Identifying Plantar Warts
A plantar wart can sometimes be known as a Verruca and usually occur on the sole of the foot or the toes. They can often be painful because they are on a weight bearing area of the body and may feel as though you are standing on a small pebble.
This type of wart is very common and in similarity with other types of wart their shape and look can vary depending on the thickness of the skin. Generally a planter wart presents as a small lump, and have a rough surface with a horny collar.
However they can also simply be a localized thickening of the skin. They are usually gray or brown in colour and if you look really closely you may also observe black ‘seeds’ or dots inside. These dots are not actually seeds as some people believe but rather tiny blocked blood vessels.
Plantar warts can range from 1-10mm in size and in some cases several small ones can form and join together to create a mosaic wart.
Causes of Plantar Warts
In likeness to other types, warts on feet are caused by the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) of which there are around 100 different strains. However, there are only a few strains responsible for this type of wart. The virus thrives in warm, moist environments. To catch a plantar wart your skin needs to come into contact with virally infected skin cells. Common areas for these to be found are shower cubicles and tiled swimming pool flooring. Whilst this type of virus is not considered highly contagious, it remains unclear why some people are more susceptible to catching it than others. Cuts on your feet will certainly increase your likelihood of infection and in common with all warts you will also be more at risk if you have a weakened immune system.
Once you have been infected by the virus the top layer of your skin, called the epidermis, will harden and the benign skin growth or wart will start to form. Research has shown that children and teenagers are more likely to suffer from this type of wart although no one is certain why this is.
Wart or Corn?
Differentiating a plantars wart from a corn is not always an easy task and it may be necessary for a doctor to gradually file off layers of skin in an attempt to seek out the small black dots that will confirm conclusively that it is not a corn. Another useful gauge to check if your area of thickened skin is a corn is by observing whether the fine ridge lines on the soles of your feet have been interrupted. If they have then it’s likely to be a wart, if not then you are probably looking at a corn or callus.
Plantar Wart Treatment
As with most ailments prevention is better then cure. Wear flip flops when you visit areas of potential risk including swimming pools and locker rooms. This is particularly important if you have any cuts on your feet or if you have any medical conditions which lowers your immune levels. Keeping your feet clean and dry is important and changing your socks daily will also help reduce the risk of infection. Do not share towels or other personal items with anyone you know to be infected.
Should you already have a plantar wart then you need to act responsibly to avoid spreading them both you yourself and others. Always keep your feet covered with a band aid or sock when walking in communal areas or swimming. Do not pick or scratch at the infected area because this can result in the virus spreading to other parts of your body.
There are several methods for verruca or plantar wart removal including those offered by the doctor or over the counter remedies. Amoils Heal Warts is a natural remedy which can be used for the treatment of many different types of wart including plantar warts – to read more about amoils click here. When considering treatments it’s also worth noting that warts often disappear on their own although this can take years. Some wart treatments are harsher to the skin than others so it’s often best to start with the gentle ones and move on to the harder or chemical cures later if needed.
