Treatment of plantar warts: preparations for getting rid of warts on the soles of the feet

The treatment of plantar warts should not be left to chance. These formations only, at first glance, seem like a trifle. In some circumstances, they can cause serious complications, when it will be much more difficult to treat.

There are several schemes for effective treatment, and which one the dermatologist will decide to use after conducting appropriate studies.

Types of growths that are localized on the sole of the foot

Plantar warts are called benign neoplasms caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), localized in the lower part of the foot. According to the international classification of ICD-10, they are assigned to group B7.

Among all viral warts, this variety is one of the most common, affecting people of any age and both sexes. Most often, pathology is provoked by HPV strains 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57.

Infection with the virus occurs through contact with an infected person or by stepping barefoot on surfaces where the infection is present. After infection, the development of warts occurs in people with impaired immune defenses.

The following main types of warts form on the lower extremities :

Simple (ordinary) or vulgar formations . These are keratinized, rounded growths 1–8 mm in size with a yellowish or dark brown tint. Education is clearly limited.
Flat type . Such formations up to 4-6 mm in size rise above the skin surface to a height of no more than 1.5-2 mm. They look like spots on the skin of a flesh-colored, pinkish or brownish hue.
Acrochords or filamentous formations . Warts are elongated growths of small diameter.
Genital warts . They can be compared in appearance to a cockscomb.
Keratomas or senile warts . They appear as a result of cellular aging and are not associated with viral infection.

The feet are characterized by specific types of vulgar formations that form only on the feet and are associated with squeezing shoes with excessive sweating. Also read how a plantar wart is trimmed in a child , symptoms and treatment.

Plantar warts stand out in the form of keratinized plaques of a gray-yellow hue with a rough surface. Another option is well-shaped formations. They are pressed into the skin and tend to grow.

Main locations

Formations in the form of warts can occur on any part of the skin and even on the internal organs. Their location on the bottom of the foot, a wart on the heel is considered quite common.

The most commonly found are vulgar growths that can be located anywhere on the foot (from heels to nails). Flat warts often form in children on the shins, but with frequent cuts, they can also appear on the soles. Aklochords and warts prefer folds, as well as spaces between the fingers.

Plantar plantar warts are localized in places of greatest contact with shoes, i.e. on the heels , areas near the fingers and on the fingers themselves. Here, single formations or their placers of 5–7 pieces can be noted. The appearance of ordinary growths under the nail is very unpleasant.

As they grow, they lift the nail plate. Painful localization of warts between fingers. The appearance of a growth on one finger quickly causes the formation of a wart on the adjacent finger. Sweating and rubbing leads to the rapid development of formations.

Symptoms and signs of infection

As a rule, the plantar wart has the form of a round, clearly defined growth ranging in size from 2-3 mm to 1.5-2 cm with a slight elevation above the skin.

Dark dots stand out in the middle part. They resemble slightly pointed dried corns. Most often they are flesh-colored, but can also have a pink, yellowish or brown tint.

At the initial stage, the surface of the neoplasms is smooth, but over time, a coarsened epidermis appears, giving the growth a roughness and a yellowish-gray color. As the capillaries become blocked, black dots appear on the surface.

Usually single warts are found on the sole. An increase in their number indicates excessive HPV activity. The appearance of a wart rash gives the affected area a mosaic appearance. This variant of the development of pathology is called mosaic warts.

Pain syndrome, as a rule, is absent even with pressure while walking. It can be noted when compressed with fingers. However, for some varieties of warts, pain is characteristic.

These include subungual and interdigital formations, as well as filiform warts. Due to the release above the skin, the growths cause discomfort when stepping on a hard surface.

Why are neoplasms on the feet dangerous? What complications do they cause?

Warts are benign formations, but this does not guarantee their harmlessness to humans. In most cases, they lead to only a slight discomfort when walking, but even this effect can disturb mental balance and change gait.

