Among benign skin tumors, there are completely painless processes of the epidermal layer that cause only cosmetic discomfort. But when they hear about foot warts, many people exclaim: “They can cause severe pain while walking!” Today we will review the causes and symptoms of hard lumps on the soles of the feet to understand how you can deal with them. Some doctors recognize the benefits of such discussions, believing that in this case the immune system is mobilized in the body.
Tumors appear on the soles of the feet and in the area of the toes when exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV) cells. The infection enters through breaks in the skin; even small cracks in the epidermis are an “open door” for microscopically small viral particles. The popular name - “spikes” - is associated with the growth characteristics of this type of skin papilloma.
It is important! The appearance of warts in childhood is explained by a weakness of the immune system and the body's susceptibility to viral infection.
The soles of the feet, covered with a dense epidermis, are affected by certain types of HPV. Warts on the foot are caused by genotypes 1, 2 and 4 (low oncogenic risk). Viruses reproduce only in the cells of the host organism; outside living tissues, their DNA remains inactive. If you examine the structure of a plantar wart under a microscope, you will easily notice the basal layer of the epidermis that has grown inward. This “body” of the spine goes deep into the dermal layer, because it is softer than the dense surface of the foot.
Most often, primary HPV infection occurs between the ages of 10 and 20 years. The pathogen penetrates through skin lesions and even uses invisible wounds. Moisture facilitates this process, wet skin becomes more vulnerable, so transmission of the virus occurs in swimming pools, baths and saunas, public showers and locker rooms.
In most cases, HPV infection does not result in a foot wart, the main symptom of the infection. The incubation period - the period of time from infection with viruses to the appearance of warts - ranges from 8 to 15 weeks, but can last several years.
Factors that increase the risk of plantar warts:
It happens that the spine appears spontaneously, and then just as unexpectedly disappears after a year or two. Believers explain self-healing with their prayers or witchcraft spells, and doctors talk about strengthening the immune system, which managed to overcome HPV.
The appearance of the spine initially resembles a callus. A small bump appears, but unlike a callus, it does not cause discomfort and is not filled with liquid contents. After some time, the upper part of the plantar wart turns pearly yellow. Other important signs of a wart include a rough surface and black dots inside, which appear when the capillaries in the body of the wart are blocked.
Common locations for HPV on the feet are the soles and periungual areas of the toes. The diameter of a wart on the foot reaches 0.2–1.2 cm. Above the surface of the epidermis, such a formation rises only 0.1–0.3 cm, because the body of the tumor is completely inside the skin and continues to grow there in depth and breadth.
A doctor can identify plantar warts based on the typical appearance of the growths. But if doubt remains, a tissue sample is taken - a biopsy.
Histological examination of the wart under a microscope is necessary to exclude malignant changes if the patient has a weakened immune system.
When a person stands, walks or runs, he puts all his weight on the plantar warts. Severe discomfort appears, and pain and itching are also the main symptoms of a thorn. After a few months, a daughter wart begins to grow next to the original one, aggravating the person’s suffering. Multiple spines lead to injury to surrounding tissues, so such tumors should be removed.
You can remove the spine yourself at home, using centuries-old recipes or ointment, liquid, or patch from the pharmacy. Before treatment with such means, the wart must be steamed in hot water with the addition of soda, then the top keratin layer must be cut off with nail scissors. Over-the-counter preparations based on salicylic, lactic, and trichloroacetic acids soften and remove the body of the spine. If none of the above helps, then look at our previous article, where we described in detail many ways to remove a wart at home quickly and painlessly.
Alternative medicine comes to the rescue if the warts have not yet grown too much, but are already interfering with walking. If you cannot cope with the spines on your own, then you should definitely consult a doctor about treatment on an outpatient basis.
Popular folk remedies for removing warts on the feet:
The plant is effective against viruses when used externally and taken orally. For sensitive skin, garlic pulp is mixed with foot or hand cream. You can cut the plate off the slice, attach it to the wart with a medical plaster and leave it overnight.
The natural product is used together with lemon peel or onion. You need to marinate them in vinegar (24–48 hours), apply them to the wart and secure them with an adhesive plaster.
