Plantar Warts - Everything You Need to Know

Warts can occur on any part of the body and can be painful and embarrassing, but they are usually harmless. When they appear on the bottom of the foot, they are called plantar warts. They appear as fleshy bumps that resemble a corn or callus. A podiatrist will be able to provide you with plantar wart treatment options.

Causes of Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus affecting the outer layer of skin on the soles of your feet. The infection happens when a small cut or break in the skin of the foot comes in contact with an infected surface. The virus enters through the skin opening causing the infection that leads to the plantar wart.

Symptoms

•          Fleshy, hard bump on foot
•          Painful, rough, raised bump on foot
•          Feeling of having something stuck in your shoe
•          Rough callus on sole
•          Small lesions under the foot
•          Rash on foot

Treatment Options for Plantar Warts

Plantar warts may go away with OTC treatments like creams, ointments and oral medication. But if they don’t work and if the person has co-morbidities like diabetes or auto immune diseases, the help of a podiatrist should be sought.

A podiatrist will not only help with a proper treatment plan but can also help in removing very hard and infected warts using non-invasive plantar wart treatment options, like:

•        Electrocautery – Here, an electric needle is used to remove the wart surgically.
•      Cryotherapy - Liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart, causing a blister to form that causes the deadened skin to slough away.
•         Salicylic Acid – This is a strong topical medication.

Also Read: Warts: An Overview

Tips to Prevent Plantar Warts

·         Wear footwear when using communal places like public swimming pools, clubs, sports locker rooms, etc.

•          Avoid sharing footwear.
•          Avoid touching warts as you can inadvertently cause the infection to spread.
•          If you do touch the wart, wash hands immediately afterward.
•          Keep feet clean and dry.
•          Change socks regularly.

If you have a severe case of plantar warts and need plantar wart removal, a podiatrist will be able to help.