What are plantar warts and what should you know?
You can get a variety of different bumps and growths on your feet, though plantar warts are among the most common. These types of growths occur around the balls and heels of your feet since they come from the areas of your feet that get the most pressure while standing or walking. While not a serious condition, they do need treatment from your doctor. Here are some things to know about plantar warts.
They Are Caused By a Virus
The first thing that you should know is that plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the same virus that gives some women a pelvic infection, except that it enters the soles of the feet. There may be cracks in the skin, which is how the virus enters the skin and causes the infection. Not everyone who is in contact with HPV will get plantar warts, though people susceptible to infections often do. Anyone with a sensitive or low immune system should be extra careful. It can enter the feet through cuts or scrapes in addition to cracks in the skin.
You Will Notice a Variety of Symptoms
With plantar warts, there are a variety of different symptoms associated with them. These symptoms help you determine that you have plantar warts and not other types of growths on your feet. If you have any questions or concerns about the growths on your feet, you should contact your doctor or podiatrist for diagnosis. Some symptoms you may notice include rough and thick growths that are sometimes spongy or bumpy, a brown or grayish-yellow colouring to spots on your feet, and having localized pain near the growths or spots on the skin. If the growth appears to be flat, it could be a plantar wart. You may also have multiple plantar warts forming in the same area.
Medical Treatment is Sometimes Necessary
Plantar warts are not typically considered a serious medical condition and often go away on their own. However, if you are showing more serious signs of infection like fluid leaking from the warts, a high fever, or redness around the warts, you should consult a doctor. You may also need help from a podiatrist if they are painful, not going away, or more warts keep growing. A physical examination and testing a sample of the tissue is typically all that is needed for diagnosis of these warts. If you aren't confident that you have plantar warts, you should see your doctor in case the want to test it for being a potentially cancerous tumor.