Plantar warts are warts that are only found on the feet, hence the term “plantar”, which means “relating to the foot.” For the most part, plantar warts are non-malignant, but they can cause some pain, discomfort, and are often unsightly, so removing them is often the first step taken. The best way to avoid developing plantar warts is to avoid walking barefoot in public places, especially when you have open sores or cuts on your feet. It is also important to avoid direct contact with any other warts you might have or warts other people might have, as they are highly contagious.
What are Plantar Warts?
Plantar Warts are lesions that appear at the bottom of your foot. They are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and occur when this virus gets into open wounds on the feet. These lesions can quickly turn into bumps that make it uncomfortable to move around, especially if the wart is located on a weight-bearing surface like the heel or the ball of your foot. Since it is something that is not supposed to be there, and if not addressed will create more problems.
Could You Have Plantar Warts?
Podiatrists are easily able to diagnose plantar warts by scraping off a tiny bit of the rough skin in order to make tiny blood clots visible and show the inside of these warts. However, a biopsy can be done if the doctor is not able to diagnose them from simply looking at them.
Treatment for Plantar Warts
Thankfully podiatrists can recommend multiple treatment options for Plantar Warts. In the end, it all comes down to finding the best one that actively suits your requirements. Most cases will go away without treatment. But in case the warts are spreading or they are painful, you might actually need to treat them with over the counter medication.
Strong peeling medicine like salicylic acid can be a very good idea as it stimulates the immune system to fight the wart. Freezing medicine is a good option too since it allows you to form a blister around the wart and then the dead tissue can be removed. There are surgical or other procedures like vaccines, laser treatments, minor surgery, immunotherapy or other acids that might be able to help you as well. Make sure that you talk with a podiatrist before starting any treatment plans.
If you or someone you know is suffering from Plantar Warts, we recommend making an appointment with RESNIKOFF PODIATRY AND FOOT SURGERY CENTERS ADAM F. RESNIKOFF, DPM to see what your treatment options are!
