Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
What is a
Plantar Wart?
Awart is a small growth on the skin that develops when the
skin is infected by a virus. Warts can develop anywhere on the foot, but
typically they appear on the bottom (plantar side) of the foot. Plantar warts
most commonly occur in children, adolescents, and the elderly.
![Plantar Wart]()
There
are two types of plantar warts:
- A solitary wart
is a single wart. It often increases in size and may eventually multiply,
forming additional “satellite” warts.
- Mosaic warts
are a cluster of several small warts growing closely together in one area.
Mosaic warts are more difficult to treat than solitary warts.
Causes
Plantar warts are caused by direct contact with the human papilloma virus
(HPV). This is the same virus that causes warts on other areas of the body.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a plantar wart may include:
- Thickened
skin. Often a plantar wart resembles a callus because of its tough,
thick tissue.
- Pain.
Walking and standing may be painful. Squeezing the sides of the wart may
also cause pain.
- Tiny
black dots. These often appear on the surface of the wart. The dots
are actually dried blood contained in the capillaries (tiny blood
vessels).
Plantar warts grow deep into the skin. Usually this growth
occurs slowly, with the wart starting small and becoming larger over time.
Diagnosis
and Treatment
To diagnose a plantar wart, the foot and ankle surgeon will examine the
patient’s foot and look for signs and symptoms of a wart.
Although plantar warts may eventually clear up on their own,
most patients desire faster relief. The goal of treatment is to completely remove
the wart.
The foot and ankle surgeon may use topical or oral
treatments, laser therapy, cryotherapy (freezing), acid treatments, or surgery
to remove the wart.
Regardless of the treatment approaches undertaken, it is
important that the patient follow the surgeon’s instructions, including all
home care and medication that has been prescribed, as well as follow-up visits
with the surgeon. Warts may return, requiring further treatment.
If there is no response to treatment, further diagnostic
evaluation may be necessary. In such cases, the surgeon can perform a biopsy to
rule out other potential causes for the growth.
Although there are many folk remedies for warts, patients
should be aware that these remain unproven and may be dangerous. Patients
should never try to remove warts themselves. This can do more harm than good.
Information provided by The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons