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How to fix plantar warts: Plantar Wart Treatments

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.

Plantar warts | Sparrow

Overview

Plantar warts are small, rough growths on the feet. They usually show up on the balls and heels of the feet, the areas that bear the most pressure. This pressure may also cause a wart to grow inward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin (callus).

Plantar warts are caused by HPV. This virus enters through tiny cuts or breaks on the bottom of the feet.

Most plantar warts aren’t a serious health concern and often go away without treatment, especially in children under 12. To get rid of them sooner, you can try self-care treatments or see your health care provider.

Symptoms

Plantar wart signs and symptoms include:

  • A small, rough growth on the bottom of your foot, usually at the base of the toes or on the ball or heel
  • On brown and Black skin, the growth may be lighter than unaffected skin
  • Hard, thickened skin (callus) over a spot on the skin, where a wart has grown inward
  • Black pinpoints, which are small clotted blood vessels commonly called wart seeds
  • A cluster of growths on the sole of the foot (mosaic warts)
  • A growth that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your foot
  • Pain or tenderness when walking or standing

When to see a doctor

See your health care provider for the growth on your foot if:

  • The growth is bleeding, painful or changes in shape or color
  • You’ve tried treating the wart, but it persists, multiplies or comes back after clearing for a time (recurs)
  • Your pain interferes with your activities
  • You also have diabetes or poor feeling in your feet
  • You also have a weak immune system because of immune-suppressing drugs, HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders
  • You aren’t sure if the growth is a wart

Causes

Plantar warts are caused by an infection with HPV in the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. The warts develop when the virus enters through tiny cuts, breaks or weak spots on the bottom of the foot. If left untreated, warts can last from a few months to 2 years in children, and several years in in adults.

HPV is very common, and more than 100 kinds of the virus exist. But only a few of them cause warts on the feet. Other types of HPV are more likely to cause warts on other areas of your skin or on mucous membranes.

Transmission of the virus

Each person’s immune system responds differently to HPV. Not everyone who comes in contact with it develops warts. Even people in the same family react to the virus differently.

The HPV strains that cause plantar warts aren’t highly contagious. So the virus isn’t easily spread by direct contact from one person to another. But it thrives in warm, moist places, so you might get the virus by walking barefoot around swimming pools or locker rooms. If the virus spreads from the first site of infection, more warts may grow.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop plantar warts, but this type of wart is more likely to affect:

  • Children and teenagers
  • People with weak immune systems
  • People who have had plantar warts before
  • People who walk barefoot in areas where a wart-causing virus is common, such as locker rooms and swimming pools

Complications

When plantar warts cause pain, you may alter your normal posture or gait — perhaps without realizing it. Eventually, this change in how you stand, walk or run can cause muscle or joint discomfort.

Prevention

To help prevent plantar warts:

  • Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts. Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.
  • Keep your feet clean and dry.
  • Wear sandals or other foot protection when walking around swimming pools, in locker rooms or in gym showers.
  • Don’t pick at or scratch warts.
  • When using an emery board, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts, choose one that you don’t use on your healthy skin and nails.

Diagnosis

A health care provider usually diagnoses a plantar wart by looking at it or cutting off the top layer with a scalpel and checking for dots. The dots are tiny clotted blood vessels. Or your health care provider might cut off a small section of the growth and send it to a lab for testing.

Treatment

Most plantar warts are harmless and go away without treatment, though it may take a year or two in children, and even longer in adults. If you want to get rid of warts sooner, and self-care approaches haven’t helped, talk with your health care provider. Using one or more of the following treatments may help:

  • Freezing medicine (cryotherapy). Cryotherapy is done in a clinic and involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, either with a spray or a cotton swab. This method can be painful, so your health care provider may numb the area first.

    The freezing causes a blister to form around your wart, and the dead tissue sloughs off within a week or so. Cryotherapy may also stimulate your immune system to fight viral warts. You may need to return to the clinic for repeat treatments every 2 to 3 weeks until the wart disappears.

    Possible side effects of cryotherapy are pain, blisters and permanent changes in skin color (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation), particularly in people with brown or Black skin.

