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What are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are non-cancerous skin growths that appear on the soles of the feet. The thick patch of skin, or callus, that results is often gray or brown and contains dark specks. A wart often causes pain when walking and might cause the sufferer to feel as if he has a rock in his shoe. Some develop in a cluster-like form; these are called mosaic warts.
Because they develop on the bottom of the feet, these warts protrude internally as they are walked and stood on. All warts, including plantar warts, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is not harmful until it enters the skin through an opening or break. This virus is the most common type of skin infection, and once inside the skin, it can cause more serious problems. It thrives on warm, moist areas and is contagious. The virus causes the skin cells to grow quickly.
One risk factor for plantar warts is walking barefoot in public places such as locker rooms, pools, or shower areas. Tight, closely fitting shoes can also create a breeding ground for warts. If one causes a person difficulty walking, he should see a medical professional. It's necessary to clearly distinguish between corns, calluses, and warts, although this can often be done on sight. If necessary, a healthcare professional can scrape the skin and send the sample to a lab for inspection.
Plantar warts are one of six main categories of warts. There are many forms of treatment for warts in general, and some eventually disappear without any treatment. Over-the-counter treatments, which often contain salicylic acid, can be used at home, and many people use duct tape occlusion therapy, although there is some debate about the success rate of this method. A medical professional can also prescribe medications to help remove warts or treat them in the office.
A healthcare professional can use an electrical current or laser surgery to burn a wart. Cryotherapy involves using a freezing liquid to dissolve it. Surgery is normally not used for warts on the soles of the feet, however, because it may result in painful scarring.
To help prevent plantar warts, people can frequently change their socks and shoes to keep the feet clean and dry. Individuals should avoid contact with warts on other parts of the body or on other people. Anyone who notices any growths or unusual conditions on the skin should see a medical professional. Parents should also look for signs of warts on their children’s feet.
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![There are many different treatments for plantar warts, including cryotherapy, which freezes off the wart.]()
By: Gordon LauThere are many different treatments for plantar warts, including cryotherapy, which freezes off the wart. -
![Walking barefoot in public places is a huge risk factor for developing plantar warts.]()
By: KelpfishWalking barefoot in public places is a huge risk factor for developing plantar warts. -
![Plantar warts can be contracted by walking barefoot in locker rooms.]()
By: BrocreativePlantar warts can be contracted by walking barefoot in locker rooms. -
![Freezing warts with liquid nitrogen often causes blisters to form where the treatment was performed.]()
By: F.C.G.Freezing warts with liquid nitrogen often causes blisters to form where the treatment was performed. -
![Tight shoes can create a breeding ground for warts.]()
By: Jürgen FälchleTight shoes can create a breeding ground for warts.
Discussion Comments
I will say too that it is possible that gangrene could have set in had you not put hydrogen peroxide on it and had succumbed to an infection. You are incredibly lucky.
If anyone gets a plantar wart they need to seek the advice of a doctor and never deal with it on their own.
After getting a plantar wart on the bottom of my foot, and living with it for several months, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
What I did was I took a knife and cut it off on my own and then I poured hydrogen peroxide over it and wrapped my foot in duct tape overnight and went to bed.
After I awoke the next day I found that it did not hurt much anymore and the wart never grew back. I will say though that this was highly dangerous and I was lucky I did not get a serious infection.
@burcidi-- Duct tape really works as a plantar warts remedy! I've used it and it did get rid of my warts! I think how it does it is that it causes the body to notice the wart and start fighting the virus that's causing it.
What I did was I cut a piece of duct tape the size of the wart and placed it right on top. On the sixth day, I removed the tape, cleaned the area and put a fresh one. By the third week, the wart was completely gone.
I guess the immune system doesn't become aware of the wart sometimes. And the duct tape helps the immune system kick in and fight the virus.
@burcidi-- I had plantar warts when I was younger and it was on my hand. At first, it was just one and then it multiplied into several. My mom took me to the doctor and they burned the warts off with a special laser. It wasn't painful and the warts went away for good. But my hand smelled like burnt wood for weeks and I still have a very apparent scar where they used to be.
I never tried any plantar warts home remedy, but recently my friend was talking about this. She swears by apple cider vinegar for warts. The vinegar apparently kills the virus and allows fresh skin to come up. I think you're supposed to dip a cotton ball into the vinegar and apply it onto the warts for as long as it takes to treat them.
Like I said, I never tried this remedy but it might be something worth considering.
@anon147617-- So were you able to treat your plantar warts with that medication or with the duct tape?
My dad has plantar warts on his feet and they're so gross. He tries his best to keep his feet clean and dry all the time but the warts just don't go away. He has used over-the-counter medicines for them too and those also didn't work.
He used to not feel anything in the beginning but lately he's complaining a lot about the warts and how it's making it hard for him to walk. Are there any easy home remedies that can treat plantar warts?
I'm not so sure about the duct tape. I don't get how that would help kill the virus that causes plantar warts.
i heard that you can put a piece of duct tape on it and leave it on for a week and then you take it off and you follow with taking off the dead skin. i have this medication that does sort of the same process but i received it from a natural medicine store.
How do you get rid of plantar warts fast?
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