Ojo de pescado (in the pie): what is it, symptoms and how to get rid of it

The fish eye is a type of wart that can appear on the plant of los pies and that is caused by the infection of the virus of the HPV, being able to cause symptoms such as pain when stepping or hinchazón in the suela del pie. Although it is similar to a callo, this plantar wart can grow and appear in other parts of the foot.

It is important to cover the fish eye and keep the pie clean and dry. In addition, it is also advisable to avoid sharing shoes, measures or towels, as well as walking barefoot in the bathhouses to avoid transmission.

Generally, the eye of the pitch disappears by itself after about 2 years, but when it causes discomfort, the wart is large or appears after an injury, treatment may be indicated, which may involve the use of acids or cryotherapy . For this reason, the fish eye should be evaluated by a dermatologist, in order to indicate the most appropriate treatment, if necessary.

fish eye pictures

main symptoms

The main symptoms of fish eyes are:

• Small elevation or wart in the foot;
• Skin thickening where the lesion is found;
• Sensation of having a piedra or a hinchazón in the suela del pie;
• Pain in the foot with the affected foot;
• Yellowish or gray color of the skin on the wart;
• Small black spots in the middle of the wart;
• Growth of the wart or the emergence of others in the pie.

In addition, when symptoms such as intense pain or swelling occur, they may indicate greater seriousness and, on rare occasions, cancer. Therefore, if you suspect that you may have an eye of pitch, it is important to consult a dermatologist to carry out an evaluation and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

How is the treatment performed?

The treatment for fish eyes is recommended by a dermatologist and consists of the use of topical salicylic acid-based lotions or cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen. However, there are other treatments, such as the performance of a surgery for its extirpation or the use of a laser to destroy it, these are less indicated by the doctor.

When the application of salicylic acid is indicated, it may be necessary to apply it daily for a few months, in addition to removing the wart with frequency, according to the orientation of the doctor. The use of this acid promotes a gentle chemical exfoliation of the skin, slowly eliminating the most superficial layer, until completely eliminating the wart.

However, as the fish’s eye disappears around 2 years without taking any specific measure, the doctor may recommend following up the soil injury during this period. See more details on how the fish eye treatment is carried out.

For what the suele treatment is more indicated when the fish eye causes discomfort or pain in the region, when the warts are big or numerous or when the person has immunity problems.

What causes it and how is it contagious?

The fish eye is caused by the HPV, which generally invades the skin through microtraumas that can occur by touching the surface of the skin, stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes, which are the cells that revitalize the skin and cause its emergence from the wart.

In addition, people who have immunity problems, as is the case of those who suffer from HIV or who are undergoing chemotherapy, have a greater risk of developing the fish after an infection by HPV.

The fish eye on the pie can be transmitted through the contact with the VPH, which can occur by:

• Walking barefoot on contaminated surfacesas is the case of los spas de los gimnasios or swimming pools;
• Use used calcetines or shoes by people with warts en los pies;
• share towels with persons infected with HPV;
• Use of sports equipment the contaminated del gym.

The HPV can survive for months on the surfaces and while the fish eye can take a while to appear, after having invaded the skin, the virus is released through normal skin peeling. For this reason, the fish can be presented in other parts of the pie or even transmitted to other people.