Plantar wart

Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, are hard, grainy growths that commonly appear on the heels or balls of the feet, areas that feel the most pressure. This pressure also may cause plantar warts to grow inward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin (callus).

File:Tiefe Warzen.JPG

Tiefe Warzen

File:Verruca vulgaris.jpg

Verruca vulgaris

Etiology

Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the body through tiny cuts, breaks, or other weak spots on the bottom of the feet. There are more than 100 types of HPV, but only a few cause warts on the feet.

Clinical Presentation

Plantar warts typically develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot — the heel or the ball of the foot — causing discomfort or pain. They can be characterized by:

A small, fleshy, rough, grainy growth (lesion) on the bottom of your foot, usually the base of the toes and forefoot or the heel Hard, thickened skin (callus) over a well-defined "spot" on the skin, where a wart has grown inward Black pinpoints, which are commonly called wart seeds but are actually small, clotted blood vessels A lesion that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your foot Pain or tenderness when walking or standing

Diagnosis

A doctor or a podiatrist usually diagnoses a plantar wart by its appearance. They may also pare the wart with a scalpel to remove the surface and check for the characteristic black dots. Sometimes, a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Many plantar warts disappear without treatment. For persistent warts, treatments may include topical medications, cryotherapy (freezing), laser treatments, and minor surgery. It's important to note that although treatments can remove warts, they do not prevent recurrence or new warts from developing.

Prevention

Preventive measures include avoiding direct contact with warts, avoiding walking barefoot in public areas, changing shoes and socks daily, keeping feet clean and dry, and not picking at warts.

See Also

• Human papillomavirus
• Wart
• Cryotherapy

References

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