What is Plantar warts?

These are small skin bulges that develop on the heels and in the areas of the foot that make contact with the ground and support weight. They usually appear in the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin), but they can also grow inside, in the dermis.

Sometimes, they are confused with calluses, but they are not related, since these are produced by the rubbing of the skin with footwear, causing it to thicken, while plantar warts are the product of an infection by the virus of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which penetrates the skin through small wounds, abrasions, or cracks on the soles of the feet.

They are usually not contagious and do not cause serious complications, but they can cause postural problems due to their discomfort, altering the way we walk or place our feet, which over time can be the origin of muscle and joint abnormalities.

• Small fleshy lump, rough texture, and appearance similar to cauliflower sprouts.
• When the wart grows inward, the thick, hardened skin looks like a conventional callus.
• Formation of black dots produced by blood coagulation in the process of viral vascularization.
• Discomfort or pain when supporting the foot and when walking.

You must see your doctor if:

• You notice bleeding in the wart, the pain increases, and changes in consistency, appearance, and color.
• You are diabetic.
• You have HIV/AIDS.
• You have an immune system condition.

How to prevent its appearance:

• Practice a thorough daily hygienic routine on your feet and dry them very well.
• Wear clean socks and different shoes every day.
• Wear sandals to walk in public places such as bathrooms, locker rooms, swimming pools, and gyms.

If you already have warts:

• Don’t touch the warts, and if you do, wash your hands thoroughly each time you do.
• Use exclusive nail clippers and files on the feet with warts.

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination that will include careful observation of warts, and if there are doubts about the diagnosis, they will take a tissue sample to be analyzed in the laboratory.

The treatment to follow will depend on the number of warts, their size, and the magnitude of the symptoms, but many times, following hygiene and personal care recommendations, they can disappear in a few months.

In case they are very painful or abundant and prevent you from walking properly, your doctor could prescribe topical drugs with salicylic acid whose function is to eliminate the warts in layers and help strengthen the immune system to help your own body eradicate them. He may also perform some procedures to remove them, such as:

• Cryotherapy: This consists of freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen so that it falls off on its own after a few sessions.
• Electrodesiccation and curettage: an electric needle is used to remove it.
• Cauterization with a laser beam.

t ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

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