However, even simple warts can cause a number of complications:

Damage to the growth causes bleeding, which, with prolonged walking, can lead to significant blood loss.
Frequent damage to warts (and this is typical for the localization in question) creates a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, the risk of provoking serious infectious diseases is significantly increased.
Plantar formations when wearing hard, tight shoes are pressed inward, disrupting the blood supply to the foot. This phenomenon is most dangerous for children.
Warts on the sole can spread throughout the body with high infection activity and reduced immunity in humans.

The most dangerous complication is malignancy. The risk of such development is determined by the oncogenicity of the HPV strain. Varieties of the virus that provoke plantar warts have a low oncogenicity, but with frequent damage and exposure to other aggressive factors, the likelihood of oncology is not excluded (especially in strains 27 and 57). Active growth of formations requires special attention and treatment to the doctor.

Treatment of a plantar wart on the foot

Plantar warts are able to disappear on their own, but you should not hope for this. Taking into account possible complications, with the appearance of this pathology with a tendency to growth, one should consult a dermatologist.

After conducting diagnostic studies, the doctor prescribes treatment. It can be provided by therapeutic and surgical methods. Folk remedies are capable of accelerating treatment .

Ointment and pharmaceutical preparations

Sufficiently effective treatment can be provided with ready-made, pharmacy products. The most popular are ointments, which can be of 2 types – antiviral and necrotizing.

Antiviral ointments are designed to reduce HPV activity through topical therapy. The following varieties are distinguished:

Viferon . Its basis is vitamin E and peach oil. It has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and regenerating abilities. It is applied 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is up to 4 weeks.
Panavir . Contains extract from potato shoots. It is able to suppress the activity of HPV and eliminate the formation itself. Used 2 times a day for 10-13 days.
Aldara . The ointment is based on imiquimod and isostearic acid. Effectively eliminates external manifestations. Apply 3 times a week for a month.

Ointments with necrotizing effect:

Oxalic ointment . She is able to destroy the wart from the inside. It is applied 3 times a day for 1–2.5 months.
Salicylic ointment . Single use. The ointment is applied to the growth and burns it out.
Zinc ointment . It has a drying and exfoliating effect, promotes the regeneration of the skin. It is applied 3-5 times a day. The course is from 1 to 3 weeks.
Ready ointment “Celandine” . It is applied once a day and not longer than 1 week. After application, the growths exfoliate from the sole.

In addition to ointments, pharmaceutical preparations are available in the form of solutions and formulations administered by injection directly into the neoplasm. The most common drugs with necrotizing effects are salicylic and trichloroacetic acid.

The course of treatment is 2-3 months. Highly effective are modern drugs – Vartoks, Solcoderm, Kollomak , Duofilm, Verrukacid , Ferezol, Cantharidin, which include concentrated acids or alkalis. A special patch allows you to get rid of warts – Salipod .

Immunomodulating and immunostimulating drugs

The main reason for HPV activity is reduced immune protection. Normalization of the immune system in the treatment of warts becomes an important step in therapy.

For this, immunomodulating and immunostimulating drugs are used. They are usually used for injection into the affected area. As an immunomodulator, ICD-1 releases Inosine pranobex.

Among the most popular immunostimulants is imiquimod. The tool is available in the form of a cream and activates the production of cytokines. Another option is Fluorouracil cream.

For intralesional administration, antigens of mumps, candidiasis or trichophytin can be prescribed. In this case, the immune system gets an impetus to activate the work.

Modern removal methods

If therapy requires a long course of treatment, then more radical technologies allow you to quickly remove the formation. The main methods include the following procedures.

Cryodestruction

It is based on the use of liquid nitrogen, which allows for a sharp freezing of the lesion. As a result, the affected tissues are destroyed and removed.

The technology is applicable for single foci with little penetration into the depths. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

Surgical excision

It is provided by the traditional method, using a scalpel. It is used for formations of large size and with significant germination in depth. At the risk of oncology, only surgical removal is used with the capture of the nearest, healthy tissues.

radio wave surgery

For the operation, a special “radio knife” is used. A directed radio wave cuts out the growth and at the same time cauterizes the blood vessels, eliminating bleeding. After the procedure, rehabilitation is required within 2-3 days.

Electrocoagulation

The procedure is carried out using a wire loop through which a high-frequency current is passed. In this way, the focus is cut out, and the vessels are cauterized. The technology is effective for formations with a small depth.

