Plantar warts are a common skin condition that affects the feet. They are usually harmless, but they can be painful and unsightly. Plantar warts are caused by an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which enters through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin. Here are some ways to prevent and treat plantar warts, including their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
There are certain strains of HPV that cause plantar warts, which are different from those that cause genital warts and cervical cancer. HPV is a very common virus that can infect anyone, but some people are more susceptible than others. If you:
Are a child or teenager.
Have a weak immune system due to a disease or medication.
Have frequent exposure to moist and warm environments, such as swimming pools, locker rooms, or showers.
Walk barefoot on surfaces that may be contaminated with HPV, such as public floors or carpets.
Direct contact between people can spread HPV, as can sharing items such as shoes, socks, and towels that touch the skin. Despite the fact that not everyone who is infected with HPV develops plantar warts, your immune system plays a role in how your body responds to the virus. You can also get infected by touching a plantar wart to another part of your body.
Plantar warts usually appear on the bottom of the feet, especially on the heels, balls, or toes. They may look like:
Small, rough, flesh-colored bumps that may have a cauliflower-like surface.
Hard, thickened skin (callus) that covers a wart that has grown inward.
Black or brown dots (wart seeds) that are actually clotted blood vessels inside the wart.
A cluster of several warts (mosaic warts) that form a large patch.
If they are located on a pressure point, plantar warts may cause pain or discomfort when you walk or stand. If injured or scratched, they may bleed. Plantar warts do not usually cause any other symptoms, unless they become infected or inflamed.
A health care provider can usually diagnose plantar warts by examining your feet and looking at the appearance of the warts. Occasionally, they may need to remove the top layer of a wart or take a biopsy to perform further testing. In addition to plantar warts, corns, calluses, and skin cancer may appear similar, so this can help rule them out.
Plantar warts do not pose a serious health risk and may go away on their own without treatment, especially in children. However, it can take several months or years, and some warts may recur or spread. Therefore, you may want to treat your plantar warts to get rid of them faster, reduce pain, or improve your appearance. You have a choice of treatment options based on your wart size, number, and location, as well as your preference. These include:
There are many over-the-counter products that contain salicylic acid, which peels off the layers of a wart. Follow the instructions on the label to apply these products to the affected area as liquids, gels, pads, or patches. You may need to use them daily for several weeks or months. You should soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes before applying the product. File away any dead skin with an emery board or pumice stone. In addition to protecting the surrounding skin, petroleum jelly or bandages are also recommended. Although home remedies are usually safe and effective, some people may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions. If you notice signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pus, or fever, you should stop using them.
An application of cryotherapy involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen, which is a very cold substance. This causes the wart to blister and fall off over a period of days or weeks. It can be done at home with a special device or kit or by a health care provider in a clinic. It may take several attempts to remove the wart completely. If you have poor blood circulation or poor sensation in your feet, you may want to avoid cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is usually well-tolerated, but it may cause pain, blistering, scarring, or nerve damage in rare cases.
With laser therapy, a high-intensity beam of light is used to burn off the wart and the blood vessels that feed it. It usually takes one or more sessions to destroy a wart, depending on its size and depth. In a clinic, dermatologists or podiatrists can provide laser therapy. It is usually effective, but can cause pain, bleeding, infection, or scarring. It is more expensive and less available than other methods, as well as more costly.
A scalpel or sharp instrument is used to remove the wart in one session, but it can also leave a scar or wound that needs to heal. Under local anesthesia, a dermatologist or podiatrist can perform surgery in a clinic. Surgery is usually reserved for large, stubborn, or painful warts that do not respond to other treatments. The procedure can cause pain, bleeding, infection, or nerve damage.
The best way to prevent plantar warts is to avoid getting infected with HPV or spreading it to others. You can do this by:
Washing your feet regularly and keeping them dry.
Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well and do not cause friction or pressure on your feet.
Changing your socks daily and wearing clean ones.
Avoiding walking barefoot on public or shared surfaces, such as floors, carpets, showers, or pools.
Wearing flip-flops or sandals in communal areas, such as locker rooms or saunas.
Not sharing your shoes, socks, towels, or personal items with others.
Covering your warts with a bandage or a waterproof tape when swimming or bathing.
Not picking at or scratching your warts, as this can spread the virus or cause infection.
Boosting your immune system by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and managing stress.
Your health care provider can diagnose and treat plantar warts for you. They will help you choose the most effective treatment for your condition and monitor your progress. You should also follow the prevention tips above to avoid getting more warts or passing them on to others. Plantar warts are not a serious problem, but they can affect your quality of life. With proper care and attention, you can get rid of them and enjoy your feet again.
