Plantar warts are popular warts that target the feet. At some point in their lives, most individuals will be affected by this condition. This condition is officially referred to as verrucae warts, is caused by the human papillomavirus.
The HPV responsible include types 1, 2, 4, 60, and 63. Plantar warts affect the area at the bottom of the feet. Places like swimming pools and locker room floors are a breeding ground for the virus.
Plantar warts thrive in warm and wet conditions, and the virus is easily transmitted via direct contact.
Symptoms
It can be a very painful experience having to deal with plantar warts. Pain or tenderness when pressure is applied on your foot while walking may be the first signs of the virus.
You can see a round flat spot on the skin with a depressed region in the centre when the wart has developed. The wart may turn yellow, or even have a black spot in the center of it with a crust.
Treatment
Sometimes, a plantar wart would go away on its own but treatment may be needed in other cases. The wart can be treated in different ways where an affected person would have to either see a medical doctor or adopt home treatment.
Some of the treatment options may include the following:
- Laser therapy: This can be used to burn off blood supply to the wart
- Salicylic acid cream: Affected persons can use this cream to burn off the plantar wart
- Curettage: This option involves cutting the wart directly
- Medication: Some medicines can be applied to dry out the wart
- Liquid nitrogen: This option is used to freeze off the wart
- Essential oils: Specific oils can also be used to treat the infection
The most popular treatment is liquid nitrogen and salicylic acid cream. Getting rid of the wart or warts completely requires both treatment option for many weeks.
Salicylic acid can be obtained over the counter and can be used at home. Users should follow the package instructions and expect the drug to be used for at least 12 weeks.
One research showed that plantar wart’s home treatment is just as effective as getting attended to by a doctor. 50% of salicylic acid was used for the self-treatment of plantar warts in this study. This is a higher salicylic acid concentration that is frequently used by podiatrists.
You will need to see a doctor if your wart is severe or resurfacing. For more efficient results, your doctor can combine different treatments, such as salicylic acid with cryotherapy.
Some research indicates that alternative remedies may help in the treatment of the virus. This may include the use of garlic and other natural ingredients.
This home remedy can be adopted by applying peeled garlic right on the wart site. For better results, users can cover the affected area with duct tape so that the garlic can seep in well.
Garlic essential oil can also be applied directly on the plantar wart. It has been proven that the use of garlic causes burns, particularly in children. Talking to the doctor before trying new therapies is still a safe idea.
Diagnosis
You can check in with your doctor if you believe that you have plantar warts. How far the wart has expanded under the skin may be difficult to determine. If the wart causes you discomfort or spreads to another place, you should probably see your doctor.
Your doctor would discuss treatment options with you depending on how severe the condition is. For example, if the wart is reoccurring, your doctor can choose another combination therapy to guarantee its removal.
Recovery
The majority of plantar wart procedures take at least several weeks. When treating a wart, the most significant thing to note is continuity. Plantar warts can be stubborn to eliminate, and they may start to come back, so it is best to carefully observe the treatment plan.
Cryotherapy involves typically two or three visits to the hospital when using liquid nitrogen therapy. Positive results may be noticed in one to three procedures when using laser therapy.
The cost of treating plantar warts should also be considered. Home treatment with the use of salicylic acid costs around $5, while laser treatment may cost you a couple of hundreds.
If you had your wart removed you’d want to avoid walking for a few days. Keep a bandage covering the area, and avoid putting pressure on the site you are nursing.
Prevention
The following tips should be considered when trying to prevent plantar warts:
- Ensure to always cover your feet in open community spaces, such as locker rooms, swimming pools, or dormitories.
- Change your shoes and socks regularly if you have a wart.
- Although further testing is required, it helps to ask your doctor for HPV vaccines that can be taken to prevent plantar warts.
- Develop the habit of covering the wart and wash your hands regularly to prevent spreading warts to other individuals.
Outlook
The occurrence of plantar warts is widespread but is fortunately treatable. There are no particular effective therapies for the condition, but you may be able to control them at home. Notwithstanding, a doctor’s appointment would be required if the condition is more serious.
