What are plantar warts. How are plantar warts diagnosed. What are the most effective treatments for plantar warts. How can you prevent plantar warts from spreading. What are the risks associated with plantar wart removal procedures.

Understanding Plantar Warts: Causes and Characteristics

Plantar warts, scientifically known as verruca plantaris, are a common foot condition that affects many individuals. These warts occur on the plantar aspect (bottom) of the foot and are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Unlike other types of warts, plantar warts grow inward due to the pressure exerted on them while walking or standing.

Are plantar warts contagious? Yes, but they are not highly contagious. The virus thrives in warm, moist environments, making public showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms common transmission sites. While anyone can develop plantar warts, children and individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible.

Common Misconceptions About Plantar Warts

A prevalent myth about plantar warts is that they have roots or seeds that grow deep into the foot, potentially attaching to the bone. This is not accurate. What appears to be roots or seeds are actually small blood vessels that supply the wart with nutrients. Plantar warts are confined to the upper layers of skin and do not penetrate deeper tissues.

• Plantar warts do not have roots that grow into the body
• The black dots often seen in warts are blood vessels, not seeds
• Warts cannot live in any tissue except the skin

Diagnosing Plantar Warts: Key Indicators and Differentiation

Identifying plantar warts can be challenging, as they often resemble calluses or corns. However, there are several distinguishing features that healthcare professionals look for when diagnosing these lesions.

Visual and Physical Characteristics

How can you tell if you have a plantar wart? Plantar warts typically appear as small, rough growths on the soles of the feet. They may have a cauliflower-like texture and can be gray, brown, or yellowish in color. Often, tiny black dots are visible within the wart, which are actually small, clotted blood vessels.

The Pinch Test

A simple way to differentiate between a plantar wart and a callus is the pinch test. When you squeeze a plantar wart from side to side, it usually causes pain. In contrast, calluses are generally not painful when pinched but may be tender when pressed directly.

Treatment Options for Plantar Warts: From Home Remedies to Professional Care

Treating plantar warts can be a challenging process, often requiring persistence and patience. While some warts may resolve on their own, many require intervention. The choice of treatment depends on the size, location, and number of warts, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Can over-the-counter treatments effectively remove plantar warts? While OTC treatments are available, they often have limited efficacy for plantar warts due to the thick skin on the soles of the feet. These treatments typically contain salicylic acid and require consistent application over several weeks or months.

Professional Treatments

For more stubborn or extensive plantar warts, professional treatments offer higher success rates. These may include:

1. Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
2. Electrocautery (burning the wart)
3. Laser therapy
4. Surgical excision
5. Topical or injected medications

Surgical Excision: A Highly Effective but Invasive Option

Surgical excision of plantar warts has one of the highest success rates among treatment options. This procedure involves cutting out the wart and a margin of surrounding tissue under local anesthesia.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Surgical Excision

What makes surgical excision an effective treatment for plantar warts? The primary advantage is its high success rate and relatively low recurrence rate. However, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks:

• Requires a longer healing period (several weeks)
• May cause discomfort during the recovery process
• Risk of scarring, which could be painful when walking
• Potential for infection

Laser Therapy: Advanced Treatment for Stubborn Warts

Laser therapy has emerged as an innovative treatment option for plantar warts, particularly for large or widespread warts that haven’t responded to other treatments.

Types of Laser Treatments

There are two main types of laser treatments used for plantar warts:

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser: This type burns and vaporizes the wart tissue.
2. Pulsed dye laser: This newer technology targets the blood vessels supplying the wart, causing it to die and fall off.

How effective is laser therapy for plantar warts? While success rates vary, laser therapy can be particularly useful for treating mosaic warts (clusters of small warts) or cases where multiple warts need to be addressed simultaneously. However, it’s important to note that laser therapy may require multiple sessions and can be more expensive than other treatment options.

Cryotherapy: Freezing Away Plantar Warts

Cryotherapy, or freezing therapy, is a common treatment for various skin lesions, including plantar warts. This method uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the wart tissue.

The Cryotherapy Process

During cryotherapy, a healthcare provider applies liquid nitrogen to the wart using a spray or cotton swab. The extreme cold damages the wart tissue, causing it to form a blister and eventually fall off.

Is cryotherapy painful for plantar warts? When applied to the soles of the feet, cryotherapy can be quite painful due to the sensitive nature of this area. The discomfort may persist for several days following treatment, and healing can take weeks, depending on the size and depth of the wart.

