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
Papillomavirus is capable of infecting various parts of the human body, causing proliferation of epithelial tissue. Heels are no exception. Here, as a rule, warts are formed, which are provoked 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, which is why about 80% of the world's population are carriers of this virus.
Of all benign growths that can be located on the heel, warts account for 1/3. 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 crowded places. Using other people's personal hygiene items, walking barefoot on the floor in rooms where there are a large number of people (gyms, locker 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 "get" a wart on the 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 papillomavirus. 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 cause harm to health. But as soon as the immune system fails, which happens with overwork, hypothermia, infectious diseases, hormonal imbalance, bad food, poisoning, HPV is able to activate and appear as skin tumors.
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, scratches, scrapes, cuts;
- Using ill-fitting shoes that squeeze, press 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 dryness and excessive sensitivity of the epidermis 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 become very similar to corns and calluses. Therefore, they are not so easy to identify. An outstanding dermatologist is able to make an accurate diagnosis and differentiate the growth from other pathologies. To do this, a procedure called dermatoscopy is most often performed.
To perform a qualitative study, the stratum corneum of the epidermis is scratched 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 certain picture of the disease. With a wart on the heel, there is no skin pattern on its surface. In addition, you can see black dots. These are traces of blocked capillaries.
If required, an ultrasound examination is prescribed, which helps determine the depth of penetration of the so-called "roots" of the wart deep into the skin.
Differential diagnosis of heel tumors is required in the following cases:
- The presence of oncological lesions in the patient;
- Leg deformities of various etiologies;
- Reiter's syndrome, which can provoke the development of keratoderma;
- Syphilis, which can cause painful ring-shaped growths to form on the feet and hands.
To clarify the diagnosis, a blood test for HPV, syphilis and a general analysis is also 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-medication at home can suppress only the external manifestations of papillomavirus 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 leg, the neoplasia 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 is manifested in the form of dark spots on the growth surface. Gradually, the wart on the heel begins to cause severe pain.
Treatment of warts on the heel is necessary for the following symptoms:
- Strong pains in the growth area;
- Rapid growth of warts and damage to new areas of the heel;
- Discomfort when walking and holding the leg.
It should also be remembered that a patient infected with HPV poses a threat to others, since he is a carrier of the virus. Relatives of such a person are at risk of infection at home.
Only comprehensive treatment can help to completely eliminate pathological tumors and suppress the virus, as well as avoid relapses.
Ways to treat heel warts
Only combined 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 related concerns, but also to live a full life without posing a threat to others. Warts are treated with special medications, instrumental removal methods, and sometimes you can turn to traditional medicine.
Medicines for the treatment of warts on the heel
There is a wide range of medicines for the treatment of heel warts. They are divided into different groups according to the composition and characteristics of their impact on the tumor and the virus that caused the disease.
Let's look at the main groups of funds:
- Acidic substances. These drugs are available in pharmacies without a prescription and are usually inexpensive. They have a pronounced cauterizing 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 promote warts and cause diseased areas of the dermis to die. The most popular drug from this group causes tissue necrosis, so it should 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 performed at home using special pharmaceutical preparations. A mixture of dimethyl alcohol and propane has proven itself well. The coolant 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 medication also requires special care not to provoke damage to healthy tissues.
- Antiviral creams, gels, ointments. These tools are effective because they act directly on the cause of warts - HPV. Although more often a longer exposure to the tumor is required than in the case of aggressive cauterizing substances. One of the most effective drugs in this group is an ointment based on an extract from 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 small single warts on the heels. They help stimulate the local immune response and the body independently suppresses the virus. Interferon-based ointment is popular. Long-term application is required - for at least 4 weeks until a pronounced therapeutic effect appears.
- Antiviral and immunomodulating tablets. If the concentration of HPV in the blood is high, the doctor can prescribe a course of immunomodulatory or antiviral therapy using oral tablets. This will suppress the pathogen from the inside, avoiding the risk of relapse. This is especially important in immunocompromised states.
If local cauterizing agents can be used independently to treat warts on the heel, following the instructions, then oral medications should be prescribed only by the attending physician based on these tests.
Instrumental methods for removing warts on the heels
Today there are several effective ways to remove a wart on the heel using different 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.
- Cryodestruction. One of the most popular methods for removing warts on the heel is the use of liquid nitrogen. Moreover, 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, a recurrence of the tumor may occur. The operation is quick, as is the tissue regeneration period.
- Laser removal. One of the most modern, minimally invasive methods for treating pathological skin growths. It allows you 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 practically painless. The heel wound also heals quickly and without complications. Relapses after laser treatment of warts on the heel are almost excluded.
- Removal of radio waves. In this case, the warts are cut 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 there is also a short recovery period and practically no signs.
- Surgical excision. This method is considered outdated, but is used in a number of 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. Wounds are often formed. A relative advantage of this method of treating warts on the heel is its low cost.
The choice of how to treat a wart on the heel depends on the patient and the treating doctor. Most often, the most gentle and minimally invasive techniques are chosen - the removal of growths with laser and radio waves.
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. are popular among "traditional healers". These tools 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 treatment until the growth completely disappears.
Also, real help in the treatment of warts on the heel can be provided by an immunomodulating effect on the body using folk methods. To do this, take decoctions of the following herbs: rose hips, mushrooms, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, blackcurrant and raspberry leaves, calendula. These plants will help increase 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 fight it. Therefore, observe the rules of personal hygiene, try not to use other people's objects and always wear replaceable shoes in public places.
If you have already been infected with HPV and have warts on your heels, start treating them immediately. 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 hygienic pedicure, use moisturizing creams if the skin on the heels is dry. Avoid developing cracked heels. Simple prevention rules can prevent the recurrence of tumors.
Warts on the heels are potentially harmless neoplasms, but they can bring considerable discomfort to the patient, since, as they grow, they put pressure on the tissues and provoke 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.