  • Stronger peeling medicine (salicylic acid). Prescription-strength wart medications with salicylic acid work by removing a wart a layer at a time. They may also boost your immune system’s ability to fight the wart.

    Your health care provider will likely suggest you apply the medicine regularly at home, followed by occasional office visits. It might take weeks to remove the wart using this method.

Surgical or other procedures

If salicylic acid and freezing medicine don’t work, your health care provider may suggest one or more of the following treatments:

  • Minor surgery. Your health care provider cuts away the wart or destroys it by using an electric needle (electrodesiccation and curettage). This method can be painful, so your health care provider will numb your skin first. Because surgery has a risk of scarring, it’s not often used to treat plantar warts unless other treatments have failed. A scar on the sole of the foot can be painful for years.
  • Blistering medicine. Your health care provider applies cantharidin, which causes a blister under the wart. You may need to return to the clinic in about a week to have the dead wart clipped off.
  • Immune therapy. This method uses medications or solutions to stimulate your immune system to fight viral warts. Your health care provider may inject your warts with a foreign substance (antigen) or apply a solution or cream to the warts.
  • Laser treatment. Pulsed-dye laser treatment burns closed (cauterizes) tiny blood vessels. The infected tissue eventually dies, and the wart falls off. This method needs to be repeated every 2 to 4 weeks. Your health care provider will likely numb your skin first.
  • Vaccine. HPV vaccine has been used with success to treat warts even though this vaccine is not specifically targeted toward the wart viruses that cause plantar warts.

If a plantar wart goes away after treatment and another wart grows, it could be because the area was exposed again to HPV.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Many people have removed warts with these self-care tips:

  • Peeling medicine (salicylic acid). Nonprescription wart removal products are sold as a patch, gel or liquid. You’ll likely be instructed to wash the site, soak it in warm water, and gently remove the top layer of softened skin with a pumice stone or emery board. Then after the skin has dried, you apply the solution or patch. Patches are often changed every 24 to 48 hours. Liquid products are used daily. It might take weeks to remove the wart using this method.
  • Freezing medicine (cryotherapy). Nonprescription medicines that freeze the wart include Compound W Freeze Off and Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away. The Food and Drug Administration cautions that some wart removers are flammable and shouldn’t be used around fire, flame, heat sources (such as curling irons) and lit cigarettes.
  • Duct tape. Using duct tape to remove warts is a harmless but unproven approach. To try it, cover the wart with silver duct tape, changing it every few days. Between applications, soak the wart and gently remove dead tissue with a pumice stone or emery board. Then leave the wart open to the air to dry for a few hours before covering it with tape again.

In general, no matter which treatment you try, do these two things:

  • Cover the wart to help prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body or to other people.
  • Wash your hands after touching the wart.

If a plantar wart goes away after treatment and another wart grows, it could be because the area was exposed again to HPV.

Preparing for an appointment

You’ll likely start by seeing your primary care provider, who may then refer you to a specialist in disorders of the skin (dermatologist) or feet (podiatrist). The following tips can help you prepare for your appointment.

Prevention

What you can do

Bring a list of all medications you take regularly — including nonprescription medications and dietary supplements — and the daily dosage of each.

You may also want to list questions for your health care provider, such as:

  • If I have a plantar wart, can I start with at-home care?
  • If I use a home treatment, under what conditions should I call you?
  • If the first treatment doesn’t work, what will we try next?
  • If the growth isn’t a plantar wart, what tests do you need to do?
  • How long will it take to get results?
  • How can I prevent warts?

Preparing for an appointment

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider may ask you questions such as:

  • When did you first notice the wart?
  • Has it changed in size, color or shape?
  • Is your condition painful?
  • Have you had warts before?
  • Do you have diabetes or poor sensation in your feet?
  • Do you have any condition or take any medication that has weakened your ability to fight disease (immune response)?
  • Have you tried any home remedies? If so, how long have you used them and have they helped?
  • Do you use a swimming pool or locker room — places that can harbor wart-causing viruses?

