What is a Wart?

Warts are skin growths caused by a strain of the HPV virus that lives within the top layer of skin. Their appearance depends primarily on their location. Although they don’t spread easily, wart viruses can be passed to others by direct contact, or indirectly in such places as locker rooms, public showers and pools. They can also spread on the same individual by picking, scratching, etc.

Plantar Wart Overview

Plantar Warts are small warts, commonly on the bottom of your feet, that tend to grow in places where you put the most pressure, like your heel or ball of your foot. While they are classified as harmless, they can cause light to moderate pain, and might stunt your walk or cause other issues for your overall health. Because of your immune system, plantar warts commonly go away on their own in a matter of a couple of years. But, there are also several ways to manually remove a plantar wart if the pain becomes too much to bear.

Symptoms 

Plantar Warts are usually small, and grow deeper under the skin than the usual wart does. They may develop to become a rough, cauliflower shaped callus, and tenderness while walking is a common symptom of a plantar wart. Clotted blood cells that can look like black pinpoints in the foot are called petechiae*, and they can form on top of the wart. Plantar warts can grow near each other in clusters, which are called mosaic warts.

How Might You Get a Wart?

Plantar warts are transmitted through a virus known as HPV, or Human Papillomavirus. HPV thrives in damp or wet spaces, like public showers or swimming pools. When a human with an opening in the skin comes into contact with HPV, it is very possible that a plantar wart can develop right in that area.

Prevention

Ways to prevent getting plantar warts is simple- always protect your feet when in moist areas. Don’t walk around barefoot, and always make sure to put a bandage around any open wounds on the soles of your feet. Though, it is important to note that everyone’s immune system reacts differently to HPV. Some people are more susceptible to it, while others could be completely immune. Though, it is better to be safe than sorry, and protect your feet. Because plantar warts can stay with you for the rest of your life.

Are They Contagious?

Plantar warts are very contagious. Not only can you infect other people with HPV, but you can infect other areas of your body by touching yourself with a plantar wart. There are several ways to make sure that your wart cannot and will not spread- always wash your hands thoroughly after touching a wart. Neglecting to wash your hands can cause HPV to spread from your hands to some other body part. When showering, make sure to clean your feet very well, scrubbing around the heel and in between the toes. As long as you are very careful to clean yourself, the wart should not spread.

How Can They Affect Your Life?

Plantar warts can cause you to walk differently, depending on if you have pain or not. They can also be a detriment to your mental health, making you feel embarrassed of your wart, and wanting to hide your feet at all times, which could be harmful since wearing socks and shoes all the time can cause your feet to become more moist.

Treatment

Plantar warts are relatively harmless and may go away in a year or two. Though, it is not uncommon for people to want them to go away quicker. There are a few over the counter treatments available for plantar warts. At Crimson Footcare, we treat plantar warts conservatively and successfully using a topical solution containing cantharidin. (A blistering agent.) Because plantar warts live in the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), cantharidin blisters away the skin containing the wart. The skin blister may cause some discomfort but is well tolerated by children and adults. The treated skin area usually heals without any scarring.