Effectiveness and Considerations

Cryotherapy can be effective for many plantar warts, but it often requires multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart. While it’s less invasive than surgical options, it may not be suitable for all patients, particularly those with circulatory problems or neuropathy.

Topical Treatments: A Gradual Approach to Wart Removal

Topical treatments, including both over-the-counter and prescription options, offer a less invasive approach to plantar wart removal. These treatments typically work by gradually peeling away the infected skin.

Common Topical Treatments

• Salicylic acid: Available over-the-counter in various forms (gels, pads, drops)
• Imiquimod: A prescription cream that stimulates the immune system to fight the wart
• Fluorouracil: A chemotherapy drug sometimes used topically for warts
• Cantharidin: A substance derived from blister beetles, applied by a healthcare provider

What are the advantages of using topical treatments for plantar warts? Topical treatments are generally painless and don’t restrict daily activities. They’re also less likely to cause scarring compared to more invasive procedures. However, they often require consistent application over several weeks or months, and the success rate may be lower than with other treatment options.

Preventing Plantar Warts: Strategies for Avoiding Infection

While it’s not always possible to prevent plantar warts, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection or reinfection.

Hygiene and Protection

How can you protect yourself from contracting plantar warts? Here are some key prevention strategies:

• Keep your feet clean and dry
• Wear flip-flops or water shoes in public showers, locker rooms, and around swimming pools
• Avoid walking barefoot in public areas
• Don’t share shoes, socks, or towels with others
• Change socks daily, especially if your feet tend to sweat
• Treat excessive foot sweating (hyperhidrosis) if present

Managing Existing Warts

If you already have plantar warts, it’s important to take steps to prevent them from spreading:

• Cover warts with waterproof bandages when swimming or using public facilities
• Avoid touching or scratching your warts
• Wash your hands thoroughly after treating your warts
• Don’t use the same file or pumice stone on your warts as on healthy skin

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing plantar warts or experiencing recurrence after treatment.

When to Seek Professional Help for Plantar Warts

While many plantar warts can be managed with home treatments, there are situations where professional medical care is necessary. Understanding when to consult a healthcare provider is crucial for effective wart management and overall foot health.

Signs You Should See a Doctor

When should you seek professional help for plantar warts? Consider consulting a healthcare provider if:

• The wart is painful or interferes with your daily activities
• Home treatments haven’t been effective after several weeks
• The wart is spreading or multiplying
• You’re unsure if the growth is actually a wart
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
• There are signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge)
• The wart changes in appearance or color

A podiatrist or dermatologist can provide a definitive diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan based on your individual case. They can also rule out other conditions that may mimic plantar warts, such as corns, calluses, or even certain types of skin cancer.

The Importance of Professional Diagnosis

Why is professional diagnosis important for plantar warts? While plantar warts are generally benign, other more serious conditions can sometimes resemble warts. A healthcare provider can perform a thorough examination and, if necessary, conduct a biopsy to ensure an accurate diagnosis. This is particularly important for atypical or persistent lesions.

Additionally, a professional can assess factors that may be contributing to the development or persistence of warts, such as biomechanical issues or underlying health conditions. This comprehensive approach can lead to more effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Living with Plantar Warts: Managing Discomfort and Promoting Healing

Dealing with plantar warts can be challenging, especially when they cause pain or discomfort during daily activities. While undergoing treatment, there are several strategies you can employ to manage symptoms and promote healing.

Pain Management Techniques

How can you alleviate the pain associated with plantar warts? Consider these pain management strategies:

• Use cushioned insoles or pads to reduce pressure on the wart
• Apply moleskin around the wart to redistribute pressure
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if needed
• Soak your feet in warm water to soften the skin and reduce discomfort
• Avoid wearing tight or uncomfortable shoes that put pressure on the wart

Promoting Healing and Preventing Complications

To support the healing process and prevent complications, consider the following tips:

• Keep the affected area clean and dry
• Apply treatments as directed by your healthcare provider
• Avoid picking or scratching at the wart
• Protect the wart with a bandage during activities that may cause friction
• Monitor the wart for signs of infection or changes in appearance
• Continue practicing good foot hygiene to prevent reinfection or spread

Remember that healing takes time, and it’s important to be patient and consistent with your treatment plan. If you experience persistent pain, worsening symptoms, or signs of infection, consult your healthcare provider promptly.

The Future of Plantar Wart Treatment: Emerging Therapies and Research

As medical science advances, new and innovative approaches to treating plantar warts are emerging. These developments offer hope for more effective, less invasive treatments in the future.