Almost all folk remedies are used for a long time, but are completely harmless to the skin.
An important aspect of the fight against warts is prevention. You should wear loose shoes and treat sweaty feet. It is necessary to carry out timely disinfection
scratches and cuts on the foot, apply a cream that softens the skin to prevent cracks. A healthy lifestyle helps strengthen the immune system, which means that HPV will have less chance of harming the human body.
Doctors warn! Shocking statistics - it has been established that more than 74% of skin diseases are a sign of parasite infection (Accarida, Giardia, Toxocara). Worms cause enormous harm to the body, and the first to suffer is our immune system, which should protect the body from various diseases. The head of the Institute of Parasitology shared the secret of how to quickly get rid of them and cleanse your skin, it turns out that’s enough. Read more .
Often, warts appear on the surface of the feet - benign formations caused by the penetration of the human papillomavirus into the body. Plantar warts are growths on the skin of the feet, formed in an area of increased pressure or friction, covered with a thin keratinized layer of epithelial cells.
The appearance of any type of wart is the result of infection with the human papillomavirus. The most common route of infection is through household contact.
In a humid and warm environment (gyms, baths), conditions for infection are most favorable. The incubation period of HPV can take from two months to several years , which directly depends on the state of the person’s immune system.
The reasons that directly influence the occurrence of such a phenomenon as a viral wart on the foot:
Warts on a child’s foot after HPV infection often appear after infectious diseases, wearing wet shoes, scratches and abrasions.
A wart on the foot is localized on the sole of the foot, most often on the toes, the area where the toes connect with the sole, and on the heels.
As they develop, subcutaneous warts on the foot turn from white, flesh-colored or light pink to brown, yellowish-brown, gray, which is largely due to contamination of their loose surface. The size of plantar warts varies from 1-2 mm. up to 1-2 cm, with the formations protruding slightly above the skin. They can merge with each other, forming uneven formations of different sizes.
Often, in the center of large warts, you can notice a depression in the center, as well as dark spots (damaged capillaries), especially when removing the top dense layer. Characteristic grooves and papillae are also found, allowing one to accurately determine the type of formation. Warts on the sole, unlike simple papillomas on the body, can be painful when palpated, pressed, or supported on the foot.
Depending on the number, shape and nature of the formation of warts, two types of formations on the sole can be distinguished:
Plantar warts are not a threat to human life and health.
Unlike senile ones, they are not capable of degenerating into malignant tumors, since the genotypes of the HPV virus that caused them are not oncogenic.
As the wart grows, it can cause severe pain to its owner, so this formation should not be ignored. Significant sizes or a large number of warts may indicate a number of diseases and serious disorders in the functioning of the immune system.
The main method for diagnosing warts is a visual examination by a dermatologist or surgeon.
If it is difficult to make a diagnosis, dermatoscopy can be used. As a result of multiple magnification using a dermatoscope, the specialist determines the signs characteristic of plantar warts: structure, color, parameters. First, the top layer of cells is removed from large keratinized areas. Differential diagnosis is carried out with other skin neoplasms (hyperkeratosis of the skin of the feet, calluses, skin consequences of infection with syphilis, molluscum contagiosum).
If there are multiple formations on the skin of the feet, a blood test for HPV may be prescribed, as well as an ultrasound of the sole of the foot to determine the depth of wart germination.
If the process is widespread on the skin of the feet, as well as if the warts are of a significant size, a course of systemic therapy may be recommended before their removal:
Removal of warts on the foot is carried out using different techniques, selected depending on their size and number:
To remove warts on a child’s foot, the methods most often used are electrocoagulation and cauterization with trichloroacetic acid.
Often, traditional methods of treating and removing warts are quite effective.
Before visiting a doctor, you can use the following recipes:
To avoid infection with the human papillomavirus and the appearance of warts on the foot, you must follow simple rules:
To reduce the risk of relapse of the disease it is necessary:
It is no secret that organs and systems in the human body are closely interconnected. Eastern practitioners have long been using influence on biologically active points on the feet to normalize body functions and restore health without medications or surgeries.
