Skin and Wart Treatment Options
Plantar Warts
A plantar wart or verruca is a skin lesion commonly on the bottom of the foot. They also commonly affect children, adolescents and the elderly. Plantar warts may occur as a single wart or in a large cluster. They are caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Symptoms include: thickened skin, pain, tiny black, and dots. Treatment options include: oral medications, cryotherapy, acid treatments or surgery to remove the wart.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the cells of the skin and often leads to pigmentation. Melanoma can affect people of all ages groups. Most cases of melanoma are caused by too much exposure to UV rays from sun or tanning beds.
Patients at a greater risk for developing this cancer include: patients with fair skin skin and freckles, blond or red hair, blistering sunburns before the age of 18, or numerous moles. The ABCDEF’s of melanoma include: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving, Family History.
- Asymmetry
Melanoma is usually asymmetric, which means one half is different.
- Color
Shades of red, white, and blue along with black are irregular.
- Evolving
Changing moles warrant careful observation and possible biopsy.
- Border
Notching and irregularity are uncommon in benign lesions.
- Family
Family or personal history of skin cancer.
- Diameter
Lesions under 6mm in diameter are more likely to be benign.
To diagnose melanoma, our doctors will take a thorough history and examine the lesion. Biopsy of the suspicious lesion will be performed if needed. Early detection is critical with malignant melanoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed yearly in the US. Fair-skinned individuals with a history of chronic sun exposure are at greatest risk. Other risk factors include a history of basal cell carcinoma, smoking, exposure to indoor tanning beds, scar formation secondary to burns. Squamous cell carcinoma typically presents as reddish plaques or ulceration.
To learn more about foot and ankle conditions, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ patient education website,
FootHealthFacts.org
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