Fish eye: causes, symptoms, and treatment & bull; hello healthy

Definition of a fish eye (clavus)

Fish eye (also called clavus) is a term to describe a skin disease in the form of hard lumps that commonly appear on the soles of the feet. They are usually small with a dot in the middle.

There are two types of fish eyes, namely those caused by viruses and friction. Fish eye caused by a virus is called plantar warts (plantar warts).

Reporting from the Foot Health Facts page, plantar warts divided into two as follows.

Solitary warts or single wartThis type of wart usually appears only one time but often gets bigger.
Mozaic warts or mosaic warts, consists of a group of small warts that grow close together and are more difficult to treat.

Meanwhile, the fish eye caused by friction and pressure is called corn.

The two conditions have a similar appearance. You can recognize it right away when you see what it looks like as a hard, rough, thickened lump on the leg.

Generally, the clavus is not a serious health problem, but the lump can cause discomfort or pain.

How common is a fish eye?

This type of skin disease is very common. Usually, the clavus affects children (ages 12-16 years). However, this condition can affect anyone in any age range, even in babies.

Fish eye is very preventable and controlled. The trick, of course, is to avoid various factors that can increase the risk. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Fish eye signs and symptoms

The various features of the appearance of this condition include:

the growth of a small lump, fleshy, and rough,
hard, thickened skin (callus) that forms on the skin, where the fish's eye has ingrown,
Black spots are usually called seed warts, but are actually clots of blood vessels, as well
a hard lump that is rough and raised.

Usually, the type clavus plantar warts appears on the heel and other support areas of the foot. Because of its location, this condition can cause pain when you stand or walk.

While the clavus corn usually appears on areas of the foot that do not hold weight such as the tops, sides, or between the toes. Lumps of this type will usually be painful when pressed.

There may be some signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor for fish eyes?

You should contact your doctor if you experience one or more of the following symptoms.

The lump is painful and changes color or looks like it is inflamed.
Bloody lumps.
The number actually increases even though it is treated.
It doesn't go away in more than three weeks even while being treated.
The part of the leg that experiences the clavus is numb.

Cause of the fish eye

What causes fish eyes?

The cause of the fish eye is divided into two, namely as follows.

Human papillomavirus

Plantar warts caused by a viral infection called Human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus attacks the body through:

open wounds on the body,
warm, humid environments, such as on the bathroom floor,
pool level floors, as well
alternating socks and shoes with an infected person.

You can also catch the 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.

In general, it is difficult to know when or where you have been exposed to the virus. The reason is, the incubation period for HPV (starting from entry to the appearance of symptoms) can be up to three months. What's more, the warts themselves can lie dormant for years.

There are more than 60 types of HPV. Technically, warts can appear anywhere on the skin. This condition caused by HPV also goes by a variety of names, such as common warts, flat warts, filiform warts, and periungual warts.

Among all these names, it is only the warts that appear on the heels of the soles of the feet which are referred to as fish eyes.

Pressure and friction

Fish eye can also be caused by pressure and friction. This condition is usually referred to by a term corn. Usually this condition arises due to repeated pressure and friction.

Wearing the wrong shoes, such as an ill-fitting size can put pressure on the feet, causing friction. If allowed to continue, fish eyes can appear.

Meanwhile, footwear that is too loose also causes the feet to frequently shift and rub against shoes. As a result, fish eyes can appear and develop on the feet.

That is why it is important that you wear shoes of the right size.

Fish eye risk factors

Fisheye caused by HPV are usually more at risk of:

children and adolescents,
people with a weak immune system,
nail biting habit,
people who have had an organ transplant,
people who have been exposed to fish eye before, or
walk barefoot with cracked feet in both public bathrooms and gym locker rooms.

Meanwhile, eyelets caused by pressure or friction are at increased risk if you:

wearing shoes that are too tight or high heels,
wearing shoes that are too loose,
an unsuitable sock,
don't wear socks,
often walk barefoot,
have deformities in the shape of the feet or toes,
perform repetitive movements such as jogging or walking a certain way, and
old age, because the fat tissue in the skin is less so that the cushion on the feet is reduced.

