Warts and All!
Warts don’t really come from toads, but they can be pretty nasty. Our Podiatrist can tell you how to avoid them and what to do if you have one!
Plantar Warts – more technically known as Verruca Plantaris – are often painless, but they can be very unpleasant. Especially when left untreated.
A Plantar Wart is caused by HPV, and can be picked up when a cut on the foot comes into contact with the virus – communal changing rooms and showers are notoriously dangerous!
They appear as hard, grainy or fleshy growths on the soles of the foot. Sometimes they even come with a callous. Running, jumping and even walking can become uncomfortable because they can press on the nerves in the soles of the feet. If left untreated, this can sometimes affect the way you walk, causing problems with the legs, hips and backs.
Plantar warts can also spread to other parts of the body, like the hands.
So, whilst they are not dangerous in themselves, it is important to get them treated.
Over the counter treatments are rarely successful because of the callouses which form over them.
A Podiatrist will treat Plantar Warts in one of two ways:
- Salycilic Acid will remove the viral cells slowly and allow health skin to replace them. This may require multiple treatments over several weeks.
- Cryotherapy freezes the warts with a cold solution. This treatment depends on the depth of the wart.
And to avoid Plantar Warts in the future – wear thongs in communal pool areas, changing areas and shower rooms. Keep your feet clean and dry, avoid contact with warts on other parts of the body and check your feet regularly.
Your feet take a heck of a beating on a daily basis, so it is important to look after them. Don’t ignore pain or changes in the skin. Drop in to your local podiatrist and get those things checked out right away!
