Plantar Warts
A plantar wart is a wart occurring on the bottom of the foot
or toes. Their color is typically
similar to that of the skin, however sometimes small black dots often occur on
the surface. They can be very painful to
walk on. They are often caused by human
papilloma virus (HPV).
The virus attacks through small cracks in the skin and often
warts are not present until many months after the initial insult. Because of the pressure on the sole of the
foot, the wart is pushed inward and a hard layer of skin can form on top of it. They are very common and more often children
are affected rather than adults.
Plantar Warts Symptoms and Anatomy
Plantar warts are often similar to calluses or corns, but
can be differentiated by close observation of skin striations. Feet are covered
in skin striae, which are akin to fingerprints of the feet. Skin striae go
around plantar warts; if the lesion is not a plantar wart, the striations
continue across the top layer of the skin. Plantar warts tend to be painful on
application of pressure from either side of the lesion rather than direct
pressure, unlike calluses (which tend to be painful on direct pressure
instead).
Plantar Warts Treatment Options
Treatment is only needed if it is causing symptoms. This may include medications, cryotherapy or
surgical removal. Before treatment, it
is important to remove the skin on top of the lesion. In about a third to two thirds of cases they
go away without specific treatment, however this may take a couple of years.
Medications used to treat these warts include salicylic acid, formic acid and immunotherapy. Alternately cryotherapy can be used to freeze off the wart from the skin. Finally, surgery is sometimes needed to remove the warts. The most common surgeries are electrodessication and surgical excision, laser surgery and cauterization.
Electrodessication makes use of an electrical current to dry
out the wart and its surrounding skin so it can be removed. This can result in local scarring of the
area.
Plantar Warts Prevention
HPV is spread by direct and indirect contact from an
infected host. Avoiding direct contact with infected surfaces such as communal
changing rooms and shower floors and benches, avoiding sharing of shoes and
socks and avoiding contact with warts on other parts of the body and on the
bodies of others may help reduce the spread of infection.
All warts are contagious, precautions should be taken to
avoid spreading them.
Plantar Warts Surgery
Laser surgery is typically a last resort treatment, that is
used for the most difficult warts.
Cauterization is effective as a prolonged treatment but can cause
keloiding and scarring.