Plantar Warts
A wart, often called a plantar wart because it's found on the
bottom of the foot, is a lesion that resembles a callus. It
is caused by the human papillomavirus and is transmitted from moist
walking surfaces such as showers or swimming pools.
Signs and Sypmtoms
A wart feels like a lump under the foot and is only painful if
the lesion is squeezed or pinched from side to side or bear direct
weight on them. As you continue to walk on them they can
become larger and more painful as the thickened callus
tissue hardens.
Treatments
A plantar wart can often be diagnosed based on its
characteristic appearance alone. When your doctor trims the
hard callused tissue from the surface of the wart , a pattern of
small black dots that are actually the small blood vessels that
feed the wart can be seen. The best treatment is prevention
which can be accomplished by not walking barefooted in public areas
such as showers or changing rooms (wearing flip flops or sandals
helps), not sharing socks and shoes, and avoiding direct contact on
other body parts or on other people. Over the counter
salicylic acid can be used on small warts but this often takes a
long time and can be frustrating. Our podiatrist's have
stronger acids to apply and can prescribe oral medication
or stronger ointments. We can also remove the warts with a
spoon like instrument called a curette or with a laser.
Unfortunately warts have a high reoccurrence rate so quick
treatment to keep them from spreading and prevention are best.
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