What you can do in the meantime

If you’re sure you have a plantar wart, you may try nonprescription remedies or alternative medicine approaches. But talk with your health care provider before trying self-care treatments if you have:

  • Diabetes
  • Poor sensation in your feet
  • Weakened immunity

If pressure on the wart causes pain, try wearing well-cushioned shoes, such as athletic shoes that evenly support the sole and relieve some of the pressure. Avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Plantar Wart: Causes and Treatments

Publication: 01/27/2023
Change: 01/30/2023

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the diagnosis and proper treatment of various skin pathologies caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). One of the manifestations of HPV can be foot spikes, also known as plantar warts. Such formations cause physical discomfort due to their inconvenient location.

Complete eradication of human papillomavirus is not possible. However, it is possible to achieve a long-term remission and get rid of the external manifestations of the disease. In particular, there are a number of effective methods for removing plantar warts that allow you to remove formations without the risk of recurrence.

Author:

Ibraev Anatoly Tomasovich

Head of the Department of Cosmetology and Laser Technologies. Dermatologist-cosmetologist
Work experience: 16 years

Important!

The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For staging
correct diagnosis and treatment should always consult a doctor.

What are plantar warts?

Papillomaviruses are a distinct family of pathogens that are tissue specific. That is, they can affect a certain type of tissue characteristic of their localization. Some of the HPV varieties are pathogenic for humans and can affect the skin and mucous membranes. One of the main manifestations of the virus in this case is papillomatous growths, or warts.

Such neoplasms occur in about 12% of adults and in about 20% of school-age children. The papillomavirus can be transmitted both through direct and indirect contact with an infected person, as a result of which it is considered quite contagious. More often we are talking about the contact-household method of transmission, but do not forget about the sexual and birth canal. According to rough estimates by doctors, up to 9 people can be infected with this virus.0% of the world’s population.

There are several clinical varieties of warts (most often the growths are divided into 8 types), each of which is caused by HPV of a certain type. Spines in most cases are the result of human infection with HPV type 1. Less commonly, formations occur due to the virus of the 3rd, 27th, 29th and 57th types.

If we talk about the clinical manifestations of such growths, then they are dense rounded plaques. They are characterized by a granular surface, formations are covered with hyperkeratotic layers. They are painful, cause serious discomfort while walking. In addition to the feet, formations often appear on the palms – they have the same shape and external parameters.

When infected with HPV types 2 and 4, mosaic warts may appear on the soles and palms. These are plaques that have formed at the site of diffuse foci of keratosis, that is, when many small and closely spaced growths merge. This type of formation causes serious discomfort. It is difficult for a person to walk, because due to pressure on the foot, neoplasms are injured.

Without special treatment, plantar warts often disappear after 2-3 years. However, it is better not to delay their removal, as they will constantly increase in size. In addition, a person in this case can become an active carrier of pathology.

Types of warts

There are different types of neoplasms caused by HPV. The most common varieties are:

  • Plain (vulgar) . Such warts are localized on the back surfaces of the hands, palms, but in rare cases they can occur on the feet and face. They are flat growths (sometimes rising above the skin), which are non-inflammatory in nature. The sizes of such formations can reach 10 mm in diameter. The surface is bumpy and uneven, often there are papillae or villi. Common warts are characterized by a normal or gray hue. As a rule, they are painless.
  • Flat . Such growths are localized on the cheeks, forehead or neck, less often on the limbs and torso. They have the appearance of yellowish-brown or pale pink papules. Sufficiently dense to the touch, appear in groups. They have a smooth surface.
  • Plantar . Localized on the soles, but can also be found on the palms. Represent a small hyperkeratosis of the skin with clearly defined boundaries. They have a yellowish-gray tint. There is a black rod in the center. Painful on pressure.

If spines are detected, additional differential diagnosis of other warts is carried out. Often, such neoplasms have a similar appearance and localization, which will require clarification of the diagnosis.

Also, some experts distinguish specific types of spines:

  • Deep . These plantar warts grow into the skin, resulting in great discomfort while walking.
  • Flat . Warts of this type do not protrude above the surface of the skin, have a light pink or flesh color.
  • Internal . Formations of the subcutaneous type, which are localized on the toes. They are not always visible on the surface, but grow significantly into the skin.

