What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts, or verruca plantaris, are skin growths that grow underneath your feet. The pressure from walking on them causes the area to grow thicker, and push into the skin underneath, often causing pain.
Plantar warts are caused by a virus called HPV. It gets in the the skin through small cuts or breaks in the skin.
Many plantar warts cause no problems and go away on their own. There are several over the counter treatments that can hep to get rid of them.
How do I know if I have a plantar wart?
Signs and symptoms may include:
A lumpy growth (lesion) on the bottom of your foot.
Thick hard skin (callus) over a deeper lump on the skin, where a wart has pushed inward
Black spots, which are actually small clotted blood vessels
A lesion that disrupts the normal lines in your skin
Painful lumps that hurt when walking or standing
When to see a podiatrist
You need to come and see us if the lump is painful, if it doesn’t go away, or if it is changing colour or shape.
Transmission of the virus
Plantar warts can be spread, and loves warm moist environments, such as showers.
When plantar warts cause pain, you may alter your normal posture or gait — perhaps without realizing it. Eventually, this change in how you stand, walk or run can cause muscle or joint discomfort.
