Plantar warts are benign skin growths that grow on the bottom of the foot. They are named plantar warts because they occur on the sole of the foot, which is called the plantar surface. Plantar warts often affect pressure points of the feet, such as the heel, ball of the foot and toe pads. Plantar warts are not harmful, but can be quite painful, particularly while walking or running. Plantar warts occur more often in children and young adults.
Appearance
Plantar warts appear as slightly raised round or oval patches on the sole of the foot. They have a rough texture on top, and the skin over the plantar wart may appear lighter or darker than the surrounding skin, according to MedlinePlus. Plantar warts may be mistaken for a corn or callous initially, because they are flatter than other skin warts.
Causes
Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus, or HPV, and there are more than 100 types of HPV, notes MayoClinic.com. A plantar wart infection is picked up via direct contact with the virus through a small crack or cut in the skin. The virus can also spread from one person to another, and to other areas of the feet through touching and scratching. The virus thrives in warm, moist areas, such as public showers and swimming pools. Because everyone's immune system is different, not everyone who comes in contact with this virus will develop a plantar wart.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a plantar wart include the appearance of a small, bumpy growth on the bottom of the foot. It typically has a rough surface with well-defined borders. The warts may contain tiny black pinpoints, which are closed-off blood vessels. There can be pain while walking or when putting pressure on the spot where the wart grows, particularly with larger warts.
Diagnosis
In most cases, plantar warts can be diagnosed by a podiatrist simply by examination of the foot. The podiatrist may shave the plantar wart down to see if there is any pinpoint bleeding from the blood vessels. If there is still a question about whether the growth is wart, a portion of the wart can be removed for biopsy.
Treatment and Prevention
Plantar warts often go away without treatment. If the plantar warts are painful, there are several types of treatments that are effective. However, treating plantar warts can take at least six weeks and there is only a 50 to 75 percent cure rate, according to podiatrist Harvey Lemont, writing in "Podiatry Today." Home treatments include over-the-counter salicylic acid preparations and duct tape, notes MayoClinic.com. If home treatment fails, other options include freezing with liquid nitrogen, in-office surgical removal, laser surgery, prescription medication and immunotherapy.
Prevention of plantar warts centers on keeping the feet clean and dry, wearing flip-flop or sandals in community pools and showers, using a different nail file to file down the wart and washing the hands after touching the wart.