Immunotherapy

What is immunotherapy for plantar warts? This approach aims to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight the HPV infection causing the wart. Methods include:

• Intralesional immunotherapy: Injecting substances like Candida antigen into the wart to trigger an immune response
• Topical immunomodulators: Creams that enhance the local immune response against the virus

Early studies have shown promising results, particularly for recalcitrant warts that haven’t responded to other treatments.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging treatment that combines light-sensitive drugs with light exposure to destroy wart tissue. This non-invasive approach has shown potential in treating various types of warts, including plantar warts.

Combination Therapies

Researchers are exploring the effectiveness of combining different treatment modalities to improve outcomes. For example, using cryotherapy followed by topical treatments or combining immunotherapy with traditional wart removal techniques.

As research continues, these and other innovative approaches may offer new hope for individuals struggling with persistent plantar warts. However, it’s important to note that many of these treatments are still in the experimental stage and may not be widely available.

In conclusion, while plantar warts can be a persistent and sometimes painful condition, a range of treatment options is available. From over-the-counter remedies to professional medical interventions, the choice of treatment depends on the individual case. By understanding the nature of plantar warts, recognizing when to seek professional help, and taking preventive measures, you can effectively manage this common foot condition. As research progresses, we can look forward to even more effective and less invasive treatment options in the future.

Plantar Warts – Foot and Ankle Centers of North Houston

DESCRIPTION

The common wart is known as verruca vulgaris. They are caused by a viral infection of the skin. This occurs as a result of direct contact with the virus. They do not spread through the blood stream. They occur more commonly in children than adults. When they occur on the bottom of the foot, they are called plantar warts. This name is derived from the location of the foot on which they are found; the bottom of the foot is called the plantar aspect of the foot. A common misconception is that plantar warts have seeds or roots that grow through the skin and can attach to the bone. The wart may appear to have a root or seeds, but these are in fact small clusters of the wart just beneath the top layer of the skin. The wart cannot live in any tissue except the skin. Moist, sweaty feet can predispose to infection by the wart virus. They can be picked up in showers and around swimming pools. They are not highly contagious, but being exposed in just the right situation will lead to the development of the wart. Avoiding contact in the general environment is nearly impossible. If a member of the family has the infection, care should be taken to keep shower and tile floor clean. Children who have plantar warts should not share their shoes with other people. Young girls often share shoes with their friends and this should be discouraged.

DIAGNOSIS

The warts have the appearance of thick, scaly skin. They can occur as small, single warts or can cluster into large areas. These clustered warts are called mosaic warts. They often resemble plantar calluses. A simple way to tell the difference between a wart and a callous is to squeeze the lesion between your fingers in a pinching fashion. If this is painful, it is likely that the lesion is a wart. A callous is generally not painful with this maneuver but is tender with direct pressure by pressing directly on the lesion. Othe lesions on the bottom of the foot that are often confused with plantars warts are porokeratoses and inclusion cysts.

TREATMENT

There are a variety of ways to treat warts. The over-the-counter medications have a difficult time penetrating the thick skin on the bottom of the foot, so they do not work well in this area. Professional treatment consists of burning the wart with topical acids, freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser surgery or cutting them out. All methods have the possibility of the wart coming back. Surgical excision of the wart has the highest success rate with a relatively low rate of recurrence. There is some mild discomfort with this procedure and it takes several weeks for the area to completely heal. Normal activity can generally be resumed in a few days depending on the size and number of warts that have been removed. The risks associated with surgical removal of warts are the possibility of infection, or the formation of a scar, which can be painful when weight is applied while walking.
Laser removal of the wart works by burning the wart with a laser beam. The area must be numbed with an anesthetic prior to the procedure. There is little advantage to removing warts with a laser unless the warts are very large (mosaic warts) or there are a large number to be removed. The risks associated with the use of the laser are the same as for cutting the warts out. These risks include infection and the development of a scar after healing. A new type of laser has been developed to treat several different types of skin lesions called the Pulsed Dye Laser. This new laser has promise in the effective treatment of warts.
Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen is another form of treatment. This form of treatment when the warts are on the bottom of the foot can be very painful and take several days or weeks to heal.
Topical acids can also be a useful means of treating warts. The advantage to this form of treatment is the fact that they are nearly painless and there is no restriction of activity. The down side to this form of treatment is that it frequently requires several treatments and the failure rate is higher than surgical excision of the wart.

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Warts Specialist – Midtown New York, NY: City Podiatry: Podiatrist

What are warts?

