Plantar Warts
What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts, or warts on the bottom of the feet, are a common condition, especially among children. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), with types 1, 4, 57, 60, 63, 65, and 66 being the most commonly associated types in 2020 research.
HPV triggers excess keratin protein production on the skin, leading to wart formation. The virus thrives in warm, moist environments such as locker room floors and around swimming pools, where it can quickly spread through direct contact or skin openings. Pool tiles with water puddles are particularly high-risk areas for HPV transmission.
Symptoms of plantar warts
If you have a plantar wart, you may experience several common symptoms, including a small, rough, grainy lesion that grows on the sole, usually on the toes, the ball of the foot, or the heel region.
The lesion may have a solid border and black, dark spots. It can also have overlying hard skin with a yellowish appearance and may be painful when squeezed around the outside margins or when walking if it's on a weight-bearing area of the foot.
Additionally, the lesion may disrupt the normal skin lines and patterns on your foot, and there may be multiple lesions in the same location, known as a mosaic wart.
Cause of plantar warts
Plantar warts are highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact with someone with the virus or by sharing floors, shoes, and socks with an infected person. This means warts can quickly spread within families without proper care.
Once you contract the virus, it remains in your system for life, even if you are not experiencing any visible warts. Given the contagious nature of the virus, it's crucial to seek treatment for plantar warts as soon as possible.
While plantar warts can affect people of any age, they are more commonly seen in children. This is believed to be because their immune system has not yet matured.
Risk factors of plantar warts
Plantar warts can develop in anyone, but certain groups are more susceptible, including:
- Children and teenagers
- Individuals with weakened immune systems
- Individuals who have previously had plantar warts
- People who frequently walk barefoot in areas where the virus-causing warts are prevalent, such as locker rooms and swimming pools.
How to treat plantar warts?
There are various treatments that will be applicable for Warts. However, everyone is different. Therefore we will work with you to develop the most suitable treatment plan for you, to help you get out of pain.
How we can help:
- Sharps debridement of callus overlying the HPV tissue
- Salicylic acid
- Liquid nitrogen
Cryotherapy, which involves freezing the wart off.
