Warts on your feet?

Commonly known as plantar verrucae, the plantar wart is caused by the Human Papillomavirus. The virus attacks the skin through direct contact, entering through possibly tiny cuts and abrasions in the outermost layer of the skin. Infection typically occurs from moist walking surfaces such as showers or swimming pools. After the infection, warts may not become visible for several weeks or months. Because of pressure on the sole of the foot, the wart is pushed inward and a layer of hard skin may form over the wart. Depending on where the warts are located, some may cause pain when walking. A common misconception about plantar warts is that they have roots which can grow deep into the tissues and attach to the bone. This is not true. A wart only grows in the top layer of skin and although the wart may extend slightly deeper, this is generally due to walking, putting pressure on the affected area and pushing the wart deeper into the tissue.

Because plantar warts are spread by contact with moist walking surfaces, they can be prevented by not walking barefoot in public areas such as showers or communal changing rooms (wearing flip flops or sandals helps), not sharing shoes and socks, and avoiding direct contact with warts on other parts of the body or on other people. Humans build immunity with age, so infection is less common among adults than children. The virus can survive many months without a host, making it highly contagious. There are many different treatments for warts including topical acid, freezing, laser and surgery to name a few.

Warts on the bottom of the foot can look a lot like calluses, so when in doubt, it is best to have it looked at by a Dr. Garvin. So if you or a loved one is suffering with a painful wart that just won’t go away, call Dr. Garvin’s office today at 772-335-7171 and schedule an appointment.