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Identification Problems
Most warts are harmless,
even though they may be painful. They are often mistaken
for corns or calluses—which are layers of dead skin that
build up to protect an area which is being continuously
irritated. The wart, however, is a viral infection.
It is also possible for a
variety of more serious lesions to appear on the foot,
including malignant lesions such as carcinomas and
melanomas. Although rare, these conditions can sometimes
be misidentified as a wart. 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.
Plantar warts tend to be
hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined
boundaries; warts are generally raised and fleshier when
they appear on the top of the foot or on the toes. Plantar
warts are often gray or brown (but the color may vary),
with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of
black. It is important to note that warts can be very
resistant to treatment and have a tendency to reoccur.
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 to an inch or more in circumference and can spread
into clusters of several warts; these are often called
mosaic warts. Like any other infectious lesion, 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.
Occasionally, warts can
spontaneously disappear after a short time, and, just as
frequently, they can recur in the same location.
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, except on sandy beaches.
- Change shoes and socks
daily.
- Keep feet clean and
dry.
- Check children's feet
periodically.
- Avoid direct contact
with warts—from other persons or from other parts of the
body.
- 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. Self treatment with such
medications especially should be avoided by people with
diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory
disorders. Never use them in the presence of an active
infection.
Professional Treatment
It is possible that your
podiatric physician will prescribe and supervise your use
of a wart-removal prepa- ration. More likely, however,
removal of warts by a simple surgical procedure, performed
under local anesthetic, may be indicated.
Lasers have become a common
and effective treatment. A procedure known as CO2 laser
cautery is performed under local anesthesia either 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.
Tips for Individuals with
Warts
- Avoid self treatment
with over-the-counter preparations.
- Seek professional
podiatric evaluation and assistance with the treament
of your warts.
- Diabetics and other
patients with circulatory, immunological or
neurological problems should be especially careful
with the treament of their warts.
- Warts may spread and
are catching. Make sure you have your warts evaluated
to protect yourself and those close to you.
Your podiatric
physician/surgeon has been trained specifically and
extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners
of foot conditions. This training encompasses all of the
intricately related systems and structures of the foot and
lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and
the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints,
ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. |
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.
