PLANTAR WARTS
A wart is an abnormal growth of the skin resulting from a localized viral infection. Warts in the foot can grow anywhere, but they typically develop on the sole (plantar surface) of the foot, hence, called plantar warts. Warts often go away without intervention, however, they sometimes can be painful and resistant to treatment.
Causes
Plantar warts are caused by localized skin infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), causing non-cancerous painful overgrowth of the skin. The virus is primarily transferred by skin-to-skin contact and can cause warts in other area of the body. Plantar warts also can be transferred through public shower and swimming pool if no protective footwear utilized.
Symptoms
Plantar wart symptoms may include:
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Thickening of the skin. In many cases plantar wart often mistaken by patients as a callus because of its tough, thick tissue.
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Pain. As plantar warts mostly grow on the sole of the foot that bear the body weight, it causes pain upon walking and standing.
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Tiny black dots. These black dots are dried blood within the tiny blood vessels. They results from the abnormal neoplastic growth of the infected skin. They may slowly grow larger and spread over time.
Diagnosis
Your physician will examine your foot and look for signs and symptoms of wart.
If the condition is resistant to treatment, further diagnostic evaluation with skin biopsy may be necessary in order to rule out other potential causes of abnormal skin growth.
Treatment
In many occasions, plantar warts clear up on their own, however, warts can be very painful and require intervention to cure the infected skin and relieve pain. The goal is to remove the wart.
There are many documented treatment options of treating warts that your physician may opt the proper one for your condition. Treatments vary from topical or oral treatments, laser therapy, cryotherapy (freezing), acid treatments, hyfrecation (burning) or surgery to remove the wart.
Regardless of the physician's treatment approaches, it is important that the patient follow with the home treatment instructions and medication that has been prescribed, as well as follow-up visits with the physician. Warts may recur, requiring further treatment.
There are many folk remedies for warts exist, however, patients should be aware that these remain unproven and may be dangerous. Patients should never try to remove warts themselves as it may cause more harm.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of plantar warts spread:
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Avoid direct contact with infected wart skin including your own warts. Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.
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Keep your feet clean and dry. Change your shoes and socks daily.
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Do not walk barefoot in public shower rooms, looker rooms or around swimming pools.
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Avoid picking or scratching warty lesions.
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Avoid using the same pumice stone on your warts as you use on your healthy skin.