Everything to Know About Plantar Warts - Treatment and Prevention

Warts are skin growths induced by a viral infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are about 100 distinct HPV strains, but only a few generate warts on the foot. The others are more prone to create warts on other parts of your skin and body, such as your hands, face, or genitals. A wart on the sole of your foot is formally known as a verruca wart or plantar wart.

Although they are not pressure-related and can occur anywhere on the foot, they are most commonly encountered on the heels or other weight-bearing regions.

The Symptoms of Plantar Warts
Plantar warts can come in many forms and sizes. Because it is a viral infection, microscopic blood vessels form at the center of the wart. These tiny veins provide it with blood and nourishment, and they frequently appear as little black spots in the center of the wart. A plantar wart can cause pain, especially if it is located in a weight-bearing portion of your foot. Your body weight puts pressure on the wart, which makes it unpleasant.
Here are some common signs of a plantar wart:

• A tiny, gritty, granular lesion forming on the sole of the foot (often on the toes, ball of the foot, or heel);

• The fleshy lesion has a solid border;

• There are black, dark patches in the lesion;

• It is possible to have yellowish overlaying hard skin;

• Squeezing the lesion's exterior borders causes pain;

• Walking causes pain if it is on a weight-bearing part of the foot;

• A lesion that distorts your foot's typical skin lines and patterns;

• Multiple lesions may occur in the same place. This is known as a mosaic wart.

Diagnosis of Plantar Warts
If you have some or all of the symptoms listed above, you may be able to diagnose yourself with a simple test. The Squeeze Test is one method for doing so. This might help you determine if you have a wart or a corn.

The Squeeze Test
Simply press the region from either side; if it causes discomfort, it is more likely a wart than a corn. 

Treatment of Plantar Warts
Warts usually fade away on their own, but plantar warts require active treatment and eradication since they can be extremely painful due to their position on the sole of the foot. Some fade after a few plantar wart treatment episodes, but long-standing warts might take many months to completely cure.
Podiatrists can aid you in a variety of ways, including:

• Use a medical microwave technique that effectively removes warts;

• Sharp debridement to remove the tough outer layer of the wart tissue;

• Use moderate acids to burn away the wart tissue;

• Using cryotherapy to freeze the wart;

• Minor surgery was performed under local anesthesia for total plantar wart excision;

At-Home Remedies for Plantar Warts

Over-the-counter treatment
Over-the-counter therapies often comprise either a moderate dosage of salicylic acid or a home freezing kit. The wart removal stick can be helpful. Apply for four weeks as directed on the package, and if the problem persists, call a podiatrist to schedule a visit.

Home remedies

• Duct tape to smother the wart;

• Apple cider vinegar;

• Garlic.

You may know others who have had success with these solutions. It is critical to remember that in order to effectively treat a wart, we must trigger an immune system response to attack the virus. These at-home therapies have little to no proof of effectiveness and can cause skin irritation and/or infection. 

What Would Happen If I Ignored a Plantar Wart?
Warts clear up on their own in 65% of instances, without the need for medical intervention. However, ignoring a severe plantar wart or a mosaic wart may result in the following:

• Pain and suffering persist, necessitating more urgent therapy later on;

• Changes in posture or normal gait occur when a painful wart affects how you stand, walk, or run, causing muscle or joint discomfort;

• The virus may spread to other places of the body, causing new warts to appear;

• You might transmit the infection to others, including friends and relatives.

Prevention of Plantar Warts
Here are some strategies to prevent warts from developing in the first place:

• Avoid walking barefoot in common spaces;

• Keep your socks and shoes clean;

• Keep your feet clean and dry;

• Avoid direct contact with anyone with existing warts.