A wart can be an embarrassing cosmetic flaw on your skin. Luckily, plantar warts are easy to cover since they grow on your feet. However, a lot of pressure is put on these warts due to walking and standing, so they can be painful and irritating.
Identification
A plantar wart grows on the sole, heal or ball of the foot. These warts are rough and sometimes resemble cauliflower. The color ranges from gray, brown and yellow with dark spots, according to Remedy Health Media. The dark spots, or black dots, are small clotted blood vessels, according to MayoClinic.com. A plantar wart can also feel like a rock is in your shoe.
Cause
Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Although there is a correlation with sexually transmitted HPV and cervical cancer, the strand of the virus that causes plantar warts is noncancerous. The virus is contagious and can be spread by direct contact, such as touching the wart or indirect contact, such as sharing a towel with an infected individual. The wart can also spread to other areas of the body.
Treatment
Most warts will disappear on their own within a few years, but treating them sooner reduces the risk of spreading the wart to another area of your body or to another person. Warts can often be treated at home with an over-the-counter wart removal product containing salicylic acid, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Treatment options used by a doctor are cantharidin, surgical excursion or freezing with liquid nitrogen. Cantharidin is a blister beetle extract that is mixed with chemicals, painted on the wart and then covered with a band aid, according to MayoClinic.com. Duct tape is often used as an at-home treatment. Studies show duct tape is ineffective; however, may people still swear by its effectiveness with wart removal.
Prevention
Prevent plantar warts by always wearing shoes in public places, especially bathrooms, swimming pools or showers. If you know someone in your household has a wart, avoid sharing bedding, shoes and towels with this person. Keep your feet clean and dry. If you notice any changes on your feet, speak to a doctor or podiatrist about any growths or other changes, according to Remedy Health Media.
Considerations
Sometimes the pressure from being on your feet prevents plantar warts from rising above the skin's surface, so you could have a wart without knowing it. Avoid picking or scratching the wart since this could cause bleeding and increases your risk of an infection.
