Introduction
Plantar warts, also called verrucous plantaris, are warts present on the feet. Plantar warts are caused by the strain of the human papillomavirus or HPV virus. It is observed that plantar warts are more common in children. Typically warts are the small, benign noncancerous growth present mainly on the feet of the individual infected with the human papillomavirus. The skin of the warts is usually thick, and the human papillomavirus aggravates cellular growth. Warts can spread through direct contact, and warts are highly contagious. Moist and injured skin favors the spread of warts.
What Are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are derived from the Latin word "plantar," meaning "of the sole." Plantar warts are highly contagious small and rough-surfaced growths on the bottom of the feet and soles. It is common in areas under high pressure, which includes heel areas. Plantar warts are high in children and rarely observed in adults. The exact causes for the formation of warts are the human papillomavirus, and the virus causes the extra cell growth of warts by enhancing keratin formation. Plantar warts cause severe pain. However, plantar warts are a self-limiting condition and get resolved independently. The diagnosis of plantar warts is made with a physical examination. Some preventive measures can be followed to avoid the spread of plantar warts.
What Are the Causes of Plantar Warts?
The human papillomavirus, HPV, mainly causes plantar warts. It is also observed that people with poor immune responses are highly susceptible to plantar warts. The human papillomavirus can spread through any skin injury and affects the outer layer of the skin to form plantar warts. Plantar warts are contagious to people with poor immune responses, and it is considered that the symptoms of human papillomavirus will vary from one person to another person. Some of the risk factors favor the incidence of plantar warts, and the risk factors of plantar warts are mentioned below.
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Age factor, children and teenagers are more affected by plantar warts.
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People with poor immune response.
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Immunosuppressive conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.
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Previous history of plantar warts.
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Walking barefoot in human papillomavirus-prone zone areas,
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A moist environment such as swimming pools.
What Are the Symptoms of Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts have various signs and symptoms. The initial sign of plantar warts is pain and tenderness. Plantar warts cause severe pain. The symptoms suggested by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons are mentioned below.
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Plantar warts have thick skin.
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Plantar warts will show tiny black dots.
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Plantar warts are usually white and sometimes skin-colored.
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Sometimes plantar warts are present like mosaic warts, a cluster of growths.
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Pain and tenderness while walking.
How to Diagnose Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are diagnosed with a physical examination of the signs and symptoms. The typical sign of plantar warts is the tiny black dots on the surface of the warts. A biopsy is taken, and testing is done to evaluate the type of infection.
What Is the Treatment of Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are benign conditions and are self-limiting. Plantar warts are not harmful and do not require any specific treatment. However, there are various treatment measures available to treat plantar warts. Some of the treatment options used for treating plantar warts are mentioned below.
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Medical therapy.
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Surgical therapy.
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Immunotherapy.
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Vaccination.
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Laser therapy.
Cryotherapy:
Cryotherapy is performed in a clinic and consists of administering liquid nitrogen to the wart using a spray or a cotton swab. Because this treatment can be uncomfortable, the physician may numb the region first. A blister forms around the wart as a result of the freezing, and the dead tissue sloughs off after a week or so. Cryotherapy may also boost the immune system's ability to battle viral warts. One might have to come back to the clinic once every two to three weeks for repeat treatments until the wart vanishes.
Cryotherapy can cause pain, blisters, and permanent changes in skin color (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation), especially in those with brown or black skin.
Medical Therapy:
Wart treatments containing salicylic acid act by eliminating a wart layer by layer. They might also help your immune system battle the wart. The physician would most likely advise people to take the medication at home on a regular basis, with only a few office visits in between. This procedure may take weeks to eliminate the wart.
Surgical Therapy:
The wart can also be treated with minor surgery such as electrodesiccation. Curettage can be done to remove the dead slough tissue. One of the side effects of surgical treatment of warts is scarring.
Vaccination:
Despite the fact that the HPV vaccine is not directly aimed toward the wart viruses that cause plantar warts, it has been used successfully to treat warts.
Immunotherapy:
This treatment stimulates the immune system to combat viral warts by using drugs or solutions. The physician may inject a foreign substance (antigen) into the warts or apply a solution or cream to the warts.
Laser Treatment:
Cauterization is done to treat warts with the help of a pulsed dye laser. Skin is numbed with anesthesia before the procedure to relieve pain.
How to Prevent Warts?
Some preventive measures can be followed to prevent the risk of human papillomavirus and warts. Home remedies can be followed to fight against the human papillomavirus. The preventive measures to reduce the recurrence of warts are mentioned below.
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It is always better to avoid walking barefoot in moist areas.
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Regularly, the shoes and socks should be changed.
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Body hygiene should be maintained, and the feet should be cleaned and dried.
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Since children show a high incidence of warts, periodic checking of children's feet helps in prevention.
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Always avoid touching the warts of an infected person.
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Sharing the infected person's shoes, socks, and other clothes should be avoided.
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Hand wash is done regularly, and warts are covered with waterproof tape to avoid further injury.
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Home remedies such as aloe vera, Aspirin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and apple cider vinegar can help with plantar warts and other types of warts.
Conclusion
Plantar warts are small painful growth present in the soles of the feet, and it is most commonly present in children. The causative factor for the plantar warts is the strain of human papillomavirus. Symptoms of plantar warts are pain and tiny black dots. The diagnosis is made with a physical examination, and the treatment is done to manage the symptoms. However, plantar warts are self-limiting and not malignant. The prognosis of plantar warts for good immune response individuals is exemplary.
