Information From The American
Podiatric Medical Association
What are plantar
warts?
Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions
of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which
generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions.
They can appear anywhere on the skin, but, technically, only those on
the sole are properly called plantar warts.
Children, especially teenagers, tend to
be more susceptible to warts than adults; some people seem to be immune.
Identification Problems
Most warts are harmless, even though they
may be painful. They are often mistaken for corns or calluses—which
are layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being
continuously irritated. The wart, however, is a viral infection.
It is also possible for a variety of more
serious lesions to appear on the foot, including malignant lesions such
as carcinomas and melanomas. Although rare, these conditions can sometimes
be misidentified as a wart. It is wise to consult a podiatric physician
when any suspicious growth or eruption is detected on the skin of the
foot in order to ensure a correct diagnosis.
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 (but the color may vary),
with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black. It is
important to note that warts can be very resistant to treatment and
have a tendency to reoccur.
Source of the Virus
The plantar wart is often contracted by
walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground where the virus
is lurking. The causative virus thrives in warm, moist environments,
making infection a common occurrence in communal bathing facilities.
If left untreated, warts can grow to an
inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several
warts; these are often called mosaic warts. Like any other infectious
lesion, plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by
contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also bleed, another
route for spreading.
Occasionally, warts can spontaneously disappear
after a short time, and, just as frequently, they can recur in the same
location.
When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing
areas of the foot—the ball of the foot, or the heel, for example—they
can be the source of sharp, burning pain. Pain occurs when weight is
brought to bear directly on the wart, although pressure on the side
of a wart can create equally intense pain.
Tips for Prevention
-
Avoid walking barefoot in shared
bathrooms or public areas, except on sandy beaches.
-
Change shoes and socks daily.
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Keep feet clean and dry.
-
Check children's feet periodically.
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Avoid direct contact with warts—from
other persons or from other parts of the body.
-
Do not ignore growths on, or changes
in, your skin.
-
Visit your podiatric physician as
part of your annual health checkup.
Self Treatment
Self treatment is generally not advisable.
Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy
skin cells, and it takes an expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (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. Never use them
in the presence of an active infection.
Professional Treatment
Your podiatric physician may treat the
wart with topical medications applied to the affected area and protected
with a bandage. This is done on a weekly basis until the infection is
resolved. Another treatment is removal of the wart by a simple surgical
procedure, performed under local anesthetic.