Warts are caused by HPV, or human papilloma virus. This virus invades the skin through small cuts or cracks, causing the outer layer of skin cells to grow rapidly. Plantar warts grow on the bottom of the foot. Traditionally, plantar warts are treated with an over-the-counter salicylic acid preparation or if the wart is particularly resistant to treatment, in a podiatrist or dermatologist's office. There are some home remedies around that claim to take care of plantar warts and the use of vinegar is one such remedy.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are also called verrucae and the strain of virus that causes them is not cancerous. In fact, plantar warts are generally not harmful at all, but can become extremely painful if they occur on a part of the foot that is subject to pressure while walking or standing. Plantar warts can be picked up easily by walking barefoot in damp, humid areas such as public pools, locker rooms and showers. They typically appear as a flat plaque on the sole of the foot that feels rough to the touch. If not treated, plantar warts may spread across the foot via a series of smaller satellite lesions.
Treatment Considerations
In many instances, plantar warts can be treated right at home and there are a multitude of folk remedies that purport to cure them. One home remedy centers on the use of vinegar to treat plantar warts. MotherNature.com recommends that you first make sure that you definitely have a plantar wart before beginning any home treatment. Normal skin lines are absent across the wart and you will see small black dots, which are capillaries, showing throughout the wart. It is very easy to mistake a corn or callous for a plantar wart. If you have any doubt about whether you have plantar warts, get your doctor's advice.
Apple Cider Vinegar
The French refer to vinegar as "vin aigre," which means "sour wine" as vinegar originated from a cask of wine that been left too long, turning bad. Apple cider vinegar can be used medicinally to try to resolve a plantar wart. According to the Wart Information Center, the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar is effective in removing a plantar wart. They suggest applying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water applied directly to the wart. Be aware that plantar warts may take weeks to months to go away.
White Vinegar
It's also possible to use white vinegar to treat plantar warts. Nature's Treatment website explains you can use a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water to try to rid yourself of a plantar wart. You can soak your foot for 20 minutes daily in a foot-bath containing the solution or apply it directly to the plantar wart using a cotton ball for as long as it takes for the wart to disappear. The acetic acid in white vinegar is considered to be the agent responsible for killing the virus causing the plantar wart.
