Plantar warts are tiny lesions that normally show up on the heels or other weight-bearing spots of your feet. This pressure may also cause plantar warts to grow inward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin (callus). Plantar warts are caused by a specific strain of HPV. The virus is contracted through tiny scratches, breaks or other frail places on the underside of your feet.
Symptoms:
- A tiny and coarse growth on the underside of the foot, commonly located on the lower portion of the toes and forefoot or the heel
- An area of rigid, tough skin where a wart has developed inward
- Very small black specs on the feet which are actually clotted blood vessels
- A growth that disturbs the regular lines and crests in the skin of the feet
- Discomfort or soreness if walking or standing
Treatment
Treatments that a physician may administer might include freezing the wart off using liquid nitrogen, eradicating the wart using lasers or surgical excision, or administering medications in order to make your immune system stronger so it can eliminate the virus from your body.
Prevention
- Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts. Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.
- Avoid moisture and dirt on your feet. Wear a clean pair of socks everyday at minimum.
- Do not walk around without shoes on near pools and locker rooms.
- Do not pick at or scratch any warts you may already have as this can cause their spread.
- Do not try and self-treat your warts with excision– no matter where you read about it online. Not only can this cause the spread of warts, you may end up with scarring which could be permanent. However, over the counter wart treatment creams or kits can be used at home.