Warts are growths caused by viral skin infections. They’re usually smaller than the head of a thumbtack, but they can sometimes grow larger.

Plantar warts develop on the bottom of your feet or on your toes. Other types of warts can appear on the top of your feet as well.

Can warts be prevented?

Different types of warts are caused by different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be spread to other people through skin-to-skin contact or by sharing an environment with someone who has a wart. Plantar warts are often transferred through shared shower facilities because the moisture in those environments helps keep the virus alive longer.

Follow these precautions to help prevent warts from spreading:

• Wash hands and feet frequently
• Don’t pick at warts
• Don’t touch your warts or someone else’s

Even if you don’t have plantar warts, it’s a good idea to wear shower shoes in public pools, gyms, and other shared environments.

What are the symptoms of plantar warts?

You may have plantar warts if you have a small growth on the bottom of your foot with any of the following characteristics:

• Tiny dark spots
• Rough or spongy texture
• Scaly appearance
• Pain when walking or standing

If you’re unsure if your growth is a wart or not, it’s a good idea to have an evaluation by the team at City Podiatry to rule out any conditions that can lead to a severe complication.

Can I treat plantar warts at home?

Over-the-counter medications and freezing sprays are available, but these are much less effective than the treatments your doctor can provide. If you’ve tried over-the-counter treatment without success, it’s not advisable to repeat the treatment, as this can aggravate your discomfort.

You should never attempt to cut a wart off on your own. The caring podiatrists at City Podiatry can provide safe, effective treatments for your warts, many of which work quickly to alleviate your discomfort.

How does a podiatrist treat warts?

The experienced podiatrists at City Podiatry offer a range of options for treating warts. These include:

• Prescription-strength salicylic acid
• Canthacur, a more aggressive topical treatment
• Liquid nitrogen freezing
• Laser removal
• Surgical removal
• Swift® microwave therapy

The Swift system uses noninvasive microwave technology to destroy warts without needles or cutting. Laser treatments, as well as surgical options, are minimally invasive outpatient procedures. For more information, call City Podiatry or schedule an evaluation online today.

How I got rid of my daughter’s wart

Case history

11/17/22

This text was written in the Community, it retains the author’s style and spelling

Yulia Gulyaeva

Author profile

I am 30, I am an IT analyst, I live in the Moscow region. I want to tell you about how my daughter was treated with medication, and not removed, a wart on her foot. This is a common disease, but for the first time I came across the fact that it can be cured with medication, without removal.

How the wart appeared

When my daughter was 4 years old, we went on vacation to Turkey in September. Later, my parents came to the same hotel, and my husband and I left, leaving our daughter with her grandparents. She returned with some strange bump on her right foot.

We guessed that it was a wart much later, at the end of January. During this time, the pimple grew and began to cause discomfort when walking for a long time.

How we were offered to remove a wart with liquid nitrogen

We did not apply to the district children’s polyclinic. I knew that nothing good should be expected from her, and it is unlikely that there will be the most modern equipment for painless wart removal. We decided to immediately go to a paid clinic, one of the most expensive in our city.

The dermatologist, having barely looked at her daughter’s leg, concluded that it was a wart. And it needs to be removed, moreover, with liquid nitrogen. It will cost 2000 R, plus a re-admission fee. We left to think.

At the age of 12, I “survived” the removal of a mole from my back with liquid nitrogen. I remember these feelings well… And I definitely don’t want my daughter to experience this at the age of 4. We decided to leave this plan as a last resort.

How we came to treatment without liquid nitrogen

At home, I read about different ways to remove warts, and came to the conclusion that the most painless and fastest is with a laser. It remains to find a clinic that will agree to such a procedure for a child. When removed with a laser, the area around the wart is pierced with an anesthetic, which is not indicated for children of this age. For a second opinion, they turned to my VHI clinic. My daughter is included in my policy.

There the doctor told us that it was treated with the most common simple and cheap oxolin. But not those with which the nose is smeared, but 3%. It is a little less common than the usual one, and costs a little more. 1 tube cost us about 140 R. Plus three packs of patches. It was necessary to put a little oxolin on the wart twice a day and cover it with a band-aid on top. Throughout the month.

We did not take sick leave. They just explained to the teacher in the garden that you need to make sure that the patch does not come off. My parents were skeptical about this treatment. They have never heard of warts being cured. We reassured them that the treatment is safe, why not try it, and we will always have time to remove the wart if the treatment does not work.

