What is a wart?
Plantar warts are benign epidermal tumours caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The virus gains entry through the skin barrier where micro trauma or small abrasions of the skin has occurred.
The HPV virus can survive in moist, warm areas like the shower, swimming pool surrounds or change rooms, therefore transfer can happen from one person to the next.
Symptoms
- Round, irregular, grainy growth on the underside of the foot or around toes
- Pain when walking
- Skin lines moving around the growth
- Callus formation over the top of a well-defined spot
- Black spots within a growth
Diagnosis
A podiatrist can diagnose a plantar wart and the type by examining the lesion. If you notice any skin changes on your feet you should seek advice.
Treatment
There are many treatments available for plantar warts, to have the highest success rate, the plantar wart would first need to be examined. Once the type of wart, location & lifestyle has been taken into account, your podiatrist will discuss treatment options.
We advise against the use of at home wart topical treatments. The treatment is designed to destroy the wart tissue, however can spread into the healthy skin surrounding the wart. This allows the virus to transfer into the damaged skin and become bigger and create more pain.
Prevention
The following can help reduce the likelihood of a plantar wart:
- Wearing shoes/thongs around the swimming pool and within changing rooms and communal showers
- Don’t try to pull off dead skin on the sole of the feet as this can create an opening in the skin barrier
- Change socks daily or if socks become wet
- Use your own skin & nail file, pumice stone and other instruments to prevent virus transfer
We’re here to help!
We invite you to call us at Hampton Podiatry Foot Clinic on (03) 9521 0366 and one of our friendly team will gladly arrange an appointment.
Alternatively, you can book online by clicking the button below.