Bowie Foot & Ankle
Bowie Foot & Ankle
14999 Health Center Drive
Suite #112
Bowie, MD 20716
301-464-5900
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Do You Have Plantar Warts?
Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but technically, only those on the sole are properly called plantar warts.
Identification Problems
Most warts are harmless, even though they may be painful. They are often mistaken for corns or calluses. The wart, however, is a viral infection. It is wise to consult a podiatric physician when any suspicious growth or eruption is detected on the skin of the foot in order to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Source of the Virus
The plantar wart is often contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground where the virus is lurking. The causative virus thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in communal bathing facilities.
If left untreated, warts can grow and spread. Plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also bleed, another route for spreading.
When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot – the ball of the foot, or the heel, for example – they can be the source of sharp, burning pain. Pain occurs when weight is brought to bear directly on the wart, although pressure on the side of a wart can create equally intense pain.
Tips For Prevention
- Avoid walking barefoot.
- Change shoes and socks daily.
- Keep feet clean and dry.
- Avoid direct contact with warts.
- Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your skin.
- Visit your podiatric physician as part of your annual health checkup.
Self Treatment
Self-treatment is generally not advisable. Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells, and it takes an expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (warts) without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Those with diabetes or with cardiovascular or circulatory disorder should avoid self-treatment.
Professional Treatment
It is possible that your podiatric physician will prescribe and supervise your use of a wart-removal preparation. More likely, however, removal of warts by a simple surgical procedure, performed under local anesthetic, may be indicated.
Lasers have become a common, effective treatment. A procedure known as CO2 laser cautery is performed under local anesthesia in your podiatrist’s office surgical setting or an outpatient surgery facility. The laser reduces post-treatment scarring and is a safe form for eliminating wart lesions.