Table of contents:
- Overview of fish eye disease
- The types of eyelets on the feet
- 1. Heloma durums
- 2. Heloma molles
- Fish eye disease is caused by a virus that causes venereal disease
- This disease can appear anywhere, not just on the soles of the feet
- How is this disease transmitted?
- How effective is it to remove fish eyes on the feet?
- 1. Use over-the-counter fish eye medication at the pharmacy
- 2. Go to a doctor
- 3. Using a pumice stone
- If I have a disease, do I have to have fish eye surgery?
- Cryotherapy
- Laser treatment
- How do you not get this disease?
Fish eye disease can appear anywhere. Although it is often on the soles of the feet, this disease can also appear in other parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands, fingers, and even the face. Apparently, the fish eye on the foot is contagious, you know Find out all about this disease including fish eye medicine, how to get rid of it, and how to prevent it in this article.
Overview of fish eye disease
Fish eyes are hard and rough lumps that usually appear in places that are subject to repeated pressure, such as on the tops of the feet, toes, between the toes, and the sides of the feet. Repeated pressure can also cause the disease to grow inward, under a hard, thick layer of skin like calluses.
But unlike calluses, this disease is smaller and has a hard center surrounded by inflamed skin. In addition, the fish eyes on the feet are also painful to the touch. While calluses are rarely painful and usually have a larger size.
Anyone can experience this disease. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing fish eye disease, including:
- Children and adolescents
- People with weak immune systems
- Have had this disease before
- The habit of walking barefoot
- Have chapped feet
- Often wear shoes that are too small or loose
- Don't use socks
- Hammertoe, which is a deformity in the toes that are swollen and shaped like claws
- Bunions, abnormal bony lumps that form in the joint at the base of your big toe
- Other foot deformities
In most cases, the fish eye in the foot is not a serious disease. Even so, if not treated properly, this condition can cause discomfort or pain when you want to do daily activities.
The types of eyelets on the feet
This condition is divided into two types, namely:
1. Heloma durums
This is the type most commonly experienced by many people. If you often wear shoes that are so small that your toes curl inside the shoe, this can cause the fisheye in your foot to become hard.
In addition, the flexed fingertips also put pressure on the shoe lining, so that the fisheye in the foot can appear to protect the subcutaneous tissue.
2. Heloma molles
This condition occurs when the tips of the bones in your feet are too wide to create friction between the toes. Even so, people who have normal toes can also experience this condition.
This type of fish eye disease in the feet tends to be whitish with a more chewy texture. Usually this condition occurs more often between the toes, in areas of skin that are wet and sweaty.
Fish eye disease is caused by a virus that causes venereal disease
This disease includes skin health problems caused by HPV infection (Human papillomavirus). Yes, that's right, HPV is a virus that can attack the genitals, and is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
However, HPV itself has many types. The types of HPV that attack the skin and the types that affect the sexes are different types. So, getting warts on the feet or hands does not cause cervical cancer like genital warts.
You can become infected with the virus through small scratches, cuts, or in warm, humid environments, such as on the bathroom floor. You can also get the wart virus through direct contact with an infected person. Once inside the skin, the virus can grow and spread and stimulate rapid cell growth on the surface of the skin.
This disease can appear anywhere, not just on the soles of the feet
Although it very often appears on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands, this fish eye disease can appear on the skin of any part of the body. Usually the nickname also varies, depending on the place where this disease can occur.
This disease is generally called verruca vulgaris . If it appears on the palm, it is called verruca plantaris , on the face is called Verruca Plana .
A factor that plays a role is the amount of sweat, which causes the skin area to become very moist. A humid environment will become a hotbed for viruses and bacteria to grow. So, do not be surprised if this disease often appears in the soles of the feet, considering that the feet are areas that often sweat.
How is this disease transmitted?
Transmission of this fish eye disease is more likely to occur if the outermost layer of skin is damaged, such as skin abrasions, scratches, dry skin, and so on. Transmission of this disease can also occur through direct contact with the skin or body parts that are infected with this disease.
However, indirect transmission is still possible. HPV itself can withstand dry temperatures, cold temperatures, and can last quite a long time on the surface of inanimate objects.
So, touching items that have been in contact with someone who is infected, for example because of borrowing towels, will increase your risk of developing this disease as well.
Apart from the things mentioned above, fish eye disease can also be transmitted to oneself. That is, this disease can spread to other parts of the body if you make direct contact in the first infected area.
How effective is it to remove fish eyes on the feet?
Initially the disease may not be painful and generally goes away without having to perform fish eye surgery. However, if allowed to continue this disease can be very painful so sometimes it requires various treatments to remove the fish eye. Here are some things you can do to treat fish eyes in your feet, including:
1. Use over-the-counter fish eye medication at the pharmacy
You can treat fish eye yourself at home using fish eye medication available at pharmacies. A variety of fish eye medications sold at pharmacies or drugstores are available in liquid, gel, pad, or patch form. Usually, this fish eye medicine contains salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid can soften the dead skin layer, making it easier to remove. The most important thing, this fish eye medication is relatively mild and does not cause pain.
