Plantar Warts on Feet

Sometimes painful and ugly, plantar warts on feet can appear as small lesions on the sole of the foot, and occasionally the toes. In their early stages they appear as small black puncture marks, but as they grow they turn brown and take on a cauliflower-like appearance. A black spot may develop in the middle, which is caused by bleeding. Plantar warts are pushed deep into the skin by the weight of your body as you walk, which is why they can hurt a lot.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) strains that are most often the cause of plantar warts are type 1 & 2 HPV. These strains are contagious and are spread from person to person via direct contact with the virus. The HPV that causes plantar warts thrive in warm, moist environments such as shower rooms and summer pool decks.

Sometimes a group of small plantar warts develop in one spot on the foot. The smaller plantar warts then form a plaque-like covering. These warts are called mosaic warts because of the mosaic look of the plaques.

Symptoms:
Unless feet are checked regularly, the first time a person is aware of a plantar warts is pain when walking. Then on checked their soles they may notice an unusual rough crusty lump that feels tender and sore. Plantar warts are sometimes mistaken for corns or calluses but there are several differences to look out for when trying to determine if you have a plantar wart or something else. Plantar warts have one or more black pinpoints within the growth. These pinpoints are actually clotted blood vessels. Calluses are smooth and clear. Plantar warts also have well defined boundaries and rough surfaces whereas calluses are less defined around the edges and have much smoother surfaces.

Causes
These uncomfortable growths are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which thrives on warm, moist surfaces such as those found in swimming pools, locker rooms, and bathrooms. It is a highly contagious pathogen and can survive for several months without a human host. The only way to catch HPV is by direct contact, and the viral route into you is through cuts, abrasions, and other skin breaks on your feet. If an infected person walks barefoot on a floor, virus particles may be released which you could catch by walking across the same surface. It’s also possible to become infected by using a towel of a person with plantar warts.

Treatments
If you have plantar warts there is absolutely nothing to be worried about, even though they can be painful. They are benign non-cancerous growths and there is a range of treatments on offer to eradicate them.

They present a tough challenge to the medical profession as evidence shows that there is no single therapy that is capable of bringing about complete remission from plantar warts in every patient.

Plantar warts can be eradicated by salicylic acid which is available from drug stores. Applied daily to the troubled area, the solution breaks down viral cells and can lead to wart removal in about four weeks.

Cryotherapy is another treatment available to eradicate plantar warts. This treatment destroys the wart by freezing it with liquid nitrogen.

If you have plantar warts or need advice on any problems regarding your feet, call Mint Foot Care, a Wynnum podiatry clinic also servicing surrounding areas Capalaba, Manly and Tingalpa today on 1300 975 980 and book an appointment to see one of our podiatrist’s. Our podiatrist will examine your feet and choose the best method suitable for you.