How it all ended

The treatment worked. After about a couple of days, the skin on the foot at the point of contact with oxolin turned purple. For three long weeks, it was as if nothing had happened. Then we began to notice that the wart, as it were, began to dry out, then completely disappeared. The purple spot was washed off in about a week.

Not a trace left on the skin. There was no pain. My daughter said that sometimes it itched. The socks sometimes had a purple stain when the patch slipped off. All this took us 5 weeks.

I respected the doctor in that particular clinic. Our good old removal is not the answer to all questions, even in paid and expensive clinics, doctors cannot offer alternatives. We practically agreed to this painful procedure with the subsequent painful healing of the wound. Our task was to find the least painful way for this procedure, and we found much more than we were looking for. I am extremely satisfied. I came to the conclusion that if the proposed options do not suit you, you need to look until you find something that suits you. Of course, if time permits.

Case history. Here readers talk about their illnesses that have affected their lifestyle or attitude to it

Laser hair removal | Price in Moscow

Plantar warts (thorns) in adults and children can form on the fingers, heels and the supporting part of the foot. Over time, warts become thicker and denser, and if left untreated, their size and area of ​​localization increase. Therefore, over time, plantar warts will cause not only psychological discomfort, but also painful sensations.

In addition, they are located in such a way that when wearing shoes they can be injured, causing not only pain, but also bleeding. Removing the spike will eliminate psychological and physical discomfort, restore beauty and health to the feet.

How do plantar warts differ from calluses and corns?

Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus. On the feet, the spines grow slowly. Initially, only a small yellowish spot appears. However, in the active stage, the virus multiplies, so the spot becomes thicker and denser. Over time, new warts may appear, and as they grow, they can combine with each other, forming huge foci. To distinguish a wart from a callus, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

• wart has one main and several child formations;
• the skin in this area is dense, rough and rough;
• the wart is yellowish or whitish;
• Gradually, the neoplasm increases in size, becomes more dense and convex.

In addition, if you remove the stratum corneum from the wart, you can see dark dots. This is the main sign of the presence of the human papillomavirus, which leads to thrombosis of the capillaries.

Benefits of laser hair removal in the clinic “Miracle Doctor”

Clinic “Miracle Doctor” offers professional removal of plantar warts in Moscow at an affordable price. The advantages of treatment in our clinic include the high qualification and professionalism of doctors, the use of innovative equipment and treatment methods. In addition, you do not have to waste time on the queue – the doctor will take you strictly at the agreed time, which is especially important for busy people.

Contraindications

Removal of a spike using laser and other innovative methods allows you to eliminate neoplasms and restore the beauty of your feet. However, even such methods have a number of contraindications, which include:

• blood clotting disorders;
• malignant neoplasms;
• lesions of the central nervous system;
• serious damage to the heart, lungs and other internal organs;
• diabetes mellitus;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• inflammatory diseases.

Only an experienced doctor can identify individual contraindications. That is why it is so important to visit a specialist before treatment.

Preparing for a plantar wart removal procedure

Spinal removal is ordered by a doctor after examining the foot and taking an anamnesis. In this case, the doctor must examine the neoplasm, choose the optimal method of surgical treatment in order to exclude contraindications. Additionally, additional laboratory tests may be prescribed. These include a complete blood count, sugar check, HIV and hepatitis testing.

Techniques for removing the thorn

A plantar wart is a benign neoplasm that causes psychological and physical discomfort. That is why when education appears, its elimination is required. In this case, the following methods can be used:

1. Laser removal of the spine. The most effective treatment for plantar warts. It consists in layer-by-layer removal, which allows you to perform the procedure as painlessly, quickly and safely as possible. Laser removal is carried out in just one procedure and does not require special rehabilitation, so this method is the most popular solution.
2. Cryodestruction. It consists in cauterization of the wart with liquid nitrogen. Several procedures may be required. A bubble forms at the treatment site, so it will be difficult to walk in shoes for several days.
3. Surgical removal. It consists in removing the wart with a scalpel. The downside is the invasiveness of this method and a long recovery period.
4. Electrocoagulation. It consists in burning the wart with a special tool.

Post-procedure period

When using the laser, the patient can return to normal life immediately after the procedure. However, it is recommended to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations so that inflammation or other side effects do not occur.

First of all, do not remove the crusts that have formed at the site of the wart. This can lead to infection and bleeding. It is necessary to wait until the crust dries and falls off on its own.

Foot hygiene is also important. The site of wart removal should be thoroughly washed with mild products. In this case, do not use a washcloth, pumice and other abrasive products.