Content
Fisheye is a type of wart that can appear on the soles of your feet and is caused by the HPV virus, more specifically subtypes 1, 4 and 63. This type of wart is very similar to a callus and, therefore, can hinder walking due to the presence of pain when stepping.
Another lesion similar to the fisheye is the plantar carnation, however, in the carnation there are no black dots in the middle of the 'callus' and when pressing the lesion laterally, only the fisheye causes pain, whereas the plantar carnation only it hurts when it is pressed vertically.
Although HPV is related to the appearance of some types of cancer, fisheye is not cancer and can be treated with pharmacy lotions that remove the outermost layer of the skin. Ideally, you should always consult a dermatologist or podiatrist to find the best treatment option.
Fisheye photos
Main signs and symptoms
The fisheye is characterized by the appearance of a mole on the sole of the foot with the following characteristics:
- Small elevation in the skin;
- Rounded lesion;
- Yellowish color with several black dots in the middle.
These warts may be unique or the person may have several warts spread over the soles of the feet, causing pain and discomfort when walking.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for fisheye is usually guided by a dermatologist or podiatrist and tends to be initiated with the use of topical lotions, based on salicylic acid, nitric acid or trichloroacetic acid, to use at home once a day. This type of lotion promotes a gentle chemical exfoliation of the skin, slowly removing the most superficial layer, until completely eliminating the wart.
If the wart is in a more advanced stage, reaching deeper regions of the skin, it may be necessary to resort to minor surgery in the dermatologist's office.
See more details on how the fish eye treatment is done and how to treat it at home.
How to catch a fisheye
The fisheye appears when some subtypes of the HPV virus can penetrate the skin of the feet, through small cuts, either by wounds or dry skin, for example.
Although the HPV virus that causes fisheye to appear is not easily transmitted from one person to another, it is common for it to come into contact with the skin when walking barefoot in humid public places, such as bathrooms or swimming pools, for example.
The wart caused by the virus can appear on anyone, but it is more common in situations where the immune system is weakened, as in children, the elderly or people who have some type of autoimmune disease.