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Plantar Warts (Verruca)

What Is a Plantar Wart (Verruca)?

Plantar warts (also known as Verruca) are warts that develop on the plantar surface soles or bottom of the feet. Plantar Warts vary in appearance and are caused by a viral infection, they are contagious and can be painful or painless. Plantar warts are usually self-limiting, but treatment is generally recommended to lessen symptoms, decrease duration and reduce transmission.

 

Causes of Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are caused by a viral infection. The virus attacks compromised skin through direct contact, entering through possible tiny cuts and abrasions in the outermost layer of the skin. After infection, warts may not become visible for several weeks or months.

In many cases warts spread from the communal areas such as;

  • Swimming Pools
  • Showers (home or public)
  • Gyms
 

Signs and Symptoms of a Plantar Wart

One or more of these symptoms may be present.

  • They may be single or multiple.
  • Small, bumpy growths on the sole of the foot. This often occurs with tiny black dots, or dots on the surface.
  • Pain in the soles of the feet when standing or walking.
  • Pressure on the sole of the foot causes the wart to be pushed inward.  A hard layer of skin may appear over the wart.
 

Treatment of Plantar Warts

Treatment may vary according to the type of plantar wart and patient needs.

  • Laser Therapy At Gentin Podiatry & Physiotherapy, we use the Cutera Genisis Plus Laser, which is the premium podiatric laser for toes and feet. Laser treatment burns closed (cauterizes) the tiny blood vessels. The wart tissue eventually dies, and the wart falls off.
  • Cryotherapy involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart. The chemical causes a blister to form around your wart, and the dead tissue sloughs off within a week or so. It may also stimulate an immune response to fight the viral wart.
  • Acid Therapy Prescription strength wart medications (e.g. Salicylic Acid) work by removing layers of a wart a little at a time. They may also stimulate your immune system’s ability to fight the wart.
  • Curretage May be necessary for persistent warts. Curretage is not a common method of treatment as it can result in scarring.