Plantar Warts - Symptoms & Treatment

A plantar wart is a wart caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Plantar warts are benign, noncancerous growths that occur on the sole or plantar surface, heel, or ball of the foot. Small lesions are typically "cauliflower-esque" in appearance. Though "plantar wart" refers specifically to HPV infection on the sole of the foot, infection by the virus is possible anywhere on the body and common especially on the palm of the hand. Pressure from standing and walking often causes them to grow into deep layers of the skin. The human papilloma virus causes several different types of warts, which are the most common type of skin infection. In some cases, the HPV virus dies within 1 or 2 years, and warts simply disappear. Podiatrists may recommend having plantar warts removed because they often are irritating and painful. Plantar warts usually are rough and spongy, and most are gray or brown with dark pinpoints (tiny capillaries that supply blood to the wart). Scraping a wart may cause it to bleed. A plantar wart is similar in structure to an iceberg in that the part of the surface of the skin is only a small part of the entire anomaly. Often, the portion of the wart under the skin is at least twice as big as the part you can see. Plantar warts may cause pain on the bottom of the foot. Patients often feel a "lump" on the bottom of the foot when standing similar to having a stone in the shoe. In many cases, pressure from standing and walking prevents plantar warts from rising above the skin surface.

Causes of Plantar Warts

Find common causes and risk factors of Plantar Warts :

• HPV can enter the skin through cuts or scratches on the plantar area of the foot.
• Some people are more prone to warts than others.
• Exposing your feet to unsanitary surfaces
• Plantar warts are common. They may bleed if injured.
• The virus that causes plantar warts isn't highly contagious .
• Warts are caused by direct contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types of HPV tend to cause warts on your hands, fingers or near your fingernails.

Signs and Symptoms of Plantar Warts

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Abnormally dark or light skin surrounding the lesion.
• Small, hard, flat or raised skin lesion or lump.
• Rough growths around or under fingernails or toenails.
• Numerous small, smooth, flat (pinhead sized) lesions on forehead, cheeks, arms, or legs .

Treatment for Plantar Warts

Treatment may include :

• Laser treatments (e.g., CO2 laser cautery) can be used to treat plantar warts.
• Cryotherapy involves freezing warts with a very cold solution, that destroys the virus.
• Duct tape occlusion therapy.
• Self-treatment for plantar warts using an over-the-counter preparation is not recommended.