What are Plantar Warts?

 

Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but technically only those on the sole are properly called plantar warts.Children, especially teenagers, tend to be more susceptible to warts than adults; some people seem to be immune. Most warts are harmless, even though they may be painful. They are often mistaken for corns or callouses—which are layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated. The wart, however, is a viral infection.

 

Plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries; warts are generally raised and fleshier when they appear on the top of the foot or on the toes. Plantar warts are often gray or brown (but the color may vary), with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black. It is important to note that warts can be very resistant to treatment and have a tendency to reoccur.

 

There are two types of plantar warts:

• A solitary wart is a single wart. It often increases in size and may eventually multiply, forming additional “satellite”warts.

• Mosaic warts are a cluster of several small warts growing closely together in one area. Mosaic warts are more difficult to treat than solitary warts.

 

 

​Treatment

 

Your Podiatrist will prescribe and supervise your use of a wart-removal preparation. More likely, however, removal of warts by a simple surgical procedure (Curettage), performed under local anesthetic, may be indicated and is performed at Castle hill Podiatry. Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells, and it takes an expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (warts) without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Self treatment with such medications especially should be avoided by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders. Never use them in the presence of an active infection.