A wart on the heel is a neoplasm that can cause great discomfort to the patient. The growth is caused by the papilloma virus, and it mostly affects the damaged skin on the heel. It looks like an elastic and dense formation on the epidermis, covered with dry crusts.
Causes of heel warts
The papillomavirus is capable of infecting various parts of the human body, causing the proliferation of epithelial tissue. Heels are no exception. As a rule, warts caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57 appear here. 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.
Warts account for 1/3 of all benign growths that can be localized on the heel. It is quite easy to get infected with HPV, which causes their appearance - 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 places with a lot of people. Using other people's personal hygiene products, walking barefoot on the floors in places where there are a large number of people (gyms, changing rooms, saunas, swimming pools) are all ways of transmitting the papilloma virus.
Contrary to popular belief, it is almost impossible to get infected with HPV and "earn" 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 system suppresses the pathogen and does not harm health. But as soon as the immune system fails, which happens due to overload, hypothermia, infectious diseases, hormonal imbalance, poor nutrition, poisoning, HPV is able to activate and manifest itself as a skin tumor.
In addition, there are a number of factors that accompany the appearance of warts on the heel:
- Traumatization of the epidermis on the heel - cracks, abrasions, scratches, cuts;
- Using ill-fitting shoes that pinch, pinch or rub the skin;
- Diseases that cause trophic changes in soft tissues - varicose veins, diabetes, atherosclerosis;
- Pathologies of deformation of the lower extremities - flat feet, arthritis, osteoarthritis and others;
- Excessive sweating or excessive dryness and sensitivity of the epidermis on the feet.
As a rule, if the virus is not too active and the immune system resists, warts on the heel can appear in the singular. If the pathogen is very active, huge damage to the heels and feet with warts is possible.
Methods for diagnosing heel warts
Due to constant pressure on the foot and heel, warts in this area often become very similar to corns and calluses. Therefore, they are not so easy to recognize. An excellent dermatologist can make an accurate diagnosis and distinguish growths from other pathologies. In order to achieve this, a procedure called dermatoscopy is usually performed.
To conduct a qualitative study, the stratum corneum of the epidermis 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 to make an accurate picture of the disease. With a wart on the heel, there is no skin pattern on its surface. In addition, you can see blackheads. These are traces of clogged capillaries.
If necessary, 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.
Differential diagnosis of heel tumor is required in the following cases:
- The presence of oncological lesions in the patient;
- Foot deformities of various etiologies;
- Reiter's syndrome, which can cause the development of keratoderma;
- Syphilis, which can cause painful ring-shaped growths on the feet and hands.
In order to clarify the diagnosis, a blood analysis for HPV, syphilis and a general analysis is done.
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 may worsen. In addition, self-treatment at home can only suppress external manifestations of papilloma virus infection. At the same time, the virus will persist in the blood and cause regular recurrences of warts on the body.
It is also worth remembering that a neglected wart on the heel progresses and its growth continues. Moreover, given the external pressure on the foot, the neoplasm grows inside the skin, affecting the soft tissues deeper and deeper. This causes the process of compaction 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 due to the following symptoms:
- Severe pain in the growth area;
- Rapid growth of warts and damage to new areas of the heel;
- Discomfort when walking and leaning on the leg.
It should also be borne in mind that a patient infected with HPV poses a threat to others, because he is a carrier of the virus. Relatives of such a person are at risk of infection at home.
Only a comprehensive treatment can help to completely remove pathological tumors and suppress the virus, as well as avoid recurrence.
Ways to treat warts on the heel
Only combined therapy will help those who do not know how to get rid of warts on the heel. This is an opportunity not only to eliminate the tumor and the discomfort associated with it, but also to lead a full life without endangering others. Warts are treated with special drugs, instrumental methods of removal, and sometimes you can resort to traditional medicine.
Medicines for the treatment of warts on the heel
A wide range of medications are available to treat heel warts. They are divided into different groups according to their composition and characteristics of the impact on the tumor and the virus that caused the disease.
Let's look at the main asset groups:
- Acidic substances. These drugs are available in pharmacies without a prescription and are usually inexpensive. They have a pronounced cauterization effect. Salicylic acid gives good results. To remove warts on the heel, a solution with a concentration of 10-60% is required. The product should 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 wart and cause the diseased areas of the dermis to die. The most popular drug from 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 pharmaceutical preparations. A mixture of dimethyl alcohol and propane performed well. The refrigerant is liquid nitrogen. The product helps to remove warts on the heel and has a harmful effect on the papilloma virus. The use of this drug also requires special care in order not to cause damage to healthy tissue.
