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Warts can be worrying due to their appearance and tenderness, but they are actually very treatable and will usually even clear up themselves with time, if left alone. We’ve answered your top questions about plantar warts below: What are plantar warts?
Warts can be worrying due to their appearance and tenderness, but they are actually very treatable and will usually even clear up themselves with time, if left alone. We’ve answered your top questions about plantar warts below:
What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts are the result of a viral infection that is found in the top layer of the skin. These infections come from a strain of HPV. This is not the same strain that causes the commonly associated genital warts. Plantar warts will usually heal on their own and dissolve in about two years if no treatment is applied. However, if you are experiencing irritation or pain, you will want to seek treatment.
What do they look like?
Plantar warts are generally the size of a pencil eraser, though they can grow larger in some instances. In some cases, several warts may grow in a cluster that is termed “mosaic warts.” It is important to note that calluses and corns can be mistaken for plantar warts. If you are unsure if you have plantar warts, seek advice from your podiatrist.
How do you contract plantar warts?
Plantar warts are transmitted from one person to another, but direct contact does not need to be involved. Someone with a plantar wart may touch an object, and then another person touching the object after them may contract the virus through this indirect contact. People with weak immune systems can be more susceptible to contracting the virus.
How are plantar warts treated?
Plantar warts may be treated over a span of time ranging from weeks to months, but most warts will go away on their own. Common home treatments involved placing a strip of duct tape over the wart for 6 days, soaking in water after tape removal and then debriding with a pumice stone or emery board. This process may need to be repeat for a few months. Over-the-counter treatments exist and tend to be effective 50% of the time. If you decide to seek treatment from a podiatrist, courses of action include freezing the warts off with liquid nitrogen, laser treatment or surgery and injecting medicine to strengthen the immune system and clear the body of the virus.
If you have questions about your plantar warts, please contact us today!