Plantar Warts, Symptoms and Treatment

Plantar warts are warts that develop on plantar surfaces -- that is, the soles (or bottom) of the feet. Normal standing and walking tends to force them into the skin, and the pressure causes pain to the affected area. Calluses formed by the body’s attempt to prevent spread of warts can also cause pain when walking.

Plantar warts are harmless and may go away even without treatment, but in many cases they are too painful to ignore. Plantar warts that grow together in a cluster are known as mosaic warts.

What Causes Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts, like all warts, are caused by a virus that invades the skin through tiny cuts or scrapes. The warts may not appear for weeks or months after the initial exposure. Like other viral infections, plantar warts are contagious, commonly spread in public swimming pools, communal showers, or even your shower at home. Epidemics of plantar warts sometimes break out among people who share gym or athletic facilities or who engage in group activities where bare feet are the rule, such as yoga and martial arts. Because most people build immunity to the virus with age, plantar warts are more common in children than in adults. They also are common in people who have weak immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS and taking corticosteroid or immunosuppressive medication.

What Are the Symptoms of Plantar Warts?

The symptoms of plantar warts include:

• Small, bumpy growths on the soles of the feet, sometimes with tiny black dots on the surface

• Pain in the soles of the feet when standing or walking

• The area becomes red, hot, painful, and tender after treatment; an infection may have set in.

• You are unsure whether you have a plantar wart or another condition, such as a corn, callus, mole, or skin lesion. Most such growths are harmless, but some can become problematic.

What Are the Treatments for Plantar Warts?

Deciding how to treat your plantar wart may depend on your ability to tolerate the pain of various treatments. Folk remedies for treating warts abound, and there is no single treatment that works every time. Softening of warts under prolonged duct tape occlusion is sometimes effective. Conventional treatment focuses on removal, while alternative approaches emphasize gradual remission. Whatever you do, do not try to cut off a plantar wart yourself because you may injure yourself and cuts in your skin allow the warts to spread.

Conventional Medicine for Plantar Warts

Your doctor may try applying topical solutions such as salicylic acid to eliminate the plantar warts. Such treatment may take several weeks to be effective. Burning, freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser therapy, and surgical removal, are more aggressive options for more severe conditions.

Your doctor will also likely give you detailed instructions about how to care for your feet at home. Remember that moisturizing your feet will help heal dry skin cracks that allow warts to enter the top layers of your skin.

Source: Webmd

RIVERA FOOT & ANKLE: At Orlando H.Rivera DPM, our priority is to deliver quality care to informed patients in a comfortable and convenient setting. When you have problems with your feet, you need to turn to a podiatrist who listens and responds… an experienced doctor who knows the field and can effectively diagnose and treat your needs… a friendly physician who counsels you on the best ways to maintain and improve your health. Our physician(s) meet all these criteria. Plus, you benefit from a dedicated team of trained professionals who give you the individualized attention you deserve.

Podiatrist in Houston

Foot and Ankle, Dr. Orlando Rivera, Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialist, Foot and Ankle Podiatry, Houston Foot & Ankle Surgical, Treatment of Foot and Ankle, Foot & ankle specialists, Podiatrist in houston, podiatrist in houston, Orlando H.Rivera DPM, Houston Foot Doctor, Foot and Ankle Surgeon Houston, Ankle and Foot Specialist Houston, Podiatrist Houston, Foot Pain Houston.