What are warts?
Warts are caused by the most common viral infections of the skin. The most frequently seen are plantar warts, which grow on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot. Plantar warts can be seen in all age groups, but are most often seen in children ages 12-16.
Causes
There are about 120 different forms of Human Papilloma Virus and only certain types are responsible for skin warts. Plantar warts are cause by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Type 1. The virus infects the superficial layer of skin and produces a thick callus-like growth. Most often it is located in areas that are more prone to pressure and can become tender. The virus is contracted through direct contact. The incubation period (the period of time between infection and the production of the visible skin lesion) is unknown but has been estimated to vary from months to years.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is lesions that have a tiny pinpoint dark spot on the inside. These are not always visible. They can feel firm and rough or bumpy. Some may even appear thick and scaly. Some other symptoms include foot pain that feels like a lump under the foot, and a smooth surface with a gray-yellow or a brown color.
Home treatments
For temporary relief of pain, place a doughnut-shaped piece of moleskin around the wart, which we sell here at our office. Dr. Scholl’s Wart Remover, Compound W, Freezone, and Wart-Off are some brands that can be used for at home treatments. These contain Salicylic acid, which should only be used on warts or calluses, NOT on other skin conditions or lesions. Before applying salicylic acid, soak the area in warm water for about five minutes to enhance the effects of the medication. Remove any loose tissue with a washcloth or a brush and file away as much of the overlying callus tissue as possible in order to ensure that the medication is penetrating the wart accurately. After applying the medication, apply duct tape over top and keep covered for 24 hours. In most cases, you should see improvement in one to two weeks. If you see no changes, contact us for an appointment. Warts can spread, so monitor your feet closely and treat them at the beginning when they are still small.
Seek medical attention for these conditions:
- You or your child have warts and want them removed.
- Severe pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or large lesions develop.
- After removal by a physician by various methods, including freezing or burning, signs of infection appear at the treatment site. If the area becomes red, hot, painful, and tender after treatment, an infection may have set in.
- After treatment, fever develops.
- Warts don’t disappear completely after treatment.
- Other warts appear after treatment.
Medical Treatment
Doctors may choose from several different techniques for removing plantar warts.
- Acid: One of the most common methods is to burn warts off with a mild acid applied topically to the wart. Many applications may be required over the course of several weeks to achieve this, but the technique is highly successful. Salicylic acid, cantharidin, and dichloroacetic (or trichloroacetic) acid are useful.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing warts with liquid nitrogen is frequently successful. This causes the wart to turn black and eventually fall off within a few days. If used properly, there should be no scarring.
- Curettage and Desiccation: After injecting a local anesthetic, the physician uses an electrical or ultrasonic device to destroy the wart, the remainder of which is removed with a curette. This technique is likely to cause a scar.
- Candid: A new method, which is still being studied, that involves injecting the wart with Candida antigen to help begin an immune response so that the body can fight off the wart.
Plantar Warts Prevention
- Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches. Use shower thongs or sandals, particularly in public shower rooms.
- Change shoes and socks daily.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Check children’s feet periodically.
- Avoid direct contact with warts from other people or from other parts of the body. Don’t touch warts on other people. To keep from spreading warts, don’t scratch them. Warts spread readily to small cuts and scratches.
- Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your skin.
- Prevention consists of avoiding sharing socks, shoes, and showering facilities.
- Protect the skin from injury, and wash hands frequently. Warts should be covered with waterproof tape in wet environments such as showers and swimming pools to avoid infecting yourself or others