Before clarifying what certain active points located on the feet are responsible for, you need to understand a few rules:
Working with active points on the feet has its own contraindications, which you also need to know about.
walking barefoot activates active points, you can rise on your toes several times, walk on the inside and outside of your feet alternately;
Watch a short video that will show you how to find 7 points that massage will bring you back to life
The Chinese have long been using not only massage, but also stimulation with acupuncture needles to influence the active points of the feet.
The procedure must be carried out by a specialist, a person who has received an education and is proficient in technology. The patient does not feel pain or discomfort during the session. After just a few procedures, significant relief occurs.
Acupuncture has no age restrictions and is actively used, including in pediatrics.
Acupressure foot massage should be used with caution if there are contraindications and restrictions:
Before using acupressure, you should consult with a specialist, and, if possible, study with a chiropractor, so as not to cause harm through inept, illiterate actions.
Today we will start discussing foot massage. We can also do it ourselves, at home.
What are the benefits of foot massage? In addition to the fact that foot massage is very pleasant and has a quite powerful relaxing effect, it also relieves fatigue, improves sleep, activates the immune system, affecting the entire body as a whole.
As we already know, on the limbs, more precisely on the soles of the feet biologically active points , by pressing, pressing, rubbing which can indirectly affect almost any internal organ.
Even without any medical education, a person is able, simply by feeling his feet, to find painful points... These points of discomfort, or even quite severe pain, signal to us that there is a problem with some organ. By checking the table, which will be at the end of the article, with the prescribed projections of biologically active points, we can:
1. Pay attention to this organ, it may not hurt yet; the projection points on the feet react much earlier.
2. Start massaging painful points on the soles of your feet, reflexively influencing the diseased organ and helping it become more active.
The foot massage procedure does not take very much time, but if you do it yourself, it may take about half an hour. Since the main effect of a foot massage is relaxing , I recommend doing it before bed.
start acupressure foot massage at home by warming them up with warm water. Then vigorously rub the soles until they turn red.
Let's prepare the cream. Anyone, even a child. Although, from practice, I can say that in order for a foot massage to be more effective, it is worth taking some kind of warming cream, for example with mustard, pepper, or a massage tonic.
We begin the foot massage with general energetic rubbing movements of the entire foot.
After 1-2 minutes we move on to the toes . We spend a minute on each toe, rubbing it in a circular motion, bending it in one direction and the other. People over 30 years of age may experience pain when actively bending their fingers. When some joints, muscles and tendons hardly work, when you try to load them, they give painful sensations. So the impact is gradual and again gradual.
As you noticed from the table, on the pads of the fingers and the bases of the toes there are reflexogenic zones related to organs located in the head (eyes, ears, teeth, nose, sinuses and the brain itself), so by paying a lot of attention to the fingers, we activate thought processes and improve our protection against colds.
In principle, we have known since childhood that if we get our feet wet (frozen), expect a cold... This knowledge is based on the fact that when we have colds, we soak our feet with mustard, wrap them up, and put on warm woolen socks. And if we suddenly decide to toughen ourselves up, then we bravely walk barefoot.
A foot massage is also walking barefoot on a massage mat, only more directed. On the mat, the points are massaged in a generalized manner, but randomly, which point gets what...
When massaging the feet, we can pay maximum attention to exactly the area we want.
For example, by gently rubbing the lateral surfaces of the feet , we have a relaxing effect on the joints and muscles of the leg. Many people experience discomfort in their legs, heaviness, and cramps in the evening; this technique relieves tension and pain well.
Stretching your toes is very useful for improving coordination. The back surface of the lower leg muscles also tenses, and then after active tension, relaxes during these stretching movements. It also improves blood circulation in the fingers, which is often difficult with diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Foot twisting is also very useful . Previously cramped foot muscles become more flexible and elastic, and mobility in the ankle joint improves.
Of course, if someone gives you such a massage, the state of relaxation will be more complete. But, if there is no one to massage your feet, do not despair; even with partial relaxation, you will provide undoubted benefits to your body. Again, you can use massage devices.
Based on the number of toes , five energy channels are distinguished, fanning out along the foot . With pressure and strong vibrating movements from the middle of the foot to the base of the toes, the energy balance in the body is gradually restored. With good development of the points of these lines, the flow of energy through these channels improves and expands.
