Plantar warts can be painful, annoying and embarrassing; therefore knowing how to treat them can alleviate suffering, discomfort and eliminate the social stigma that often accompanies this problem. Treatment can take a long time, but with patience and persistence you can get rid of warts and get rid of them completely.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assess the Problem
Step 1. Keep in mind that this is a very common problem and you are not the only one suffering from it
Plantar warts owe their name to the fact that they form on the sole of the foot, the area that comes into contact with the ground.
- The cause of these growths is the human papilloma virus (HPV), which invades the body by penetrating from the superficial layer of the skin, causing hardened and thick growths, similar to calluses.
- Generally, they form more easily in areas where the skin is broken or moist, but they can also grow on healthy, dry skin.
- Warts can also appear up to six months after exposure to the virus; it may therefore be difficult to trace the responsible event.
Step 2. Know that they form more easily on children and young people, thus making it easier to get an accurate diagnosis
However, it is not unusual to see them also on people of any age.
They are also more common among people with compromised immune systems from other causes, such as those with chronic skin problems - for example, eczema - those who have undergone organ transplants or those with HIV / AIDS
Step 3. Keep in mind that it is easier to cure warts when they are few and small
Some people take a wait-and-see approach to see if they go away on their own, but if there is no improvement within a few weeks or if warts spread and new ones grow, the best thing to do is seek treatment as soon as possible.
Part 2 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Use salicylic acid at home or with the help of a doctor if you wish to be guided through treatment
- Before applying it, use a file or a pumice stone to remove the outermost layer of the warts, in order to remove the dead cells (the hard and callused part). You are able to tell that you have carefully removed it because the underlying layer is much more sensitive and painful if you keep scratching.
- Soak the affected foot (or both, if warts are on both feet) in warm water for 10-20 minutes before starting treatment. In this way, you soften the skin and make the action of salicylic acid more effective. Thoroughly dry your foot after soaking it so that the product adheres to the skin as best as possible.
- Apply the salicylic acid patch to the wart. The best time to put it on is just before going to bed; leave it on site overnight and take it off the next morning. Perform the treatment every night until the wart (s) are gone and continue for at least a week or two after complete healing to make sure the HPV virus has been completely eradicated.
- People suffering from neuropathies (diseases that affect the nerves) cannot use salicylic acid, because they have less skin sensitivity and could be damaged without realizing it.
Step 2. Test the duct tape
This is another remedy that can be used easily at home. Why it's effective against plantar warts isn't fully understood yet, but several clinical studies have found that quite a few people have successfully treated their warts, so it's worth a try.
- The silver adhesive tape that you can easily find in all hardware stores is better than the clear one, as it tends to adhere better to the sole of the foot.
- Apply it to the foot (a small piece large enough to completely cover the warts) and leave it in place for six days. If it comes off before this time, put in another piece as soon as possible, as the goal is to keep the wart covered for all six days. After this time, take it off for a day and let your foot breathe. After removing the patch, soak your foot for 10-20 minutes in warm water to soften the skin. then, use the lime or pumice stone to scrape off the surface dead cells.
- Note that people who experience positive results with this method typically see the first improvements within two weeks, and warts often disappear completely within a month. However, if after this period you see that the treatment is not effective for you, you need to move on to other strategies.
- If you have diabetes, poor circulation in the extremities (hands and feet, a condition called "peripheral arterial disease"), nerve problems (neuropathies), or chronic skin diseases, you shouldn't use duct tape to treat warts, as this could be particularly severe. irritating to the skin.
Step 3. Try exposing the warts to high temperatures (hyperthermia)
This procedure consists of immersing the affected area in water at about 45 ° C for 30-45 minutes two or three times a week.
Step 4. Apply the garlic cloves
Some people have found positive results by putting garlic on the affected area and rubbing it every night (then covering it with a plaster or duct tape).
- This plant has antiviral properties, so it proves useful for this type of treatments.
- If you don't notice any improvement after two or three weeks, give up this remedy and try others.
Step 5. Use tea tree oil
This plant contains antiviral substances and, when applied every night to the wart and protected with a bandage, it becomes a good alternative "home remedy".
Again, if you don't notice any improvement within two to three weeks, you need to switch to another treatment
Part 3 of 3: Prescription Treatments and Medical Procedures
Step 1. Ask your doctor about cryotherapy (also called liquid nitrogen therapy)
It is an extremely cold liquid that is applied to the skin with the aim of destroying warts by freezing.
- Typically, it takes several sessions at the doctor's office to undergo multiple treatments before the wart disappears completely. Your doctor will tell you the schedule you will have to follow and how often you will need to perform cryotherapy. Once the wart is gone, maintenance treatment with salicylic acid for one to two weeks is often recommended to prevent recurrence.
- Liquid nitrogen treatment is not recommended for young children, as it is painful; however, older ones and adults generally have no problems.
- Be aware that cryotherapy can cause localized depigmentation (lightening) of the skin in dark-skinned people. If aesthetics are important to you, talk to your doctor so they can recommend alternative techniques for treating warts.
- If after the first application of liquid nitrogen you notice any signs of depigmentation that you do not like, you can choose to stop the treatment. The damage caused by a single session is probably minimal (or nonexistent), but it could be permanent, so don't continue cryotherapy if blemish is a problem for you.
Step 2. Ask for the wart to be removed with the surgical shaving technique
This procedure is performed by a doctor when applications of liquid nitrogen alone do not bring the desired results.
- If your doctor thinks this is the right solution for you, he will first inject a local anesthetic into the area around the wart.
- This drug ensures that the operation is carried out without causing unnecessary pain.
- Next, the doctor will use a small scalpel to excise, i.e. remove, the wart from the skin.
- At the end of the procedure he will advise you on further treatments, to minimize the chances of relapse.
Step 3. Ask your dermatologist for more information about other treatments
Among these you can consider cantharidin, fluorouracil, imiquimod and other substances that act on the immune system. These are not first-line treatment options, but they are still feasible and you can discuss them with your doctor.
- The dermatologist may also consider giving you injections directly into the wart tissue. Usually, this procedure is chosen when other treatments have not brought good results.
- Finally, laser therapy (or phototherapy) may be recommended. This is another option for those patients suffering from warts that are resistant to all the other simpler treatments.
Advice
- If you're not sure if your lesion is really a wart (or perhaps another growth), it's best to get it for medical attention.
- If you notice any signs of redness, swelling, pus, infection, or irritation developing around the wart, you should see your doctor to make sure it's not a serious problem.
