Plantar warts treatment
Plantar warts are, fortunately, not a serious condition, but they can be painful and annoying. They are small growths that appear on the soles of the feet, and they are caused by the Human Papillomavirus, the same virus family that causes genital warts. Because plantar warts often develop on or near the major pressure points of the foot, like the heel or the ball, they can cause pain when walking. This is the main reason to have them removed.
You get plantar warts by absorbing the Human Papillomavirus directly into any small cuts or cracks on your feet. Note that there are over a hundred different types of the Human Papillomavirus, and just because you have plantar warts does not mean you have genital warts or any other illness. The virus responsible for plantar warts is not contagious, but it can easily live in warm, wet areas like public showers or swimming pools. This is why it is advisable to avoid walking barefoot in any of these places. Of course, the virus can also be passed from person to person. If you scratch a plantar wart and then touch someone else, you may spread the virus.
However, each person reacts differently to the virus. Some of them never develop plantar warts. Those in the same family may even react differently. Because of this, sharing a shower with others may not necessarily mean that you’ll give them plantar warts or that you will become infected.
Symptoms of plantar warts include the appearance of small, grainy bumps on the bottoms of your feet. These warts may also appear as flat, hard growths, gray or brownish lumps, or bumps that appear on the lines of your feet. You may also experience pain when walking. While home treatment should clear up any plantar wart infection, you should see a doctor if the warts change color, become very painful, do not respond to home treatment, or if you have any circulatory disorder or diabetes. If you aren’t certain if the bumps on your feet are plantar warts, go to a professional for a diagnosis. Other diseases, including some cancers, can also appear as lumps on your feet.
There aren’t many risk factors associated with plantar warts. However, you are more likely to contract the virus if you have any small cuts on your feet or if the skin on your feet is cracked and dry. If you have a weak immune system, you may also be at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Some people also seem to be more susceptible to contracting warts, and doctors haven’t determined exactly why. Teens and children tend to be more likely to contract plantar warts as well.
It can be difficult to get rid of plantar warts. The virus can actually get into the skin of your foot very quickly, and this can lead to new warts growing as you treat the old ones. The best method to treating plantar warts is to apply the treatment as soon as you see a wart forming. Over time, if untreated, plantar warts can spread. They will form clusters known as mosaic warts, and these clusters can make walking extremely painful.
Dealing with plantar warts isn’t difficult; in fact, you don’t have to treat them at all, but you should to avoid the chance that they will spread. There are home treatments that use salicylic acid to destroy the warts. Generally, this is all that is required, but for persistent warts, you may need to see a doctor. They have access to treatments like freezing the warts, burning them off with a laser, or even performing minor surgery to cut the warts off.
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