Warts are commonly mistaken for corns or calluses, or a variety of different lesions on the skin so it is important to see a Podiatrist if you think you may have a wart or some sort of lesion appears on the skin of the foot. A correct diagnosis will save you time in dealing with the problem.
Warts are actually a viral infection that is harmless, although it can be painful at times. The virus gets into the skin through small cuts or abrasions. Although warts can be found anywhere on the body, they tend to appear on hands and feet mostly. If a wart is found on the sole of the foot, it is called a plantar wart. Planter warts can develop anywhere on the foot. Dark specks are visible under the surface of the wart which is the capillaries that supply it with blood. A callus can develop over the wart due to pressure from standing or walking since it pushes the wart beneath the skin's surface. The larger the wart and callus gets, the more painful it becomes. These warts resist treatment and have a tendency to reoccur.
The virus thrives in warm, moist environments so be careful when walking barefoot, especially in places that may have dirty surfaces. Warts can grow up to an inch or more if left untreated and can also spread into clusters of several warts. Also be aware that if you have a wart, you can spread it to others by touch.
- Follow these tips for prevention:
- Don't walk barefoot
- Good Hygiene – change socks and shoes daily
- Keep feet dry
- Avoid touching others with warts
If you think you may have a wart, visit a Podiatrist. Self medicating is not advised since over the counter medications contains acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells and can do more harm than good. There are various different ways to remove warts such as a simple surgical procedure and lasers.
Image by Sietse de Ruiter. (2010). Killing ze wart wiz ze liquid nitrogen. Flickr.
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