Plantar Warts

What are plantar warts?

Plantar warts are fleshy growths that occur on the bottoms of the feet, causing pain and discomfort when walking or placing weight on the foot. Don’t worry, plantar warts are common, especially in children, and are not of any high concern, other than that they should be treated right away to stop the spread of them on your feet and to other people. Warts, something that the majority of people at some point encounter in their lifetime. Though they are not something people like to admit having, not seeking out the right treatment can continue discomfort and pain to those who have it, and can run the risk of easy transmission to those who don’t.  

Plantar Warts Nail & Skin Disorder  Treatments

Plantar warts are a type of wart that develops on the soles of your feet, at first they can be extremely annoying, but if not treated they can become very painful as they grow larger. Plantar warts are due to HPV (Human Papillomavirus). Usually, these warts are small in size, often said to be the size of a pencil eraser. These warts do not usually stick out like other warts  that appear in places like the hands, this is because of the pressure that the warts located on the feet endure while walking, as they are usually flattened.Though plantar warts can go away on their own, there is no specific time frame for recovery from them and they can last for a few years if untreated. That is why it is the ideal option to seek a doctor’s help so that you can remove the wart and continue back to your daily life pain-free and not risking infecting other people with it.  

If you notice a cluster of what seems to be warts on your feet, you may have contracted what is known to be plantar warts.Plantar warts are fleshy growths that occur on the bottoms of the feet, causing pain and discomfort when walking or placing weight on the foot. If you notice a cluster of what seems to be warts on your feet, you may have contracted what is known to be plantar warts. Plantar warts are fleshy growths that occur on the bottoms of the feet, causing pain and discomfort when walking or placing weight on the foot. Don’t worry, plantar warts are common, especially in children, and are not of any high concern, other than that they should be treated right away to stop the spread of them on your feet and to other people!

What causes warts?

Like all warts, plantar warts are caused by a virus that enters the foot through a small opening in the skin. The virus can be contracted by coming in contact with moist environments where it grows, like gym locker rooms, or by wearing shoes of a person who has plantar warts. Some people are more susceptible to warts than others, including those with compromised immune systems. Once the virus enters the foot, it establishes itself in the deeper tissues of the foot where it can be difficult to reach with topical preparations.

Plantar Wart Symptoms 

Usually, spotting plantar warts is not difficult; here are some of the most common symptoms of plantar warts:  

• Moderate pain during walking or standing in the area that is affected 
• A har, thick skin that appears over a specific area on the surface of your feet. This can often be mistaken for a callus.  
• A growth on the bottom of your foot, typically on the pads of your feet or at the base of your toes. 
• Clotted blood vessels mall black dots that appear as small black dots.  

How Can You Prevent Plantar Warts  

Preventing plantar warts may sound like a complicated process, but it actually is quite easy and usually depends on practicing good hygiene. Easy things you can do to prevent plantar warts consists of:  

• Wearing flip flops in public showers, pool areas, and locker rooms,  
• Keeping your feet dry as warts thrive in moist areas  
• Constantly washing and changing your socks every day 
• Avoid contact with others who have warts  
• Wash your feet regularly if you have have been walking barefoot in public spaces 
• If you have warts, avoid scratching them. If you do happen to touch warts on your body or those of others, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before coming into contact with other objects, surfaces, or people.  

How Are Plantar Warts Treated? 

Though plantar warts can be very uncomfortable and ugly, there are a few things you can try at home before going directly to the doctors. If you are a healthy individual, your immune system will take care of those warts given time, but it can often be a long process. If your wart is bothering you, you can try an over the counter remedy that works around half of the time available at your local pharmacy, before seeing your doctor at Global Podiatry.  

Plantar warts can be very stubborn, and many treatments touted as “cures” wind up proving ineffective, including treatments that use acid or “freezing” compounds as well as those that use “scraping” techniques. Although these treatments may appear to remove warts, they fail to reach the deep layers of tissue, allowing the virus to continue to grow so warts can recur months later. Today, one of the best ways to treat plantar warts is with laser energy. Lasers designed specifically to treat plantar warts use specific wavelengths of laser energy delivered at precise “dosages” to penetrate the skin without incisions, reaching the lower levels of tissue where warts are rooted and destroying the virus that causes warts. Once the virus has been destroyed, warts will not grow again unless the foot becomes reinfected.

Laser treatment is completed right in the office using a special type of laser called a Nd: YAG. Most warts can be treated in a single session, although more severe wart infections may require two sessions for complete eradication. Our laser can deliver the right kind of energy, across the perfect wavelength, at the right penetration, with the duration needed to destroy warts — usually in only one treatment. 

You should go see a Podiatrist for one of three things:  

1. If you notice that you are developing a wart and you want to get ahead of it before it starts causing any pain in your feet. Especially if you are doing daily activities where you are on your feet all day.  
2. Where the wart has become unbearable and is causing high amounts of pain and discomfort, resulting in a high negative impact on your life, restricting you from performing certain tasks like walking, running, standing, etc.  
3. If you have diabetes, poor blood circulation, or little feeling in your feet, signs of infection, or if you have a weakened immune system due to other medical problems. 

Treating Plantar Warts At Global Podiatry  

At Global Podiatry we take great pride in the time, support, and care we put into treating our patients with expert diagnosis, advanced treatment options, and professional, friendly support at every stage of overcoming any foot or ankle condition. If you are someone you love daily life is unsure about whether they qualify for medical treatment from a doctor at Global Podiatry regarding your plantar wart, contact us today and book your appointment with our professional team today. Contact us at https://globalpodiatry.com/contact-us/.