You can do a foot massage for yourself, or for a friend or partner, so to speak, mutually.
It is extremely useful to massage the feet of children before bed, even for infants, it calms, relaxes and promotes sounder sleep. And if the baby has flat feet or, God forbid, a hallux valgus deformity, it is imperative to master massage techniques.
Your friends will also thank you, especially pregnant women, their legs become very swollen and painful in the evening, and you can, through your actions, help them improve blood circulation, relieve fatigue and tension.
But, in fact, there can be no wrong influence, various techniques only help to more accurately influence biologically active points, but even if you don’t know something yet, and not all massage techniques have yet been mastered by you, do not stop in indecision !
Start small, your intuition can help you in this matter, and the pain of some points on the soles of your feet will also help.
And the following table shows the projections of these important points on the soles of the feet (click on the picture to enlarge)
Even a short impact of one or two minutes on a painful point of the foot can activate the organ corresponding to it and begin its healing.
A series of short and long pressures on the active point of the foot is recommended until slight redness occurs.
Reflexogenic foot massage gives a start to self-healing mechanisms, of course, if the situation is advanced, then this method will not be able to completely cure a serious disease, but in the infancy stage, when there are no symptoms of the disease, and the point on the foot already hurts, indicating that what is happening stagnant processes and pathology develops.
For those who better perceive the information in the video, an example of a foot massage:
As for me, I will return more than once in my articles to foot massage, because not every organ is accessible to independent influence and is so rich in reflexogenic points.
Papillomas on the feet are benign neoplasms of the skin of the soles as a result of infection with the human papillomavirus. It is very easy to become infected with such a viral infection, but not everyone can get rid of papillomas on the foot forever. The course of the disease often takes on a persistent relapsing character. This is due to the characteristics of the virus, the characteristics of the patient (the state of the immune system, the presence of concomitant infectious pathology of the skin of the feet), and the plantar localization itself.
Papillomas on the skin of the feet are not a rare phenomenon. HPV is ubiquitous and about 40 types cause the growth of various warts. Plantar warts are observed mainly in young and adult people, and account for 40% of the types of warts found in them.
The route of transmission of the virus is contact:
Most often, infection occurs in bathhouses, swimming pools, gyms, and when using common personal hygiene items and shoes.
For HPV to penetrate into the thickness of the skin, microtraumas must be present. Intense sweating of the skin of the feet, as well as fungal infections, eczema of the feet and other diseases contribute to inoculation.
When the virus enters the epidermis, it reaches the lowest basal layer and penetrates into the nuclei of immature cells. There, its DNA replicates, but the assembly of new viral particles occurs upon reaching the uppermost stratum corneum of the skin. The virus causes cellular transformation and increased growth of modified cells in the form of a wart.
Features of human papillomavirus infection:
photo of warts on foot
Interferon is produced by leukocytes in response to a virus entering the human body. This immune mechanism is innate. Interferon has a powerful antiviral effect. By activating certain cellular mechanisms, it causes the production of enzymes that destroy viral DNA. In addition, interferon triggers apoptosis - the destruction of infected epithelial cells. An equally important function is the activation of lymphocytes and the production of antiviral antibodies (representatives of acquired immunity).
Therefore, changing the interferon status towards its increase with the help of antiviral immunomodulators contributes to the elimination of the human papillomavirus, prolongation of remission or recovery.
The incubation period ranges from 1 to 6 months. In a person with sufficient immune status, regression of plantar warts occurs 2 years after its appearance. After two years of existence of the neoplasm, it must be removed.
Clinical types of warts on the foot
Pathological formations on the foot look like dense, round, excessively keratinized plaques of various sizes, gray, yellow or white, their surface is granular. When pressed, severe pain is noted. Sometimes patients suffer from itching (with extensive damage).
A wart on the foot is similar to keratinized corns, but unlike the latter, it is painful and on the cut it has numerous black or brown dots - thrombosed capillaries.
HPV types 2 and 4 provoke the appearance of mosaic warts on the sole: the maternal papilloma is located in the center, and there are many daughter elements along the periphery. Most often such formations are located on the forefoot. They are usually covered with deep cracks.