- Antiviral creams, gels, ointments. These drugs are effective because they act directly on the cause of warts - HPV. Although longer exposure to the tumor is usually required than in the case of aggressive substances for cauterization. One of the most effective drugs of this group is an ointment based on extracts from potato shoots. It has a herbal composition and helps stimulate the production of interferon in the body, interferes with the recovery process of viruses and causes their rapid death.
- Immunomodulatory external agents. They are quite effective when it comes to individual small warts on the heels. They help stimulate the local immune response and the body suppresses the virus on its own. Ointment based on interferon is popular. Long-term use is required - at least 4 weeks until a pronounced therapeutic effect appears.
- Tablets of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs. If the concentration of HPV in the blood is high, the doctor may prescribe a course of immunomodulatory or antiviral therapy with oral tablets. This will suppress the pathogen from within, avoiding the risk of recurrence. This is especially important in immunodeficiency conditions.
If local cauterization agents can be used independently to treat warts on the heel, following the instructions, oral drugs should be prescribed only by a doctor based on these tests.
Instrumental methods for removing warts on the heels
Today, there are several effective ways to remove warts on the heel using different devices. Modern clinics can offer a number of highly effective instrumental techniques at different costs:
- Electrocoagulation. Warts on heels 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 scars.
- Cryodestruction. One of the most popular methods for removing heel warts is using liquid nitrogen. In addition, this is a fairly inexpensive method of influence. Scars rarely remain after manipulation. But the effectiveness of the method depends on the skill of the doctor, because before removing the wart on the heel, it is necessary to accurately determine the depth of the root of the growth. 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 makes it possible to achieve a good cosmetic effect. The penetration depth of the laser beam can be easily adjusted, unlike liquid nitrogen. The procedure is short and almost painless. The wound on the heel also heals quickly and without complications. Recurrences after laser treatment of warts on the heel are almost excluded.
- Removal of radio waves. In this case, the nipples are cut out with a special radio knife. At the same time, the blood vessels are cauterized to avoid the spread of the virus to healthy tissues and bleeding. After such an operation, the recovery period is also short and there are practically no scars.
- Surgical excision. This method is considered outdated, but it is used in many cases. For example, when the growth is very large and further histological examination of the removed tissue is required. The operation is quite painful, it is performed under local anesthesia, and the recovery period can last several weeks. Bleeding and inflammation are also possible. Scars are often formed. The relative advantage of this method of treating warts on the heel is the low cost.
The choice of treatment method for warts on the heel is up to the patient and the treating physician. Most often, the most gentle and minimally invasive techniques are chosen - laser and radio wave removal of growths.
Folk remedies for warts on the heels
If you have a wart on your heel and you don't know what to do, you can try to treat it with some substances at home. So are acetic acid, celandine juice, garlic juice, etc. popular among "traditional healers". These drugs are less effective than pharmaceutical drugs or instrumental methods. However, with regular use they can also have a positive effect. The main condition is not to stop the treatment until the growth completely disappears.
Also, real help in the treatment of warts on the heel can be provided by the immunomodulatory effect on the body using folk methods. To do this, take decoctions of the following plants: rosehip, sea buckthorn, sea buckthorn, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, blackcurrant 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 warts on the heel
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is the most effective way to fight it. Therefore, follow the rules of personal hygiene, try not to use other people's items and always wear interchangeable shoes in public places.
If you have already been infected with HPV and have warts on your heels, start treating them right away. After removing growths, carefully monitor the condition of your feet.
If you have hyperhidrosis, use only shoes made of natural materials that are comfortable and breathable. If your feet are deformed, wear orthopedic shoes to take excess stress off your feet.
Do not forget about a hygienic pedicure, use moisturizing creams if the skin on your heels is dry. Avoid cracked heels. Simple rules of prevention can prevent the recurrence of tumors.
Warts on the heels are potentially harmless neoplasms, but they can bring considerable discomfort to the patient, as they grow and put pressure on the tissue and cause pain. In addition, we should not forget that these are viral formations, so people are the source of infection. Therefore, the treatment of warts on the heels must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.