The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, states that 17.4 percent of adults and 41 percent of kids between the ages of seven and 17 swim at least six times a year. Swimming is fun, but it poses a plantar wart risk. Pools areas provide a hospitable environment for the virus that causes warts, so swimmers need to take precautions.
Definition
Plantar warts are skin growths on the soles of the feet. The Mayo Clinic explains that they often appear in areas that are subject to pressure, like the heels or balls of the feet. They look like little fleshy bumps or flat growths. They are either brown or gray and are often dotted with blood vessels that show up as tiny black dots. They are not dangerous, but they often hurt when the affected person stands or walks.
Cause
The human papilloma virus, or HPV, causes plantar warts. It enters the body through skin cracks in the feet. It can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected person, but Dr. Oliver Wong, a New York podiatrist, explains that transmission is often indirect. HPV infections are often picked up at swimming pools because the virus thrives in warm, moist places. It lives in the pool area, showers and locker rooms and infects people who walk barefoot in those areas.
Treatment
Plantar warts are treatable with over-the-counter acid and freeze treatments, but Dr. Zong warns that home treatment can damage surrounding skin. Doctors will treat plantar warts for people who prefer professional methods or who are unsuccessful with home treatment. Physicians use acid, freezing, creams, lasers or surgical removal.
Prevention
Dr. Zong states that swimmers can prevent plantar warts by protecting their feet against HPV in the pool and locker room areas. This means always wearing swim shoes, flip-flops or other waterproof footwear on the pool deck, while showering and when walking around by the lockers. Soap the feet and rinse them thoroughly when showering after a swimming session. Dry them completely before dressing after a swim and wear clean shoes and socks. Children who swim in school or at community pools should learn to follow these practices because they are just as susceptible as adults.
Considerations
Adults should watch for early signs of plantar wart development, and Dr. Zong recommends checking children's feet regularly because the growths are more easily treatable if they are detected early. Otherwise they can spread and multiply, making them harder to eradicate.