Fish eye diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

Apart from doing a physical examination by observing the condition of your skin, your doctor can diagnose a fish eye in the following ways.

Checking the lump by external appearance.
Scrape the lump with a scalpel and check for signs of small dark spots (clots of small blood vessels).
Take a small portion of the lump (biopsy) and take it to the laboratory for analysis.

What are the medicines for fish eye (clavus)?

Most fish eyes will disappear without treatment, although it may take one to two years.

If the medication that you do yourself (or medicine at the shop) does not help, the doctor will provide several treatments for the fish eye as follows.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid works by removing layers of skin a little at a time over time. This medication can also stimulate your immune system's ability to fight off clavus.

Usually, treatment with salicylic acid can be done at home according to doctor's instructions.

Trichloroacetic acid

Apart from salicylic acid, another strong acid is used, namely trichloroaseic. Usually this type of acid will be given after the surface of the wart is removed.

Cryotherapy

This treatment is done by applying liquid nitrogen around the wart. After that, the dead tissue that has been given liquid nitrogen will exfoliate within a week or so.

Procedure cryotherapy must be done by a doctor. Usually treatment takes two to four weeks for the lump to disappear.

Minor surgery

The doctor will cut or destroy the lump using an electric needle (electrodesic and curettage).

This procedure will be painful. For this reason, the doctor will give you a local anesthetic first to numb that part of your body.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment pulsed-dye helps burn the clots of small blood vessels that are closed. The infected tissue eventually dies, and the wart falls off.

However, this method requires repeated treatments every three to four weeks. However, there is not enough evidence to show that this method is effective.

Immune therapy

This method is done by using drugs that stimulate the immune system to fight the virus.

Generally, the doctor will inject a lump with an antigen or apply a solution and cream to the affected area of the skin.

HPV Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one treatment that is usually recommended. However, still follow the doctor's advice about which treatment is most right for you.

If you have diabetes, consult a podiatrist (foot surgeon) when this problem first arises and shows symptoms in the feet.

Home remedies

What can I do to treat fish eye at home?

Here are lifestyle changes and the following home remedies to help you deal with fish eye.

Maintain clean feet

This condition can be caused by the HPV virus. This virus can thrive in humid areas. Therefore, keep your feet healthy and clean.

Do this especially after swimming in public pools or bathing in gyms. Wash your feet with soap and running water after outdoor activities.

Using footwear

Walking barefoot can increase your risk of chapped feet and fish eye contact.

Therefore, try to always use sandals, shoes, or other footwear when especially in the pool, gym locker rooms, and other warm and humid places.

Routinely change shoes and socks

You must change your shoes and socks every day if you don't want to get this skin problem. Never use shoes or socks when it is damp.

Use socks and shoes that fit your size

It is important that you wear socks and shoes that fit properly, are not too small, or oversized. As previously explained, excessive friction and pressure can be one of the causes of fish eyes.

Don't swap shoes and socks

Socks and shoes are personal items that should not be shared. The reason is, exchanging socks and shoes, especially used ones, increases your risk of developing this skin problem.

Shoes and socks can carry viruses including HPV. The reason is, it is possible that the person you are borrowing from has the virus.

Don't squeeze the problem skin

Although sometimes the urge to hold and squeeze or peel off the part of the skin affected by the fish's eye appears, you should refrain.

Squeezing the clavus wouldn't have made it much better. In fact, this can make your condition worse. Don't try to get rid of the lump without a doctor's help.

Using additional padding

Additional shoe cushions can protect your feet from excessive friction and pressure. That way, your risk of getting a clavus is reduced.

Soak your feet

Soaking the feet has various benefits, especially for the part that is lazy. Soaking your feet in warm water will help soften any hard, rough surfaces.

This method sometimes helps the fish's eyes soften and release on their own if done regularly.