Symptoms of thorns

In the early stages of a plantar wart, there is excessive keratinization. This means that areas with thickened skin may appear on the feet. Gradually, the size of such seals becomes larger, and the skin becomes rougher. To the touch, such areas are quite dense.

Further, it is possible to notice that a palpable pin has appeared in the center of the seal. Outwardly, the neoplasm looks like a flat nodule. The skin in this area has a yellow or brown tint, and in the center there is a black rod.

Very often spines appear on the lower crease of the thumbs, as they are compressed during walking. At first, one growth is detected, but new formations may appear near it, which will eventually merge into a mosaic wart.

As a rule, spines have a flat structure, as they are compressed due to walking. In most cases, they cause pain, so they are almost always detected by the patient on their own.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consult your doctor:

  • Leather seal on the soles.
  • The appearance of small round formations of a dense structure.
  • Painful sensations when pressure is applied to growths.
  • Multiple neoplasms on the feet and hands.

Causes of

We have already noted that the main cause of plantar warts is the human papillomavirus. Its danger lies in the fact that it can enter the body in various ways and remain in a “sleeping” state for a long time. The incubation period often lasts several months or even years. As a result, a person does not even suspect about his infection.

The peculiarity of HPV is that the DNA of this virus is capable of producing viral particles in epithelial cells. In most cases, the infection is asymptomatic, as it is suppressed by cellular immunity. But with its decrease, the patient may experience a number of unpleasant symptoms. One of the most common are warts of various types.

A person may notice the appearance of spines when exposed to a number of adverse factors that reduce immunity. These include the following:

  • Infectious and catarrhal diseases.
  • The period of exacerbation of chronic diseases.
  • Immunodeficiency pathologies.
  • Various metabolic disorders.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Bad habits (eg alcohol abuse).
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Wrong, unbalanced diet.
  • Regular stress and lack of sleep.
  • Violation of personal hygiene rules.

Plantar warts are more common in children than in adults due to an underdeveloped immune system. As a result, the child’s body cannot cope with the papilloma virus on its own, which leads to characteristic manifestations of the pathology. For the same reason, elderly people and patients with serious chronic diseases are at risk.

Many believe that plantar warts are common in people with hyperhidrosis of the feet. Excessive sweating by itself cannot lead to the appearance of spikes. However, if a person is infected with HPV, then hyperhidrosis can become one of the provoking factors and contribute to the spread of infection. Therefore, patients with this problem may have multiple growths on different parts of the feet.

Wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes can also provoke the appearance of new warts. As a result of this, the skin of the feet will be constantly injured, in addition, increased sweating may occur.

Danger of plantar warts

Spines require mandatory treatment, as they carry a serious danger. When walking, such neoplasms can be injured and deformed, as a result of which a person will sooner or later not be able to walk normally. In addition, there is a risk of secondary infection or purulent lesions of the legs.

Mechanical friction and trauma to the plantar warts often leads to various bleeding, as there are capillaries inside the formations. In addition, in such cases, the risk of infection of family members increases.

Do not forget that such growths are a manifestation of the human papillomavirus. HPV does not penetrate into the blood, so the entire infectious process proceeds without inflammation. However, the cells of the basal layer are infected. Over time, this can lead to a number of serious complications, including oncological processes.

Some types of the virus are oncogenic, so they can provoke various types of cancer. And it’s not just about skin cancer, but also damage to the cervix and other body systems. Therefore, it is not worth neglecting the treatment of such a pathology. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the human papillomavirus, but you can reduce the risk of complications and prevent its external manifestations.

Diagnosis of plantar warts

The presence of spines can be confirmed by a dermatologist during the initial consultation. In addition to examining the formations, the specialist collects the patient’s history. The following is specified:

  • How long ago did the formations appear?
  • Were there similar growths on other parts of the body?
  • Is there any soreness or itching?
  • Are there any chronic or immunodeficiency diseases?

