Overview
Plantar warts are small, rough growths that appear on the feet, typically on the balls and heels. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) entering through small cuts or breaks on the bottom of the feet. Plantar warts are not a serious health concern and often go away without treatment, especially in children under 12. Common symptoms include a small, rough growth on the bottom of the foot, hard, thickened skin (callus) over a wart, and discomfort. The virus thrives in warm, moist places, so people are more likely to get plantar warts by walking barefoot in areas such as swimming pools or locker rooms. Anyone can develop plantar warts, but children, teenagers, people with weak immune systems, and those who have had plantar warts before are more likely to be affected.
Understanding the disease
Symptoms
Symptoms of plantar warts include a small, rough growth on the bottom of the foot, usually at the base of the toes or on the ball or heel. Plantar warts may also cause hard, thickened skin (callus) over the affected area, black pinpoints (wart seeds), a cluster of growths on the sole of the foot (mosaic warts), and a growth that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of the foot. Additionally, plantar warts can cause pain or tenderness when walking or standing. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's best to consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and treatment.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing plantar warts include:
- Children and teenagers
- People with weak immune systems
- People who have had plantar warts before
- People who walk barefoot in areas where a wart-causing virus is common, such as locker rooms and swimming pools.
Development
Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that enters through tiny cuts or breaks on the bottom of the feet. They usually appear on the balls and heels of the feet, the areas that bear the most pressure. In some cases, the pressure may cause a wart to grow inward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin (callus). Plantar warts can be painful and may cause discomfort while walking or standing. Most plantar warts aren't a serious health concern and often go away without treatment, especially in children under 12. However, if you have a weak immune system due to immune-suppressing drugs, HIV/AIDS, or other immune system disorders, it might take longer for the warts to go away.
Assessment and Diagnosis
Triage
You should see a doctor if the growth on your foot is bleeding, painful, changes in shape or color, or if it has not responded to self-care treatments and persists, multiplies, or recurs. Additionally, you should consult a doctor if the wart causes pain that interferes with your activities, you have diabetes or poor sensation in your feet, you have a weak immune system due to immune-suppressing drugs, HIV/AIDS, or other immune system disorders, or if you are unsure if the growth is a wart.
Diagnosis
A health care provider usually diagnoses a plantar wart by looking at it or cutting off the top layer with a scalpel and checking for dots, which are tiny clotted blood vessels. In some cases, a small section of the growth may be sent to a lab for testing.
Management and Treatment
Complications
Plantar warts can cause pain, which may lead to altered posture or gait. Over time, this change in how you stand, walk, or run can result in muscle or joint discomfort.
Prevention
Plantar warts can be prevented by following some simple measures:
- Avoid direct contact with warts: Wear shoes or socks when walking in public areas where warts may be present, such as locker rooms or swimming pools. Wash your hands after touching a wart.
- Keep your feet clean and dry: Regularly wash and dry your feet, particularly between the toes, to prevent sweat and moisture buildup that can attract the virus.
- Wear appropriate footwear: Wear shoes or sandals that cover your feet to protect them from direct contact with the virus. Avoid walking barefoot in public areas.
- Don't pick or scratch warts: Refrain from picking or scratching warts, as this can spread the virus to other areas of your skin or cause the wart to become infected.
- Use separate tools for warts: When using tools like emery boards, pumice stones, or nail clippers on your warts, ensure that you don't use them on your healthy skin and nails. Remember, while these measures can help prevent the spread of plantar warts, it is still possible to contract them through direct contact or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces.
Home Remedies
Home remedies for plantar warts include:
- Salicylic acid: Over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid can help remove the wart by breaking down the skin cells. Apply the acid to the wart with a toothpick or cotton swab and cover with a bandage for 48 hours, then remove the dead skin with a pumice stone or emery board.
- Duct tape: Cover the wart with duct tape for several days or weeks, removing and replacing the tape as needed. This may help to gradually remove the wart by causing the skin to shed.
- Apple cider vinegar: Soak the affected foot in warm water mixed with apple cider vinegar for 15-20 minutes daily. This may help to dry out the wart and eventually make it fall off.
- Tea tree oil: Dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil and apply it to the wart. Cover with a bandage and leave on overnight. Repeat for several nights.
- Garlic: Apply a piece of crushed garlic to the wart with a bandage overnight. The allicin in garlic may help to kill the virus.
- Castor oil: Apply castor oil to the wart and cover with a bandage. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil may help to remove the wart.
- Wart paint: Apply wart paint or liquid nitrogen to the wart. This may help to freeze and remove the wart. Remember that home remedies may not work for all warts and can take time to be effective. Consult a healthcare provider if the wart does not improve or if you have concerns.
Treatment
Treatment of plantar warts typically involves a combination of self-care and medical interventions. Some popular home remedies include using duct tape, salicylic acid, or cryotherapy (freezing the wart). However, if self-care approaches haven't helped, it is best to consult with a healthcare provider. They may recommend more aggressive treatments, such as minor surgery, cantharidin, immune therapy, laser treatment, or HPV vaccine. The choice of treatment depends on the severity, location, and the patient's general health. It is essential to protect the skin with shoes and socks to prevent the spread of the virus.