What are they?
Plantar warts are lesions which occur on the soles of the feet. They can occur as singular or multiple lesions. Unlike corns which tend to look quite similar, warts have no skin lines running through them, are painful to squeeze and often have small black dots in their centre which represent the blood vessels within the wart tissue.
What causes them?
Warts are caused by a virus. There are many different types of wart viruses, some more resistant than others. The wart virus can be picked up in public showers, swimming centres and walking barefoot over infected areas. Warts tend to be very contagious so family members with warts should take care to prevent spread of the infection.
How are they treated
- Boost the immune system just as you do to fight cold and flu viruses (i.e. Good diet and Vitamin/Mineral supplements may be advised)
- Chemical cautery (breakdown of the tissues with strong chemicals) to the warty lesions. Single warts usually require 6 to 8 treatments. Multiple warts may be more resistant and take longer to clear.
- Surgical removal – curretage.
WARNING : This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional podiatric advice. Treatment will vary between individuals depending upon your diagnosis and presenting complaint. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following personal consultation with a Podiatrist.