To determine the specific type of HPV, a laboratory study of the biomaterial by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is used. HPV infects epithelial cells, so tissue scraping from the formation is taken for diagnosis. PCR has 100% specificity and sensitivity, which allows you to accurately determine the type of virus in the body. Thanks to this, it is possible to determine its oncogenic potential and select methods of treatment.

Important!

The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For staging
correct diagnosis and treatment should always consult a doctor.

Removal methods

Now consider how to treat a plantar wart. There are techniques that allow you to remove any type of formation: they are divided into destructive, chemical, immunotropic. The choice of treatment tactics is individual, since it is important to take into account the localization of growths, the nature of the process (primary or recurrent), the area of ​​the lesion and other factors. A high risk of recurrence is often noted for large warts and periungual localization. In this case, the use of complex methods may be required.

Sometimes a doctor may prescribe immunomodulators and antiviral drugs for a patient. Most often, such products are used together with external treatment, since they only suppress the activity of the virus, but do not always help get rid of cosmetic defects on the skin.

In the past, salicylic acid preparations were one of the most popular treatments. This method was quite safe, but not always allowed to achieve high efficiency. In particular, in the case of plantar warts, relapses often occurred. Therefore, today such drugs are more often used to treat flat warts on the face and hands. Most often we are talking about the treatment of superficial and shallow formations. As a rule, chemicals are produced in the form of gels and ointments. They may have immunomodulatory, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects.

There are preparations based on salicylic acid with different content of active ingredients. Most of these drugs are prescription, as they require proper use and can lead to a number of side effects. For this reason, preference is given to destructive techniques aimed at the complete removal of the neoplasm. The most commonly used procedures are:

Cryodestruction . The basis of such treatment of spines is exposure to liquid nitrogen. The impact is only on the affected areas of the feet. Under the influence of low temperatures, an instantaneous death of the tissue of the growth occurs. The wart is frozen for 10-30 seconds, small formations can be removed in one session.

One of the advantages of the technique is the presence of a limited zone of necrosis, that is, during treatment, adjacent healthy tissues are not damaged. The effectiveness of cryodestruction directly depends on the chosen treatment regimen and the nature of the neoplasms.

Other benefits of cryotherapy include:

  • Fast preparation and implementation.
  • Painless.

The recovery process after the procedure can be quite lengthy, and healing in the area of ​​the feet often takes several weeks. Therefore, this technique is more often used to remove warts with localization between the fingers or in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe nails.

Electrocoagulation . Another possible treatment for spinal cords is electrocoagulation. This method is based on the effect of high-frequency electric current. Due to thermal energy, interstitial fluid evaporates, tissue coagulation occurs. It is possible to eliminate sufficiently voluminous formations, so the procedure is often used when mosaic warts appear on the soles.

Among the advantages of electrocoagulation are the following:

  • Accessibility for patients.
  • Fast preparation and implementation.
  • Versatility – suitable for most types of papillomas.

However, such manipulation can be quite traumatic. In addition, it is not recommended for use in cases where a good cosmetic effect is important for the patient.

Radio wave removal . Destruction of neoplasms can be performed using exposure to radiofrequency waves. There is an incision and instant coagulation of tissues due to the radio knife. This method of treatment is good because it does not affect healthy tissues and surrounding vessels. Papillomas and plantar warts are removed from the root.

Radio waves affect the intercellular fluid in tissues. As a result, the liquid heats up, which destroys the integrity of the affected cell. This technique is quite safe and effective, but is more often used for small neoplasms. Among the advantages note the following:

  • Instant vascular coagulation.
  • Ability to eliminate multiple warts.
  • Minimum number of contraindications.

Laser destruction . One of the most effective treatments for plantar warts is laser therapy. The essence of the procedure is to influence the affected tissue with high-intensity laser radiation. The most commonly used device is DOT CO2, which provides excellent aesthetic results.

Due to laser radiation, tissues are heated, which provokes destructive processes. At the same time, the effect is directed to the hemoglobin of erythrocytes, which are contained in the blood vessels of the wart. A necrotic area with a growth (often referred to as a “crust”) remains at the site of exposure, which is rejected on its own after a few days.

