Learn about warts or plantar warts

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thi Thu Hang - Dermatologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Warts or plantar warts are a fairly common skin disease caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 60 and 63. Plantar warts can be treated at home, but severe cases will require medical intervention.

1. Warts Overview

Plantar warts (Verruca plantaris) are the common name for a common type of plantar warts. Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that attacks the skin of the soles of the feet, especially HPV types 1, 2, 4, 60 and 63. in warm and humid places such as the floors of dormitories and around swimming pools. Small puddles on the surface of pool tiles are breeding grounds for the HPV virus. They are transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact and are easier to enter the body if you have an open wound or crack in your skin.

2. Symptoms of Plantar warts

Plantar warts can be painful. One of the first symptoms you may notice is pain when walking, pressure on your feet, or pain even at rest.
Once the wart has formed, you will see a flat, indented spot appear on the skin of the soles of the feet. Plantar warts are usually yellow with an outer crust, sometimes with a black spot in the middle. Warts also have roots that extend deep down and develop under the skin of the soles of the feet.

3. Diagnosis and treatment of plantar warts

In some cases, plantar warts will go away on their own, but others will still need to be treated at a medical facility or at home. If you find you have plantar warts, you should see your doctor, especially if the wart is painful or has spread to another location.
The doctor will determine the best treatment for each case based on how advanced the wart is. For example, for recurrent warts, your doctor will combine different treatments to ensure complete removal. Of these, salicylic acid cream and liquid nitrogen are the two most common treatments, which effectively remove Plantar warts within a few weeks.
3.1. Home treatment Use salicylic acid: Salicylic acid-impregnated creams or bandages are effective at "burning up" warts and are relatively inexpensive. Salicylic acid is widely available in pharmacies in a variety of forms and brands that you can buy to use at home. However, make sure to follow the instructions on the package and stick to taking the medicine for at least 12 weeks to see the effect.
Garlic: Some evidence suggests that garlic may help treat warts in humans. To do this, you need to peel a fresh garlic clove and apply it directly on the wart. Then cover the wart with duct tape to allow the garlic to soak into the wart for a while before rinsing it off with water. You can also apply garlic oil directly to the wart. Note, it is advisable to consult a doctor before applying any alternative therapy.
3.2. Medical Treatment If your warts are deep or recurring, see your doctor for a combination of different treatments. For example, conducting cryotherapy in parallel with salicylic acid will give better results. Specifically:
Use liquid nitrogen to freeze and remove warts. A cryotherapy course needs to be done at the hospital from 2 to 3 times; Cure or remove warts in the hospital. The patient can be discharged from the hospital for up to 1 day, after which the incision should be covered with a bandage and avoid putting pressure on the wart site;

Apply certain medications directly to the wart as directed by your doctor; Shine a laser to burn off the blood vessels that feed the wart. This measure will be effective quickly from 1-3 times of treatment, but the cost will be quite high compared to applying medicine at home; Most Plantar wart treatments will take at least a few weeks to work. What's more, Plantar warts can be difficult to remove and tend to come back. Therefore, patients need to strictly adhere to the treatment plan.

4. Plantar warts prevention

To prevent Plantar warts, you should keep the following tips in mind:
Always wear socks or shoes when walking in public spaces, such as swimming pools, changing rooms or dorms. amnesty; If you already have warts, change your shoes and socks daily; Cover the wart and wash your hands often to avoid spreading it to others; Vaccines are now available to prevent diseases caused by certain strains of HPV. To prevent diseases caused by HPV virus, the most effective method recommended by reputable health organizations is vaccination against HPV.
Vinmec International General Hospital is currently providing HPV vaccination service with 2 types: Gardasil 0.5ml (provided by MSD - USA) and Cervarix (provided by GSK - Belgium).
When choosing the vaccination service at Vinmec International General Hospital, you will enjoy the following benefits:
Customers are examined and screened by specialist doctors - Vaccines are fully examined and screened. health and fitness problems, advice on preventive vaccines and injection regimens, how to monitor and take care of customers after vaccination before ordering vaccination according to the latest recommendations of the Ministry of Health World Health Organization & World Health Organization to ensure the best effectiveness and safety for people getting vaccinated. A team of experienced and professional pediatric doctors and nurses, understand psychology and apply effective pain relief methods for customers during the vaccination process. 100% of vaccinated customers are monitored 30 minutes after injection and reassessed before leaving. Be monitored before, during and after vaccination at Vinmec Health System and always have an emergency team ready to coordinate with the vaccination department to handle cases such as anaphylaxis, respiratory failure - circulatory arrest, ensuring Ensure timely and correct handling when incidents occur. Vaccines at the hospital are imported and stored in a modern cold storage system, with a cold chain that meets GSP standards, helping to ensure the best quality of the vaccine.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: healthline.com