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I. Definition: Plantar
warts are warts that occur on the sole of the foot and look like calluses. They tend to be hard, flat, have a rough surface,
and may form in clusters. They may have a
center that is speckled with pinpoints of black. (These
are capillary blood vessel endings.) Plantar
warts grow inward into the tissue due to the pressure placed on the wart when standing. While most warts are benign, plantar warts may
cause pain when walking. Plantar warts are uncommon in people age 40 and over.
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II. Cause:
Like
all warts, plantar warts are caused by a virus that enters and infects the body through
breaks in the skin. The virus thrives in
warm, moist environments, such as locker rooms, communal bathing facilities, or in your
shoes when your feet perspire. Plantar warts
can be spread by touching, scratching, or contact with skin shed from another wart.
III. Treatment and Prevention: Wart
viruses are everywhere, however precautions can be taken to lower the risk of developing
plantar warts and reduce the spread of the virus to other people and other parts of your
own body.
- Always
wear footwear in locker rooms, gyms, public showers, and around public swimming pools.
- Treat
existing warts quickly and thoroughly.
A number of techniques have proven successful in treating plantar warts.
- Keep
foot clean and use a pumice stone to soften the affected area.
- Salicylic
acid (available over the counter) applied repeatedly can soften the wart and expose the
virus. It is believed that methods using topical irritants may work by injuring the
wart, thereby allowing the body to recognize the virus and produce an antibody to fight
the virus.
- Plantar
warts can be removed with liquid nitrogen, injections of xylocaine with epinephrine, or
minor surgery. These techniques should only be performed by a trained professional.
While
most plantar warts can be treated by home techniques, you should seek advice from an
orthopaedic specialist or dermatologist if the wart changes color or gradually grows
larger over 6 months.
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