Plantar warts are located in the area of bony protrusions, heels, toe pads and other supporting areas of the foot. Unlike other types of warts, papilloma on the foot grows inward, not outward.
Complications: bleeding, itching and the addition of a bacterial or fungal infection.
When seeking medical help for papillomas on the foot, the doctor prescribes the following tests:
For single elements, only an external examination of the patient is performed.
Treating foot warts is challenging. Often, the most common method - removal by various methods - leads to the spread of the virus to surrounding tissues and the growth of new elements. The appearance of such warts on the sole has a mosaic appearance.
Treatment methods for warts on the skin of the feet are currently varied and the most effective are represented by the following varieties:
Removal of single and small plantar warts is often carried out chemically using acidic and combined agents.
Chemical methods are very convenient to use, they are painless, there are no side effects, the products are well tolerated and do not leave cosmetic defects. The resulting crust disappears after a few weeks (from 1 to 3).
These methods are combined with the local antiviral agent Panavir or interferon inducers (Aldara or Vartotsid).
If desired, such papillomas can be removed using physical methods.
In the process of treating plantar warts (before removal), they begin to take interferon inducers and an antiviral agent:
There are a total of 5 injections per course. After isolated traditional removal of foot warts, the recurrence rate approaches 80%. Most often, the papilloma grows again in the same area. Therefore, taking interferon inducers and antiviral drugs is mandatory.
The most popular methods in modern dermatology for removing papillomas on the sole are cryodestruction and laser removal.
When exposed to liquid nitrogen, frozen tissues turn white, become insensitive and dense. In the first hours after the procedure, the skin around the circumference turns red and swells. The next day, blisters with clear or bloody contents form. The time from the moment of treatment until the necrotic neoplasm dies and falls off is from 2 to 6 weeks. It takes 3 to 6 months to completely restore the skin. Removal of warts on the foot using liquid nitrogen is carried out using contact and non-contact methods. With contact - cold is applied through the tip that touches the skin, with non-contact - a thin stream gives a targeted or dispersed effect of nitrogen on the skin area for finer removal. The procedure time ranges from 6 seconds to 2 minutes. When using liquid nitrogen manually, damage to others is possible healthy tissues, therefore preference should be given to cryoequipment. After cryodestruction on a large surface of the skin of the legs, it may be necessary to apply aseptic dressings, which are subsequently difficult to separate from the wound. In such cases, it is advisable to use “Rescuer” ointment. The ointment promotes easy removal of the bandage and rapid healing of the affected area.
In the process of laser treatment of warts, coagulation is used (for formations up to 2.5 cm in size) or excision with suturing of the edges of the wound (if the papilloma is more than 2.5 cm in size). Before performing the manipulation, a novocaine solution is injected under the skin. This is necessary not only for pain relief, but also to create a protective barrier of fluid that will protect leg tissue from high temperature exposure. Adjusting the laser power allows you to constantly control the depth of penetration of the beam. After treating warts on the foot using a carbon dioxide laser using the coagulation method, healing occurs faster than with other removal methods. This is due to the immediate sealing of blood vessels and the death of microorganisms. The laser-treated skin surface is covered with a dense crust (scab), which cannot be removed independently. Depending on the size of the removed warts, the falling off of the scab and healing underneath it lasts differently and ranges from 2 weeks to 2 months. After the destruction of warts on the foot, additional methods are used:
Any methods of physical destruction of warts on the foot are painful. Therefore, the procedure is carried out under local anesthesia with lidocaine 10 minutes before the start.
Removing plantar warts when there are a large number of them makes the procedure very painful, which often does not predispose the patient to traditional methods of treatment. Then home removal methods are used and this leads to aggravation of the disease.
You should know that you can only treat warts yourself, using chemical pharmaceutical or folk remedies on the recommendation of a doctor, but removing them at home is not recommended.
Thanks to Chinese medicine, treatment by massaging a specific point on the organs on the foot has become widely known. It is known that the human foot is a kind of control panel for the body, on which biologically active points associated with internal organs are concentrated. No wonder walking barefoot on freshly cut grass or small pebbles brings a pleasant sensation. During this process, a mechanical effect occurs on the points of the foot, which stimulates the corresponding organs, improving blood flow and increasing the overall tone of the body.
