People tend to highlight how important oral and personal hygiene is. But taking care of your hands and feet is just as important. Hydrating your skin, trimming nails, and regularly exfoliating can be life-changing. So much so that if you don’t care for them, you might develop warts!
When hard lumps form on the soles of your feet, they’re called plantar warts. But what exactly causes them, and how can you get rid of warts on your feet? To find out, keep on reading this blog.
What are Plantar Warts?
Rough, hard, and painful – plantar warts are tiny bumps that appear on the bottom of your feet. They’re most likely to grow in places with the most pressure, such as heel and toe areas.
This is why most people think warts grow outwards, but in reality, they expand inside your foot, causing the pain. Moreover, since plantar warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), they can grow double the normal size.
The virus can sneak its way inside any split, cut, or tear on your foot. This can make warts a bit hard to deal with, especially since once they start to form, walking can become difficult. Not to mention, you can easily spot a plantar wart from the thickening of your skin. At times, you might even be able to see black or brown dots inside the nodules, differentiating them from corns.
What Causes Warts on Feet?
Warts, no matter where they arise, are caused by HPV infection. Once the virus finds its way inside the fissures of your foot, it can expand at a much faster rate. This is what ultimately leads to the thickening of the skin and bump formation.
Additionally, even though HPV is highly contagious and has various types, it’s only a few that cause plantar warts. They typically take root in warm, humid, and moist places — for instance, communal swimming pools, spas, and the like.
How to Get Rid of Warts on Feet?
With due time, warts go away on their own, if only with a little help from your immune system pushing them out. This is why there isn’t really a need for wart removal. However, due to how painful plantar warts are, there are a few medical treatments that can zap them right off. These procedures work exceptionally well for those with a compromised immune system.
- Cryotherapy
- Cantharidin
- Electrosurgery
- Excision
- Laser Treatment
- Immunotherapy
How to Prevent Plantar Warts on Feet
Considering how contagious warts are, no matter how many precautions you take, they can never be enough. However, if you’re looking to avoid getting those pesky warts on your feet, here are some prevention tips you can follow just in case:
- Avoid going to humid places with bare feet.
- Do not scratch or touch a wart. If you do, make sure to rigorously wash your hands after.
- Keep your feet dry and protected at all times.
- If you have a wart, bandage it up before swimming in a communal pool.
- Use a separate pumice stone or foot exfoliator. Do not share it with anyone.
- Change your socks every day.
- Make a habit of wearing flip-flops inside the locker room and pool area when required.
Closing Word
All in all, plantar warts are extremely painful, especially given how long they can last without surgery. That is why to get rid of warts on the feet; medical treatment can be the best bet. If you want to know more or would like to schedule an appointment, head over to 27721 Tomball Pkwy Ste #200, Tomball, TX 77377. You’ll notice our clinic right around the corner from MS Pharmacy. You can also reach out to Family Diagnostic Clinic by dialing (281) 351-6800.