Plantar Warts Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, And Treatment

Plantar warts are a form of skin infection on the foot that causes small growths to appear in areas of the feet subject to the most significant pressure. It is not harmful but may cause pain or discomfort while moving. There are various options for treatment, including medications, home therapies, or other remedial measures.

What are plantar warts?

Causes of Plantar Warts

• Individuals who have compromised immune systems, which make it more difficult for the body to fight off the HPV virus,
• Walking barefoot in a locker room, public shower area, or swimming pool;

Transmission of the HPV virus

Symptoms of Plantar Warts

• A tiny, rough growth on the bottom of your foot, typically on the ball, heel, or base of your toes
• Where a wart has grown inward, the skin has hardened and become hard (callus).
• Wart seeds, which are tiny, clotted blood vessels, can be seen around the marks.
• The growth may be single or a collection of growths on the foot's sole (mosaic warts).
• A growth that obstructs the skin's natural ridges and lines on your foot.
• Pain or uneasiness while standing or walking.

Risk Factors for Plantar Warts

• Y ou are a child or teenager.
• You are affected by an autoimmune disease.
• Your immune system is weak.
• You are above the age of 65.

Diagnosis of Plantar Warts

Treatment of Plantar Warts

• Cryotherapy: In this process, the plantar wart is frozen and destroyed using extremely low temperatures. Your healthcare practitioner will use liquid nitrogen or argon gas to induce an intense cold.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy improves the defence systems of your body against HPV. Diphencyprone (DCP) is one of the topical chemicals used in this technique, which removes the wart through a mild allergic reaction.
• Laser treatment: This therapy destroys the tiny blood vessels inside the plantar wart, which stops the blood flow and eliminates the plantar wart.
• Electrocautery: The doctor will use an electric current to burn and remove the plantar wart.
• Topical medication : A liquid medication containing the chemical cantharidin is applied to cut the blood flow to the wart. Your healthcare provider will remove the dead plantar wart about a week later.
• Peeling Medicine : Salicylic acid-containing medicines can gradually eliminate a wart's layers. It also strengthens your immune system to combat the infection.
• Surgery: The surgical procedure involves cutting the wart using a sharp surgical knife (scalpel), removing it with tweezers, or scooping it out with a little scoop (curette).

Complications of Plantar Warts

Prevention of Plantar Warts

• Refrain from touching plantar warts on yourself or other people.
• After coming into contact with a plantar wart, thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.
• Ensure thoroughly wash your toes, feet, and spaces between your toes.
• Dry your feet, toenails, and spaces between your toes following a swim or shower.
• Do not share shoes, socks, towels, washcloths, nail clippers, or other personal items.
• Put on fresh, moisture-absorbing socks made of cotton or synthetic materials.
• Use wipes or sprays to sanitize your shoes.
• Protect your feet with sandals when using public showers, saunas, steam rooms, or locker rooms.
• Any emery boards, pumice stones, or abrasive material you use to scrape off dead skin from your warts should not be reused.