A wart on the heel is a neoplasm that can cause great discomfort to the patient. The growth is formed under the influence of the papillomavirus and also mainly affects the damaged skin on the heel. It looks like an elastic and dense formation on the epidermis, covered with dry crusts.
Causes of warts on the heel
The papillomavirus is capable of infecting various parts of the human body, causing the proliferation of epithelial tissue. Heels are no exception. Here, as a rule, warts are formed, which are caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57. In total, there are at least 100 strains of this pathogen in the world. It is highly contagious and widespread, and therefore about 80% of the world's population are carriers of this virus.
Of all the benign growths that can be found on the heel, warts make up 1/3. It is very easy to get infected with the HPV virus, which causes them to appear - the virus is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person as a result of ordinary daily contacts in everyday life, as well as in crowded places. Using other people's personal hygiene products, walking barefoot on floors in crowded rooms (gyms, locker rooms, saunas, swimming pools) are all ways of spreading the papilloma virus.
Contrary to popular belief, it is almost impossible to get infected with HPV and "get" a wart on your heel at the beach. This pathogen dies quickly when dried and exposed to sunlight.
The formation of warts on the heel does not always occur immediately after infection with the papilloma virus. People with strong immunity are usually not susceptible to the formation of warts and papillomas. The body's defense systems suppress the pathogen and it does not harm health. But once the immune system fails, which happens with overwork, hypothermia, infectious diseases, hormonal imbalances, poor nutrition, poisoning, HPV can become active and manifest as skin tumors.
In addition, there are several factors that accompany the appearance of warts on the heel:
- Injury to the skin on the heel - cracks, abrasions, scratches, cuts.
- Using ill-fitting shoes that pinch, crush or rub the skin.
- Diseases that cause trophic changes in soft tissues - varicose veins, diabetes, atherosclerosis.
- Deformation pathologies of the lower limbs - flat feet, arthritis, osteoarthritis and others.
- Excessive sweating or excessive dryness and sensitivity of the skin on the feet.
As a rule, if the virus is not very active and the immune system resists, warts on the heel can appear in the singular. If the pathogen is very active, massive damage to the heels and feet from warts is possible.
Methods for diagnosing warts on the heel
Due to the constant pressure on the foot and heel, warts in this area often look a lot like corns and calluses. Therefore, they are not so easy to detect. An excellent dermatologist is able to establish an accurate diagnosis and differentiate the growth from other pathologies. To do this, a procedure called dermoscopy is most often performed.
To conduct a qualitative study, the stratum corneum of the skin is scraped and a sample is taken. The resulting scraping is sent to the laboratory. There they confirm or deny the presence of HPV.
A visual examination can also help create a clear picture of the disease. With a wart on the heel, there is no skin pattern on its surface. In addition, you may see black spots. These are traces of blocked capillaries.
If required, an ultrasound examination is prescribed, which helps to determine the depth of penetration of the so-called "roots" of the wart deep into the skin.
The differential diagnosis of tumors in the heel is required in the following cases:
- The presence of oncological lesions in the patient.
- Leg deformities of various etiologies.
- Reiter's syndrome, which can cause keratoderma to develop.
- Syphilis, which can cause painful ring-shaped growths on the legs and arms.
To clarify the diagnosis, a blood test for HPV, syphilis and general analysis is also carried out.
Why is it important to treat heel warts?
Although warts on the heel are considered a fairly harmless pathology, consultation with a doctor and treatment should not be delayed. Over time, the disease can worsen. In addition, self-treatment at home can suppress only the external manifestations of papilloma virus infection. At the same time, the virus will remain in the blood and cause regular recurrences of warts in the body.
It is also worth remembering that a neglected wart on the heel progresses and its growth continues. In addition, given the external pressure on the leg, the neoplasm grows inside the skin, affecting the soft tissues more and more deeply. This causes the process of compression of the layers of the epidermis and the formation of blood clots in the capillaries, which manifests itself in the form of dark dots on the surface of the growth. Gradually, the wart on the heel begins to cause severe pain.
Treatment of a wart on the heel is necessary for the following symptoms:
- Intense pain in the growth area.
- Rapid growth of the wart and damage to new areas of the heel.
- Discomfort when walking and supporting the leg.
It should also be remembered that a patient infected with the HPV virus is a threat to others, as he is a carrier of the virus. The relatives of such a person are at risk of becoming infected at home.
Only comprehensive treatment can help to completely get rid of pathological tumors and suppress the virus, as well as prevent relapses.
Ways to treat warts on the heel
Only combination therapy will help those who do not know how to get rid of a wart on the heel. This is an opportunity not only to eliminate the tumor and the suffering associated with it, but also to live a full life without being a threat to others. Warts are treated with special drugs, methods of removal with instruments, and sometimes you can resort to traditional medicine.
Medicines for the treatment of warts on the heel
There is a wide range of medications available to treat heel warts. They are divided into different groups depending on their composition and the characteristics of their effect on the tumor and the virus that caused the disease.
Let's look at the main capital groups:
- Acidic substances. These drugs are available in pharmacies without a prescription and are usually inexpensive. They have a strong cauterizing effect. Salicylic acid gives good results. To remove warts on the heel, a 10-60% concentration solution is required. The product must be applied once a day until the tumor is completely destroyed. This substance is not suitable for patients with diabetes and cancer. An analogue of salicylic acid is trichloroacetic acid.
