Plantar Warts
Warts that occur on the bottom of your feet are called plantar warts. Often they occur on the areas of the foot that experience the most pressure, such as the ball of your foot or the heel. Because of the increased pressure to those areas from walking and physical activity, plantar warts in these areas often penetrate deep into the tissue and can be very painful. Warts are caused by a virus known as human papilloma virus, or HPV. They can be
spread in moist environments such as public showers, locker rooms and swimming areas, but not everyone who comes in contact with a plantar wart will develop one. People with diabetes are more susceptible due to decreased immunity.
Diagnosis
Your chiropodist will diagnosis a plantar wart based on physical exam and description of symptoms.
Treatment
Your chiropodist's usual choice of therapy is a special chemical application that will cause the wart to separate from the surrounding tissue. Some warts are stubborn especially if the infection has been longstanding, and this process may take several weeks or months. Other treatment options for plantar warts include daily salicylic acid treatment, injection with medication, freezing them with liquid nitrogen, and removing them with surgery.
Without Treatment
Sometimes plantar warts go away on their own if left untreated. However, many warts can become increasingly larger and more painful and can begin to multiply into clusters of warts called mosaic warts. Walking and running will become difficult in these situations.