The laser has a point effect, as a result of which there is no injury to surrounding healthy tissues. This type of treatment is often chosen for its safety and effectiveness. In addition, the rehabilitation period is quite easy and painless, which is important in the treatment of plantar neoplasms.

Other benefits of laser therapy include:

  • Minimum number of contraindications.
  • Removal of multiple growths.
  • Versatile – can be used on any type of wart.
  • Painless procedure.

In severe cases, surgical removal of the spines may be considered. This method is used for large areas of the lesion, as well as for suspicion of a malignant nature of the formation (during surgical removal, it is possible to perform a tissue biopsy). But in other cases, the technique is not used, as it is quite traumatic. During the procedure, it is often necessary to remove adjacent healthy tissue.

It is always necessary to get rid of plantar warts, regardless of their size, number and degree of pain. The appearance of the following symptoms should be especially alert:

  • Pain when walking or pressing.
  • Bleeding spines.
  • The appearance of inclusions or discoloration of the growth.
  • Enlargement of the wart in size.
  • Appearance of new small formations around.

Many patients neglect medical care and prefer home treatment with various ointments and gels. Traditional medicines are also often used. These techniques are often effective in the initial appearance of warts. But after a few months, relapses of the pathology occur, multiple neoplasms of large sizes are observed. Therefore, we advise you not to self-medicate and make an appointment with a dermatologist or therapist.

Prevention of warts

Preventive measures play an important role in preventing relapse. Doctors’ recommendations are as follows:

  • Wear loose, comfortable shoes . Shoes should be sized, not too tight. It is best to choose a pair of natural materials. Also, if possible, wear special orthopedic insoles if you have flat feet or other musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Cure foot hyperhidrosis . Excessive sweating of the feet in most cases can be corrected with deodorants, ointments, drugs or physiotherapy. Therefore, to exclude new spikes, try to get rid of the existing problem.
  • Treat injuries, scrapes and cuts on the feet . Any violation of the integrity of the skin can lead to infection with HPV. In addition, there is a risk of developing a purulent lesion. Therefore, do not forget about the use of antiseptic and wound healing agents.
  • Strengthen immunity . A proper balanced diet, normal sleep, lack of stress and the rejection of bad habits will help strengthen the immune system and prevent the appearance of spinal cords. Give up a sedentary lifestyle, include regular walks and workouts in your daily routine. In addition, pay attention to your health and prevent the recurrence of chronic pathologies in time. And when the first signs of a plantar wart appear, do not neglect a visit to the doctor.

We hope that you figured out how to remove the spine and why such a neoplasm needs to be treated. If you need help in removing a wart, then you can make an appointment with our Altermed Aesthetic clinic. We will be waiting for you!

Literature

  • Belyaev VV Plantar, flat, vulgar warts: modern approaches to treatment // Clinical dermatology and venereology. – 2012. – No. 10(6). – pp. 55–59.
  • Khlebnikova A. N. Treatment of vulgar and plantar warts / A. N. Khlebnikova, E. V. Selezneva, O. V. Dorokhin // Bulletin of dermatology and venereology. – 2015. – T. 91, No. 1. – S. 122–128.

Other articles of the author:

  • Age spots: types, causes, treatment methods
  • Rehabilitation after lifting with threads Aptos
  • Warts: causes and methods of their removal
  • Acne on the face
  • Red spots on the skin
  • Rosacea
  • How to remove the second chin?
  • How to remove forehead wrinkles?
  • How to remove nasolabial folds?

Plantar warts treatment consultation in St.

Petersburg at the ID-CLINIC clinic

Plantar warts treatment consultation in St. Petersburg at the ID-CLINIC clinic

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St. Petersburg, Ivana Chernykh st., 25A

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Plantar warts are benign growths on the skin of the feet caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus has many serotypes, but types 1, 2, 4, 25 and 57 mainly cause lesions on the soles of the feet. The problem is more common in young people. Infection with the pathogen occurs through direct contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces (walking barefoot in a sauna, swimming pool, on the sand).

