Plantar Warts (Verrucae Plantaris)
Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus and usually occur on the bottom of the feet, but can also form on the bottom of the toes or even on the top of the foot. The warts can be painless or can cause pain with walking or pressure on the area.
Plantar warts are very common, and can be treated in a variety of ways. Some warts need no treatment at all, and will go away by themselves. If the wart is causing pain, treatment can vary from topical treatments to surgical removal.
Topically, the area is "scraped" by the podiatrist and can either be frozen with a spray or a salicylic acid paste can be applied to the area. The virus hides in the skin, and the human immune system does not fight against it.
These treatments are meant to cause irritation to the wart, which will in turn allow the human immune system to fight them off.
If the wart is resistant to treatment, surgical intervention may be necessary. This involves bringing the patient into the operating room, anesthetizing the area around the wart and then cutting it out. These areas tend to bleed due to the highly vascular nature of the wart. The area is then either chemically burned, or a laser is used to burn the base of the wound. This stops the bleeding, but can also be used to treat the wart.
Since the wart is caused by a virus, it is possible for warts to be transmitted from one person to another. This usally occurs in areas that are moist and warm, such as a bathroom or pool. It is suggested that if one member of the family has a plantar wart, that the tub/shower be sprayed with Lysol© after each use, and that water shoes be used while at the beach or pool.