Both common warts and plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, of which there are more than 100 types. However, symptoms of common warts usually manifest on the hands and are caused by a different strain of the virus than plantar warts, which are found on the feet. Human papillomavirus infects the body through small cuts or breaks in the skin. Plantar warts are noncancerous growths that often develop on pressure points on the feet, such as the ball of the foot, and can be painful. There are treatments available, but some warts are resistant to treatment and will need to be removed by a physician.
Human Papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus is prevalent in warm and moist places, such as locker rooms or public swimming pools. According to the Mayo Clinic, the virus is not highly contagious, but it can be spread from person to person, or within the same body part, such as from one part of an infected foot to another. Coming into contact with the virus does not guarantee that symptoms will develop because each individual's immune system reacts differently to viruses.
Symptoms
Plantar warts usually are located on the bottoms of the feet and can cause tenderness or pain when walking. They appear as gray or brown grainy bumps with a rough surface that interrupts the ridges on the feet. They are flat and have well-defined boundaries. Small and clotted blood vessels might leave a small black pinpoint on the wart.
Treatment Options
One of the problems with plantar warts is that the virus can be shed into the skin of the foot before it has been treated. If this happens, new warts might appear as old warts are being treated. Common treatment therapies include topical salicylic acid, which increases cell turnover rate, cryotherapy, which involves freezing and destroying the wart, and minor surgery to remove the warts. For harder to treat warts, or those that are treatment-resistant, medication that stimulates the immune system, such as the topical cream called Imiquimod or an injection of the chemical Interferon directly into the wart might be used.
Wait-and-See Therapy
Although it is possible to develop what is called mosaic warts if plantar warts are left untreated and allowed to enlarge and spread, this does not always happen. A study authored by Sjoerd C. Bruggink, M.D., published in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal," suggests that there were no differences in cure rates among patients with diagnosed plantar warts who underwent either self-applied salicylic acid, cryotherapy or used the "wait-and-see approach." A physician should be consulted if plantar warts are suspected.
References
- Mayoclinic.com: Common Warts: Symptoms
- Mayoclinic.com: Plantar Warts: Definition
- "Canadian Medical Association Journal"; Cryotherapy With Liquid Nitrogen Versus Topical Salicylic Acid Application For Cutaneous Warts in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Sjoerd C. Bruggink, M.D., Jacobijn Gussekloo, M.D., Ph.D., Marjolein Y. Berger, MD., Ph.D., Krista Zaaijer, M.D., Willem J.J. Assendelft, M.D., Ph.D., Margot W.M. de Waal, Ph.D., Jan Nico Bouwes Bavinck, M.D., Ph.D., Bart W. Koes, Ph.D., Just A.H. Eekhof, M.D., Ph.D.; September 13, 2010