Risk factors

The likelihood of HPV infection and activation is increased in the following situations:
● excessive sweating of the feet (hyperhidrosis)
● microcracks, skin diseases of the feet
● non-compliance with personal hygiene
● wearing shoes made of synthetic materials
● diabetes mellitus
● chronic lower limb ischemia
● decreased immune status

What plantar warts look like

A wart is a rounded thickening of the skin that looks like a callus. It has a yellowish or brown tint, covered with keratinized layers. In the wart area there is a large number of viruses that spread to neighboring areas of the skin, so mosaic plaques can form on the soles. In case of accidental traumatization of neoplasms, black dots are visible under the stratum corneum – thrombosed capillaries.

Wart or callus?

Plantar viral warts mainly occur in places of greatest stress on the foot (heel, toe pads), so many patients mistake them for calluses. It is possible to distinguish a wart by the following signs:
● soreness when pressed from the sides, not with direct pressure while walking
● no grooves on the surface of the build-up
● the onset of bleeding in case of severe trauma or an attempt to cut off the neoplasm on one’s own

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Doctor’s advice

If an unusual growth appears on the skin, do not try to remove it yourself using pharmacy or folk methods. This increases the risk of infection, suppuration, bleeding, and even malignant degeneration. The ID-Clinic dermatologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of plantar warts. The doctor consults patients in person and online, confirms the diagnosis after an external examination of the feet and dermatoscopy.

Medical therapy

Conservative treatments are limited. At the initial stages of wart development, keratolytic agents are applied to the skin, which destroy the stratum corneum and contribute to the destruction of the growth. However, due to low efficiency, such methods are increasingly abandoned. They are carried out only if there are contraindications to more effective minimally invasive methods that can completely cure the plantar wart.

Apparatus pedicure

● Medical treatment of the feet is indicated before the start of therapy as a basic hygiene procedure.
● Anhydrous formulations, antiseptics and other therapeutic agents are used for the procedure.
● After a hardware pedicure, the nails and skin of the feet look more neat and well-groomed, calluses soften.
● After hygienic treatment of the feet, the doctor, according to indications, proceeds to invasive or conservative methods of treating the wart.

Radio wave removal

In ID-Clinic, the destruction of plantar warts is carried out on the Fotek radio wave device, which gives an optimal aesthetic and clinical result. The device allows you to remove tumors with high accuracy without damaging healthy tissues and without causing bleeding. Thanks to local anesthesia, the procedure is comfortable for the patient, and traces and scars after complete tissue healing are almost invisible.

Prevention of warts

Since skin growths are caused by HPV, vaccination is the best way to prevent them. In our clinic, immunization is carried out with Gardasil, which protects against the 4 most dangerous subtypes of the virus that often cause cancer. Vaccination is highly recommended for people under the age of 27. In the age group of 27-45 years, vaccinations are also carried out, but this point is discussed with the doctor individually.

Make an appointment with a doctor

To consult an ID-Clinic dermatologist, leave a request in the feedback form on this page. We will call you back and arrange a convenient time for your appointment.

Cost of clinic services

Inspection

Get service

Removal of benign skin tumors (caused by HPV, 2-5 elements) for 1 pc.

700 ₽

Removal of benign skin tumors (caused by HPV, more than 5 elements) for 1 pc.

500 ₽

B01.008.001

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with a dermatovenereologist

3000 ₽

B01.008.002

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a dermatovenereologist

3000 ₽

А16. 01.046

Preventive hardware pedicure for healthy nails (10 nails, heels and feet)

2900 ₽

А16.01.046.01

Medical hardware pedicure for sore nails (10 nails, heels and feet)

3900 ₽

А16.01.046.10

Removal of 1 callus or root callus

500 ₽

Online consultation with a dermatologist

3000 ₽

Tests

Get service

031210

Advanced HPV test (determining the amount and type of virus)

1600.00 RUB

Other clinic services

Podiatrist

Medical pedicure

  • Bortuleva Victoria Valerievna

    Dermatovenerologist,
    Mycologist,
    Podiatrist,
    Doctor of the highest category