The acupressure technique is the younger sister of acupuncture; it involves all the same points into which acupuncture needles are inserted. However, acupressure does not accept the use of piercing objects, which guarantees a softer and safer, but at the same time effective treatment. In this case, metal needles are replaced by your own fingers or the hands of a massage therapist.
Based on theoretical knowledge extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, we note that on the soles of the feet there is a unique pattern of biologically active points and zones of influence on each of the existing organs. Over time, waste and toxins accumulate in the human body, interfering with normal blood circulation and thereby provoking various diseases. By massaging the feet, you can influence active points on the foot, stimulating work and creating a balance in the general condition of the body as a whole.
By massaging the feet, you can relieve nervous stress, fatigue and psycho-emotional arousal, strengthen the defense mechanisms of the whole body, improve metabolism, normalize the functioning of the nervous system, cure gynecological diseases and much more.
Reflexology is a non-drug therapy method that is firmly established in Western medicine. Foot massage will help not only sick people, but also healthy people who want to strengthen their immunity and nervous system. By influencing the points on the foot that are responsible for the organs, you can effectively influence the functioning of the body: to reduce coughing attacks, you just need to massage the trachea point; to normalize the digestive process, you can gently massage the points of the stomach and intestines. A narrow strip of the entire inner surface of the foot is connected to the spine. By systematically influencing these points, you can alleviate the condition of osteochondrosis, radiculitis, myositis, lumbago.
By pressing on the points of the corresponding organ, you can relieve, for example, a rapid heartbeat, influence the urinary system and even cure chronic diseases.
The points on the foot that are responsible for the organs have their exact location. Their location is determined on 14 lines, also called meridians. Each meridian has its own name: “Master of the Heart”, “Governor” or “Three-Step Heater”.
There are three types of points on each meridian:
Every organ of the human body can be reflected on the “canvas” of the feet. To get the clearest picture of the projection of each organ, you can imagine the feet located next to each other, and the person depicted on them in the fetal position, facing forward.
During the massage, pain points may be detected that signal the weakening of a particular organ; more attention should be paid to these areas. It is important to understand that pressing on acupuncture points on the foot alone will not help your health; it is necessary to touch neighboring areas with massage, even if they do not cause pain. During the massage, you should alternate pressing on pain points and pauses between them. The result of proper treatment of the pain area should be the disappearance of any unpleasant sensations. Each such point is warmed up for at least a minute.
The points on a person’s feet are connected to almost all internal organs, glands and limbs in his body. In addition to fulfilling their physiological purpose, the organs are responsible for the emotional and spiritual development of a person.
For example, the spleen, projected on the left foot, contains traits traditionally attributed to women - grumpiness and anger. The heart area is located on both feet, and yet it is reflected more on the left foot, which is a confirmation of the emotional feminine essence. Similar to the heart, liver zones are present on both feet, but the projection of the organ predominates on the right foot, which is associated with rough masculine qualities, a lively disposition, anger and perseverance. The same applies to other organs, so for physical health and spiritual purity you need to monitor the health of each organ.
To improve the health of the entire body and prevent diseases, it is necessary to carry out a full comprehensive foot massage. It is advisable to carry out the procedures every evening immediately before bedtime.
Before performing a massage, you should stretch your feet for a few minutes by walking barefoot, rising on your toes, or alternating the transfer of body weight from the outer ribs of the feet to the inner ones. To complete the warm-up, you can take a warm foot bath.
For self-massage, you should take a comfortable position in order to most completely relax your legs:
The massage should be carried out with warm hands, having previously warmed up the massage oil in them, so that the points on the foot responsible for the organs are gently but effectively kneaded. You need to work on your feet with both hands, using all your fingers, alternating massaging them with your knuckles and fists, moving from the tips of your toes to the heel.
At the end of the procedure, it will be useful to walk on a massage lumpy mat, shifting from foot to foot and alternating the transfer of the body on each leg.
Contraindications for acupressure
Massaged points on the foot that are responsible for the organs may not have a positive effect in case of serious illnesses that require immediate medical attention. The use of acupressure techniques can be useful as an additional treatment, pain relief and strengthening of the body as a whole.