One of the fish eye medications that you can use to treat fish eyes is a fish eye plaster. This is a thick rubber ring that has an adhesive surface and contains salicylic acid. This patch will pull out the infected skin, thereby removing the fish's eyes.
In some cases, these patches can cause thinner crusting around the infected skin. That is why, make sure you always read the instructions for use before using medicines to treat fish eyes so that the process of removing fish eyes can take place optimally.
If the fish eyes in your feet don't heal either, you should check with your doctor immediately so that your condition doesn't get worse.
2. Go to a doctor
Consulting a doctor is the right way to treat fish eyes that you are experiencing. You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- The infected area is painful or changes in appearance or color.
- You also have a weakened immune system due to immunosuppressant drugs, HIV / AIDS, diabetes or other immune system disorders.
- You have warts on your face or other sensitive body parts (eg genitals, mouth, nostrils).
Your doctor will carefully examine the infected skin as well as check for any small dark spots (clots of small blood vessels). If needed, the doctor will also take a skin sample for further analysis.
3. Using a pumice stone
Pumice stone is a natural remedy for fish eye disease. This is because a pumice stone can remove dead skin and exfoliate the hardened skin so that the pressure and pain will be reduced. Follow the steps using a pumice stone to treat the following fish eyes.
- Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 5 minutes or until the skin on your feet feels soft
- Wet the pumice stone and rub it on the hardened areas for 2-3 minutes
- Rinse your feet
You can use a pumice stone every day as a natural way to get rid of fish eyes. However, be careful when using a pumice stone. Don't scrub your skin for too long, this can lead to bleeding and infection.
If you have diabetes, consult a podiatrist at the first sign of skin problems on the soles or toes of your feet, regardless of how minor you think the problem is. Actions such as those listed above may be recommended by a podiatrist, but should not be performed without his / her supervision and permission.
If I have a disease, do I have to have fish eye surgery?
If the various methods mentioned above do not work to remove the fisheye in your feet or make your condition worse, your doctor may recommend performing fish eye surgery. Fish eye surgery is often the best option for removing fish eyes.
This procedure is done by cutting the thickened and hardened part of the skin using a scalpel. Fish eye surgery is performed to reduce pressure on the tissue under the infected area. You may feel some pain when the doctor performs fish eye surgery.
But calm down, this pain is generally temporary and your condition will improve afterwards. After the fish eye surgery is done, the doctor will usually give you antibiotics to speed up your healing at home.
Apart from performing fish eye surgery, the doctor will also perform several other procedures to remove fish eyes, including:
Cryotherapy
The cryotherapy procedure is carried out using liquid nitrogen which functions to freeze the infected area and then remove the fish's eye. Don't be surprised if after doing this treatment, your problematic skin will experience blisters. Because this treatment will indeed produce blisters and this is normal.
Unfortunately, cryotherapy is not a long-term fish eye medicine. You have to do this treatment regularly, otherwise the recovery will take longer. Several studies have shown that this fish eye medication is more effective when combined with salicylic acid treatment.
Laser treatment
Pulsed-dye laser can also be done to treat fish eyes. This procedure is done by burning the small blood vessel clots in the infected area. The infected tissue will eventually die and the warts will fall off.
How do you not get this disease?
Human skin actually has a protection called skin barrier , namely the outermost layer of skin that functions as a protector for the layers of skin underneath. On the skin with skin barrier strong enough or not damaged, the risk of transmitting HPV is lower than that of skin with skin barrier the damaged one.
Actually, everyone has different defenses or immune systems. In people with immune system problems, the risk of transmitting HPV is very high. Therefore, the best way to prevent and treat fish eyes is to keep the immune system strong. Also avoid borrowing personal items with other people. For example clothes, underwear, towels, combs, tools makeup, and others.
In addition, the condition is also often caused by daily habits related to repeated stress and friction. This can usually result from wearing shoes that don't fit properly (too small or loosely, too often wearing high heels (high heels), do not wear socks, walk or run with bare feet, or stand for too long. Well, that's why, you need to do these things so you don't get this disease:
- Wear shoes that fit and fit the shape of your feet. Comfortable shoes can help reduce pressure or friction on the skin of your feet.
- Avoid walking barefoot, and wear sandals or other footwear in swimming pools and locker rooms, and other warm, humid common areas where people used to go barefoot.
- Change your shoes and socks every day, and allow your shoes to dry between intervals of use. Don't wear other people's shoes or socks, even if they belong to your closest friend.
- Don't squeeze, pull, or try to cut the eyelets in your feet.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after treating an infected area, and do not touch any part of your body before washing your hands.
- Wash your feet with soap and a brush after using shoes. Then, rinse it until it is completely dry. Also use a moisturizing cream on your feet regularly to soften the skin of the feet.
If you have other questions, don't hesitate to consult your doctor so they can find out the best solution for you.