- Alkaline products. These substances have approximately the same effect on pathological tissues as the previous ones. They also cauterize the warts and cause the death of the diseased areas of the dermis. The most popular drug of this group causes tissue necrosis, so it must be used according to the instructions and with caution in relation to adjacent healthy tissues.
- Freezing drugs. Until recently, heel warts were only frozen in a hospital setting using liquid nitrogen. Now this procedure can be carried out at home using special medicinal preparations. A mixture of dimethyl alcohol and propane has proven itself well. The refrigerant is liquid nitrogen. The product helps to remove warts on the heel and has a detrimental effect on the papilloma virus. The use of this drug also requires special care so as not to damage healthy tissue.
- Antiviral creams, gels, ointments. These drugs are effective because they act directly on the cause of warts - HPV. Although more exposure to the tumor is often required than in the case of aggressive cautery substances. One of the most effective drugs of this group is an ointment based on an extract of potato shoots. It has a herbal composition and helps stimulate the production of interferon in the body, disrupts the recovery process of viruses and causes their rapid death.
- External immunomodulating agents. They are quite effective when it comes to single small warts on the heels. They help stimulate the local immune response and the body independently suppresses the virus. Ointment based on interferon is popular. Long-term application is required - for at least 4 weeks until a strong therapeutic effect appears.
- Antiviral and immunomodulating drug tablets. If the concentration of HPV in the blood is high, the doctor may prescribe a course of immunomodulatory or antiviral therapy using oral tablets. This will suppress the pathogen from within, avoiding the risk of recurrence. This is especially important in immunodeficiency states.
If local cautery can be used independently for the treatment of warts on the heel, following the instructions, then oral drugs should be prescribed only by the attending physician based on these tests.
Instrumental methods of removing warts on the heels
Today there are several effective ways to remove a wart on the heel using various devices. Modern clinics can offer a number of highly effective instrumental techniques at different costs:
- Electrocoagulation. Heel warts that have progressed for a long time usually have roots deep in the dermis. Electrocoagulation does not involve deep penetration into soft tissue. Therefore, this method is used only for the treatment of small, superficial formations. Also, electrocoagulation often leaves behind scars.
- Cold destruction. One of the most popular methods for removing heel warts is the use of liquid nitrogen. In addition, this is a fairly cheap method of influence. Scars rarely remain after manipulation. But the effectiveness of the method depends on the skill of the doctor, as it is necessary to accurately determine the depth of the roots of the growth before removing the wart on the heel. Otherwise, tumor recurrence may occur. The operation is quick, as is the tissue regeneration period.
- Laser removal. One of the most modern, minimally invasive methods of treating pathological skin growths. It allows you to achieve a good cosmetic result. The penetration depth of the laser beam can be easily adjusted, unlike liquid nitrogen. The procedure is short and almost painless. The heel wound also heals quickly and without complications. Recurrences after laser treatment of warts on the heel are almost impossible.
- Removal of radio waves. In this case, the warts are cut with a special radio. At the same time, the blood vessels are cauterized to prevent the virus from spreading to healthy tissues and bleeding. After such an operation there is also a short recovery period and virtually no scars.
- Surgical resection. This method is considered obsolete, but is used in many cases. For example, when the growth is too large and further histological examination of the removed tissue is required. The operation is quite painful, it is done under local anesthesia and the recovery period can last several weeks. Bleeding and inflammation are also possible. Scars often form. A relative advantage of this method of treating heel warts is its low cost.
The choice of how to treat a wart on the heel rests with the patient and the treating physician. Most often, the mildest and least invasive techniques are chosen - laser and radio wave removal of shoots.
Folk remedies for warts on the heels
If you have a wart on your heel and you don't know what to do, then you can try to treat it with some substances at home. Thus, acetic acid, celandine juice, garlic juice, etc. is popular among "traditional healers". These drugs are less effective than pharmaceutical drugs or instrumental methods. However, with regular application they can also have a positive effect. The main condition is not to stop the treatment until the growth has completely disappeared.
Also, real help in the treatment of warts on the heel can be provided with an immunomodulatory effect on the body using folk methods. To do this, take decoctions of the following plants: rose, sea buckthorn, sea buckthorn, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, black currant and raspberry leaves, calendula. These plants will help strengthen immunity, especially in cold weather, when there are not enough fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also useful to consume freshly squeezed juices and various fruit drinks and compotes.
Prevention of heel warts
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is the most effective way to combat it. Therefore, observe the rules of personal hygiene, try not to use other people's belongings and always wear shoes that are replaced in public places.
If you are already infected with HPV and have warts on your heels, start treating them immediately. After the growths are eliminated, carefully monitor the condition of your feet.
If you sweat excessively, use only shoes made of natural materials that are comfortable and breathable. If your feet are deformed, wear orthopedic shoes to take excess pressure off your feet.
Don't forget the healthy pedicure, use moisturizers if the skin on your heels is dry. Avoid developing cracked heels. Simple rules of prevention can prevent the recurrence of tumors.
Warts on the heels are potentially harmless neoplasms, but they can cause considerable discomfort to the patient, as as they grow they put pressure on the tissue and cause pain. In addition, we must not forget that these are viral formations, and therefore people are the source of infection. Therefore, the treatment of warts on the heels should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.