Viral wart on the foot: what is it and how can it be treated?

A viral wart on the foot is a lesion similar to a pressure wart, but in this case it is caused by the human papilloma virus. These warts are considered very common and very contagious,

How can you get infected?

A viral wart on the foot appears as a result of infection with the virus following walking with bare feet in places with high humidity such as hotel pools, mattress surfaces in sports clubs and gyms, pedicure stations, etc. Taking care to disinfect these surfaces may help prevent infection. At the same time, not everyone will be infected with a viral wart and there are two conditions that increase the chances of infection:

1. The existence of an “entry door” for the virus – that is, a rub, dryness or crack in the leg through which the virus may enter the skin.

2. The existence of a weak immune system on the day of infection – such as a cold, fatigue, or a state of anger and irritability that weakens the immune system. In these situations, the virus penetrates into a healthy cell and uses its capabilities as an invader to route or “cheat” the cell, and make the protein “work” for it and produce thousands of new viruses so that a situation is created in which an “invader” actually sits inside the foot.

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How can a viral wart be identified?

As a rule, the papilloma virus incubates between one and eight months without causing any discomfort for a long period of time until you start to notice it.

When the wart first appears on the skin it looks like a small black dot. Often the tendency is to think that a thorn has entered the foot and only after the passage of time, when the point is larger and causing pain, is it revealed that it is actually a wart.

It is very important to correctly diagnose the type of viral wart. Often a wrong diagnosis is made, usually a pressure vessel, and accordingly the treatment provided is not appropriate. Improper treatment may cause the virus to spread in the foot and worsen the situation.

Methods of prevention

A high awareness of the ways of infection and at the same time maintaining activity with bare feet in clean places where a thorough disinfection is carried out on a regular basis, may significantly reduce the chance of contracting a viral wart on the foot. However, this viral wart as mentioned is very common and can return even after the healing process if we do not take care

Treatment methods

There are several methods of treating a viral wart on the foot.

1. Surgical laser treatments

There are different types of laser treatments for warts but these treatments do not guarantee success and can be painful. Also, surgical treatment does not guarantee recovery from the virus and may leave scars that will later cause discomfort when walking.

2. Treatment with ointments

There are a variety of ointments to treat warts on the foot. These ointments include substances that dissolve the layer of dry cells of the upper skin, known as keratin, which was damaged as a result of the virus penetrating the skin, or alternatively directly damage the virus itself.

3. Treatment by burning with liquid nitrogen

Treatment of the cause of cold-cold focused on the area of ​​the wart.

4. Treatment using a Swift device

The Swift device is an innovative and unique device of its kind in Israel. Swift is based on the use of microwaves, which produce the same protein that is neutralized when the papilloma virus invades the foot. The waves cause the immune system to recognize the invading virus – and attack it. The treatment lasts about ten seconds and on average between three and four treatments are required to cure the viral wart, with an interval of one month between each treatment. The treatment does not involve any pain, and the patient can continue their daily routine immediately after. The device is very effective and suitable for use at any age and in any area of ​​the foot.

It is important to know that non-prescription products offered in many pharmacies as helping to treat foot warts may actually cause the opposite effect and worsen the situation. These are products with purple stickers intended, apparently, to remove the wart, but for many adults suffering from underlying diseases such as diabetes, their use may be harmful since they contain an acidic substance.

In any case of suspicion of a wart in the foot, a podiatrist should be consulted.

The article in collaboration with Carolyn Zemach, podiatrist BSc (Hons), MCPod, an expert in surgery and nail diseases

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