What are Plantar Warts?

What is a Plantar Wart?

A wart is a small, rough growth on the skin that develops when the skin in the affected area get infected by a virus. A plantar wart specifically occurs when the virus infects the skin of the foot, most commonly showing up on the balls and heels of the feet as they are the areas that take the most pressure. As a result, this pressure may cause the plantar warts to grown inward under a callus, which are thickened layers of skin. 

There are 2 types of plantar warts:

1) Solitary Wart: a single wart that often increases in size and has the potential to multiple and form additional warts around the original one. 

2) Mosaic Warts: cluster of a few small warts localized in one area of the foot. They require more treatment and take somewhat longer to heal when compared a solitary wart. 

What are the Causes of Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts arise when one has direct contact with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which infects the skin with which it came into contact with. The HPV virus can infects the skin by entering via tiny cuts and breaks on the bottom of the feet. For this reason, plantar warts are more common among people who use public shower and pools more often as they have a higher chance of getting into direct contact with the infecting virus.

Although hearing that the HPV infects your skin might sound like a serious health concern, HPV is not by any means a life-threatening infection. However, it can cause pain and discomfort with each step you take. With that being said, Dr. Syamak Yamini located in Porter Ranch, Encino, and Los Angeles CA can accurately diagnose and treat plantar warts in a timely manner. 

What are the Symptoms of Plantar Warts?

The common sign and symptoms of plantar warts include:

How are Plantar Warts Treated?

The first step is proper diagnosis of the plantar wart. Dr. Syamak Yamini located in Porter Ranch, Encino, and Los Angeles CA will perform a comprehensive physical examine of your feet and look for the various signs and symptoms of plantar wart. Dr. Yamini may also perform a biopsy to confirm the presence of HPV in the skin. 

Plantar warts may resolve on their own with time. However, this can be slow and cause you pain and discomfort along the way. This is why goal of Dr. Syamak Yamini's treatment is to completely remove the wart in a much faster manner. Depending on the serverty of the infection, Dr. Syamak Yamini located in Porter Ranch, Encino, and Los Angeles utilizes the latest topical/oral treatments, freezing therapy, and acid treatments to treat plantar warts.

Since plantar warts so very common among the general public, many use home remedies to self-treat plantar warts. While some of the home remedies may provide temporarily relief of symptoms, they have not been proven to directly treat the warts and some may be dangerous, with unwanted side effects. 

How can Plantar Warts be Prevented? 

Author
Syamak Yamini, DPM FACFAS Board Certified Foot and Ankle surgeon based in Porter Ranch, Encino, and Los Angeles

You Might Also Enjoy...

What You Should Know About Chronic Ankle Instability

Chronic ankle instability is a condition in which there is recurring giving away of the ankle. They occur after repeated ankle sprains that don’t heal well and weaken the ligaments of the ankle. Various treatment options can be used to treat the condition.

What You Should Know About Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is nerve damage in the extremities from diabetes. It can affect various nerves and thus has diverse symptoms. Controlling diabetes is the most optimal way of managing it, yet medications are available to treat symptoms.

What You Should Know About Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries. Because arteries carry blood that is full of nutrients, the condition can complicate existing problems in the feet. However it can be treated to limits its negative effects.

The Common Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain results from an injury involving one or more of the ligaments in the ankle. They happen when the ankle is blown out of its normal position, which can damage the ligaments. Various treatment options can be used to address this issue.

Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is one of the most effective ways to treat fungal toenails. Laser therapy provides a very targeted approach that eliminates the fungus with minimal risks and side effects.