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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, except on sandy beaches.
- Change shoes and socks daily.
- Keep feet clean and dry.
- Check children's feet periodically.
- 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
It is possible that your podiatric physician
will prescribe and supervise your use of a wart-removal prepa- ration.
More likely, however, removal of warts by a simple surgical procedure,
performed under local anesthetic, may be indicated.
Lasers have
become a common and effective treatment. A procedure known as CO2 laser
cautery is performed under local anesthesia either in your podiatrist’s
office surgical setting or an outpatient surgery facility. The laser
reduces post-treatment scarring and is a safe form for eliminating wart
lesions.
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