Laser coagulation

This is the most modern and effective way to get rid of warts. They are cut with a thin laser beam that has an adjustable penetration depth. So you can remove formations with different depths, and without damaging healthy tissues.

Which method of treatment to use, can only be determined by the doctor after the diagnosis. The choice is made taking into account the type of formations, their growth, the risk of complications, the age and characteristics of the patient’s body.

Folk methods of therapy

Since ancient times, folk remedies have been used to combat plantar warts. You can select the most popular and proven methods.

The use of propolis and cornflower seeds

Propolis. This beekeeping product has antiviral and immunomodulatory abilities. It must be formed in the form of a small cake and applied to the growth for 40-50 hours.

It is advisable to pre-mix propolis with melted pork fat in a ratio of 4:1. Such a compress is applied 1 time in 3 days until the wart is removed.

Cornflower seeds. Blue cornflower seeds are ground in a coffee grinder. One serving will require 22 g of powder. An ointment is made from it by mixing with pork fat in equal proportions. The product is applied to the hearth and aged all night. The course is 18–22 days.

Get rid of salicylic acid and iodine

Salicylic acid. It burns out the formation and has an immunomodulatory ability. Acid is applied to the focus after steaming the feet in a hot bath.

A 2% alcohol solution is used. Exposure time – no more than 0.5 hours. After the procedure, the solution is washed off, and the foot is steamed again. The wart is removed with a pumice stone.

Iodine. Before the procedure, the leg is steamed and wiped dry. Iodine is applied around the hearth and on the growth itself. Processing should be carried out 3-5 times a day for 18-20 days.

Garlic

This plant is able to suppress the activity of HPV, for which a garlic compress is used. The use of garlic increases the human immunity. To prepare a compress, 2 cloves are crushed. The gruel is applied to the bandage and placed on the focus after the preliminary steaming of the foot. The compress is kept all night. The course is 14-15 days.

Celandine

The alkaloids contained in it contribute to the painless removal of warts. Juice is squeezed from the leaves of the plant. They process the growth 3 times a day.

Another option is to grind the leaves in a meat grinder, and apply a gruel compress for 9-12 minutes no more than 2 times a day. A homemade ointment is prepared by mixing a honeydew plant (1 part) with petroleum jelly (2 parts). It is applied 3 times a day.

Using Vinegar

This acid can cause necrosis of affected tissues. Table vinegar is used. They moisten cotton wool, which is applied to the wart before going to bed.

In the morning, the foot is washed, and the build-up is removed with a pumice stone. A good remedy is a mixture of vinegar and flour in equal proportions. The gruel is applied to the hearth, for 5.5–6.5 hours.

Traditional medicine uses other recipes. Thyme infusion, banana peel, onion compress, etc. are popular.

When using folk remedies, it should be remembered that they are not always completely harmless. They must be used carefully, excluding burns and poisoning.

Prevention and vaccination against HPV

Prevention of plantar warts is associated with hygiene, the right choice of shoes and increased immune defenses. The highest risk of infection is in public places where a person walks barefoot (bath, beach, pool).

It is recommended to use slippers here. If there are cracks, various damages on the sole, then it is necessary to refrain from walking barefoot. You can’t wear someone else’s shoes. Your shoes should be selected in size, avoiding too tight models.

Maintaining foot hygiene is essential. Particular attention should be paid in the presence of excessive sweating. Direct contact with the body of a person affected by HPV should be completely excluded.

An HPV vaccine has now been developed. Vaccination provides protection against the most oncogenic strains of the virus, which prevents infection with them. In the Russian Federation, 2 types of vaccines are used – Gardasil and Cervarix .

These vaccinations can be given from the age of 9. In total, the vaccine is administered 3 times. Between the first and second vaccination, an interval of 2 months is maintained, and before the last – 4 months. Vaccination excludes infection with HPV 16 and 18.

Plantar warts are considered very common. To avoid complications, they should not be run. Modern methods of treatment allow you to get rid of pathology without any problems. Elementary prevention can reduce the risk of viral infection.