Plantar warts (verrucae plantares, plantar warts) are warts on the sole of the foot, heel or between the toes. They are very painful and can even make walking impossible. From the outside they look quite small, but they usually reach deep into the subcutaneous tissue. Here you can read all important information about plantar warts: What do they look like? What causes them? How can you treat warts?
How to recognize the plantar warts
If you have painful warts on your foot, it is likely to be called plantar warts (verrucae plantares). Most of them colonize these warts Sole or heel, sometimes the Interdigital space.
Unlike common warts (Verrucae vulgares), warts generally protrude barely over the skin surfaceBecause their position on the sole of the foot or heel puts weight on them. Therefore, they can not form hemispherical skin nodules (such as common warts). Instead, the plantar warts pressed inwards: They usually reach deep into the subcutaneous tissue. To the outside, only a slightly thickened horny layer shows up soft, smooth surface and one brownish-gray color, The latter results from densely juxtaposed black dots. These are traces of escaped blood from superficial, finest blood vessels (capillaries).
Note: Plantar warts are also called plantar warts, plantar warts or biting warts. If several plantar warts are very close together, one speaks of mosaic warts.
Plantar warts: cause & contagion
Plantar warts are caused by certain types of Human papilloma virus (HPV) caused. They are considered as very contagious, You get infected with the pathogens To run barefoot for example in the swimming pool, in the sports hall, changing room or communal shower.
So you can treat plantar warts
If you want to remove plantar warts, you need patience: The skin tumors can be quite persistent. Consistent treatment is advisable, especially if the plantar warts cause great pain when walking. Some patients, because of pain, only appear to be very careful with the affected foot and preferably in such a way that the plantar wart is not burdened with it. This slow pace can cause late effects such as foot deformities over time. In addition, injuries threaten if you do not go right.
There are several ways to treat warts:
To dissolve the horny layer of a lump wart, a salicylic acid patch be glued on for at least 48 hours. The acid softens the horny layer. After removing the plaster, take an extensive foot bath with lukewarm water. Then you can gently grind the softened horny layer using a nail file or a pumice stone. If necessary, the whole process can be repeated. Then you can additionally one Acid solution apply to destroy the wart tissue – possibly in combination with 5-fluorouracil, a cytotoxin.
Another way how to remove stubborn plantar warts is cryotherapy – so that Icing with liquid nitrogen, In principle, the opposite procedure is the electrocoagulation: The plantar warts are “burned” with electricity. In addition, it is possible to remove plantar warts by heating them with a laser and thus destroying them (laser therapy).
Finally, the doctor can also use the special surgical instrument (the sharp spoon) ablate.
Which treatment method one chooses: Could the plantar warts successfully eliminate the problem is usually not finally settled. Unfortunately, the warts often return.