of three to ten millimeters. Most often, this type of wart appears on the back of the human hands, face, fingers, head.
Plantar warts. They occur on the soles of a person’s feet, hence the name – plantar warts. In their appearance, such warts are similar to corns. The main cause of plantar warts is wearing tight shoes.
Flat (juvenile, juvenile) warts. This type of wart is most common in children and teenagers. Flat warts are small (about 0. 5-3 mm in diameter) nodules, usually located on the face and back of the hands.

Where do warts come from?

Warts are caused by papilloma virus. This virus can be transmitted through direct contact with a sick person or in public places through various objects. It can take 2 to 6 months from the time the skin is infected with the virus to the appearance of the wart. Fertile soil for infection with the papillomavirus group is water and heat, so people who sweat a lot are especially susceptible to this disease. In addition, flat warts can appear in places where the skin is damaged.

How to treat warts

Warts certainly look very ugly and disgusting. If the warts are in uncomfortable places or simply bring you psychological discomfort, it makes sense to contact a surgeon and remove the warts with a laser.

There are cases when it is necessary to seek help from a dermatologist:

change in the shape and color of the wart;
uneven color of the wart;
blurred wart borders;
wart injury or soreness;
increase in the number of warts;
wart bleeding;
the appearance of a wart in the genital area.

How do plantar warts start: Plantar warts – Symptoms and causes