Plantar Warts
A painful WART on the sole of the foot that may appear alone or in clusters. Plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries; warts are generally raised and fleshier when they appear on the top of the foot or on the toes. Plantar warts are often gray or brown, although the color may vary, with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black, which are clotted bits of blood.
Cause
This type of wart thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in swimming pools and public showers. It is usually spread when people infected with the wart virus walk on communal shower floors, contaminating them with the papillomavirus. Plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also bleed, which can help to spread the virus.
Symptoms
When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot such as the heel or the ball, they can cause sharp, burning pain. Otherwise, they are generally painless.
Treatment
These warts can be very resistant to treatment and have a tendency to reoccur. Self-treatment is generally not advisable, since over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells. It takes an expert to destroy warts without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Self treatment with such medications especially should be avoided by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders.
It is far better to have a physician remove plantar warts by a simple surgical procedure, performed under local anesthetic. Lasers have become a common and effective treatment, using CO2 laser cautery performed under local anesthesia either in a podiatrist’s office or an outpatient surgery facility. The laser reduces post-treatment scarring and is a safe form for eliminating wart lesions.
Prevention
There are several ways to avoid getting plantar warts, including:
• Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches.
• Change shoes and socks daily.
• Keep feet clean and dry.
• Avoid direct contact with warts from other people or from other parts of the body.
Cause
This type of wart thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in swimming pools and public showers. It is usually spread when people infected with the wart virus walk on communal shower floors, contaminating them with the papillomavirus. Plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also bleed, which can help to spread the virus.
Symptoms
When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot such as the heel or the ball, they can cause sharp, burning pain. Otherwise, they are generally painless.
Treatment
These warts can be very resistant to treatment and have a tendency to reoccur. Self-treatment is generally not advisable, since over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells. It takes an expert to destroy warts without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Self treatment with such medications especially should be avoided by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders.
It is far better to have a physician remove plantar warts by a simple surgical procedure, performed under local anesthetic. Lasers have become a common and effective treatment, using CO2 laser cautery performed under local anesthesia either in a podiatrist’s office or an outpatient surgery facility. The laser reduces post-treatment scarring and is a safe form for eliminating wart lesions.
Prevention
There are several ways to avoid getting plantar warts, including:
• Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches.
• Change shoes and socks daily.
• Keep feet clean and dry.
• Avoid direct contact with warts from other people or from other parts of the body.
