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 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. Warts are usually formed here, 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, which is why around 80% of the world's population are carriers of this virus.
Of all the benign growths that can be located on the heel, warts make up 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 floors in rooms where there are large numbers of people (exercise rooms, changing rooms, saunas, swimming pools) are all ways of transmitting papillomavirus.
Contrary to popular belief, it is almost impossible to get infected with HPV and "earn" 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 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 harm health. But as soon as the immune system fails, which happens with overexertion, hypothermia, infectious diseases, hormonal imbalances, poor nutrition, poisoning, HPV is able to become active and manifest itself 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, scratches, cuts;
- Wearing ill-fitting shoes that pinch, crush or rub the skin;
- Diseases that cause trophic changes in soft tissue - varicose veins, diabetes, atherosclerosis;
- Deformation pathologies of the lower limbs - flat feet, gout, osteoarthritis and others;
- Excessive sweating or excessive dryness and sensitivity of the epidermis of the feet.
As a rule, if the virus is not too active and the immune system resists, warts can appear on the heel in the singular. If the pathogen is very active, massive damage to the heels and feet of warts is possible.
Methods of diagnosing warts on the heel
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 identify. An exceptional dermatologist is able to establish 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 examination, the stratum corneum is scraped off the epidermis 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 put together a clear 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 tumors on the heel is required in the following cases:
- The presence of oncological lesions in the patient;
- Foot 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 carried out.
Why is it important to treat warts on the heel?
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, home self-medication can only suppress the external manifestations of papillomavirus infection. At the same time, the virus will remain 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 and affects the soft tissue deeper and deeper. 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:
- Severe 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 must also be remembered that a patient infected with HPV poses a threat to others as he is a carrier of the virus. Relatives of such a person risk becoming infected at home.
Only comprehensive treatment can help completely get rid of pathological tumors and suppress the virus, as well as avoid relapse.
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 discomfort associated with it, but also to live a full life without posing a threat to others. Warts are treated with special drugs, instrumental methods of removal, and sometimes you can resort to traditional medicine.
Medicine for the treatment of warts on the heel
There are a wide variety of medications available to treat warts on the heel. They are divided into different groups according to their composition and characteristics of their effect on the tumor and the virus that caused the disease.
Let's look at the main groups of funds:
- Acidic substances. These medicines are available at 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 10-60% concentration is required. The product must be applied once a day until the tumor is completely destroyed. This drug 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 should be used according to the instructions and with caution in relation to adjacent healthy tissues.
- Freezing of substances. Until recently, heel warts were only frozen in hospitals 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 refrigerant is liquid nitrogen. The product helps to remove warts on the heel and has a harmful effect on the papillomavirus. The use of this drug also requires special care so as not to provoke damage to healthy tissue.
- Antiviral creams, gels, ointments. These agents are effective because they act directly on the cause of warts - HPV. Although a longer exposure to the tumor is usually required than with aggressive cauterizing agents. 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.
- Immunomodulating external 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. Interferon-based ointment is popular. Long-term use is required - for at least 4 weeks, until a pronounced therapeutic effect appears.
- Tablet antiviral and immunomodulating drugs. 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 and avoid the risk of relapse. This is especially important in immunocompromised conditions.
If local cauterizing agents can be used independently to treat warts on the heel, following the instructions, oral medication should only be prescribed 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 various devices. Modern clinics can offer a number of highly effective instrumental techniques at different costs:
- Electrocoagulation. Heel warts that have developed over a long period of time usually have roots deep into the dermis. Electrocoagulation does not involve penetration to a great depth in soft tissue. Therefore, this method is used only to treat small, superficial formations. Electrocoagulation also often leaves scars.
- Cryodestruction. One of the most popular methods of removing warts on the heel is to use 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, since it is necessary to determine the depth of the roots of the growth accurately before removing the wart on the heel. Otherwise, a recurrence of the tumor may occur. The operation is quick, as is the period of tissue regeneration.
- Laser removal. One of the most modern, minimally invasive methods of treating pathological skin growth. 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 wound on the heel also heals quickly and without complications. Recurrence after laser treatment of warts on the heel is almost impossible.
- Removal of radio waves. In this case, the warts are cut out with a special radio knife. At the same time, blood vessels are cauterized to avoid the spread of the virus to healthy tissue and bleeding. After such an operation, there is also a short recovery period and virtually no scars.
- Surgical excision. This method is considered obsolete, 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, performed under local anesthesia, and the recovery period can last several weeks. Bleeding and inflammation are also possible. Scars 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 lies with the patient and the attending 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 drugs at home. Thus, acetic acid, celandine juice, garlic juice, etc. are popular among "traditional healers. "These remedies are less effective than pharmaceutical drugs or instrumental methods. But with regular application, they can also have a positive effect. The main condition is not to interrupt the treatment until the growth completely disappears.
Also, real help in the treatment of warts on the heel can be provided by an immunomodulatory effect on the body using folk methods. To do this, make a decoction of the following plants: rose hip, foal's foot, sea buckthorn, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, blackcurrant and raspberry leaves, calendula. These plants will help boost immunity, especially in cold weather when there are not enough fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also useful to consume freshly squeezed juice 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, observe 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 immediately. After eliminating the 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 remove excess stress from your feet.
Do not forget about hygienic pedicure, use moisturizing creams 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 significant discomfort to the patient, since when they grow, they put pressure on the tissue and cause pain. In addition, we should not forget that these are viral formations, and therefore people are the source of infection. Therefore, treatment of warts on the heels must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.