A plantar wart appears on the sole of the foot as a small cauliflower-shaped lesion. There is a central dark spot in the lesion that is in fact a petechial hemorrhage. Scratching of the may result in bleeding. Upon standing or walking, pain is felt at the site of the wart.

• Pain

  They may result in pain with pressure such that walking may be difficult. [en.wikipedia.org]

  The more painful the warts are, the more a person will have to alter the way she walks to avoid putting pressure on the wart and causing pain. [livestrong.com]

  Having plantar warts can be truly painful because the weight of the body places pressure on warts which pushes them deeper inwards when standing or walking. They can grow even deeper into the skin until it causes discomfort and pain. [warts.org]

  However, because this may take a long time and they are painful, most people prefer active treatment. When to see your doctor You should see a doctor for any lesion on the foot that becomes painful. [health24.com]

• Swelling

  Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have signs of infection, such as: Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness. Red streaks leading from a wart. Pus draining from a wart. A fever. [myhealth.alberta.ca]

  The warts would ‘swell’ and become very white, but even after doing this for a month, there was no real difference, so I gave up. – For a long time I tried simply wearing bandaids on them 24/7, partly to save myself the embarrassment, and partly because [earthclinic.com]

  It is important to seek medical help when: You’re experiencing a painful or burning sensation from a lesion You have redness, swelling, or bleeding from a lesion A home remedy trial does not work You desire to have warts removed by burning or freezing [doctorshealthpress.com]

• Weakness

  The acid is a very weak acid, and is generally applied on a daily basis. Before application, the wart should be trimmed with a #15 or #10 scalpel blade to enhance the penetration of the salicylic acid. [library.med.utah.edu]

  The virus enters your body through tiny cuts, breaks or other weak spots on the bottom of your feet. Most plantar warts aren't a serious health concern and usually go away without treatment eventually. [mayoclinic.org]

  Over-the-counter preparations containing weak acid and/or a drying agent can be applied on a daily basis for several weeks. [rothmaninstitute.com]

  These are common to people with weak immune systems like children, people with immunodeficiency and the elderly. An infection can be transferred effectively through direct skin contact when a plantar wart is open. [warts.org]

• Surgical Procedure

  Some treatments for plantar warts are peeling medicines (salicylic acid), freezing medicines (cryotherapy), or surgical procedures. Laser treatments and vaccines are also used to treat plantar warts. [landmarkfootandankle.com]

  Primary surgical therapy can often be accomplished in the office and includes the following options: Cryosurgery Electrosurgery (electrodesiccation or a loop electrosurgical excision procedure [LEEP]) Simple surgical excision with a scalpel, scissors, [emedicine.com]

• Chills

  The clinical course in this patient was characterized by fever, chills and drainage from the injection site. Diagnosis was made by demonstration of noncaseating granulomas on liver biopsy. No acid-fast organisms were identified by stain or culture. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Overeating

  Starbuck has been in private, primary care practice for over twenty-seven years. She is a past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. [mtpr.org]

  Over time these warts will have a tendency to resolve. For larger warts, over the counter contact treatment that is aimed at dissolving away the warts may be helpful. [footeducation.com]

  Use the pumice stone or emery board only over the plantar warts to avoid spreading to other areas. Roughing up the skin over the wart allows for better penetration of any medication. Obtain some vitamin A capsules. [livestrong.com]

  Over-the-counter preparations containing weak acid and/or a drying agent can be applied on a daily basis for several weeks. [rothmaninstitute.com]

  It is usual for a scab to develop over the wart after a few days. We will give you information about how to care for the area. [perthpodiatrist.com.au]

• Foot Pain

  Common Foot Pain Problems Foot pain may be caused by a variety of problems. See photos of common foot problems, such as corns and calluses, plantar warts, gout, bunions, athlete's foot, hammertoe, ingrown toenails, and flatfoot. [emedicinehealth.com]

  Don’t endure pain unnecessarily—let our team end your foot pain now! Diabetics and patients with autoimmune disorders should never treat foot conditions at home, since serious infections can result. [absolutefootcarelv.com]

  […] a wart has grown inward Black pinpoints, which are commonly called wart seeds but are actually small, clotted blood vessels A lesion that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your foot Pain or tenderness when walking or standing When [mayoclinic.org]

• Heel Pain

  Thousands of Aussie kids face common childhood foot problems ranging from delayed walking, heel pain and growing pains through to ingrown toenails. [myfootdr.com.au]

  Samuel Ghani and Muhammad Ali Fazal, An Unusual Cause of Intractable Heel Pain, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 10.1053/j.jfas.2011.06.014, 50, 6, (744-746), (2011). [doi.org]

• Skin Lesion

  A new type of laser has been developed to treat several different types of skin lesions called the Pulsed Dye Laser. This new laser has promise in the effective treatment of warts. Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen is another form of treatment. [podiatrynetwork.com]

  How to Treat Plantar Warts During Pregnancy When Naturally Does Not Work If you think you may have a wart, have it examined by your podiatrist who will be able to determine if it is a wart or another skin lesion, as well as what treatment may be best. [americanpregnancy.org]

  Salicylic acid should only be used on warts or calluses and not on other types of skin conditions or lesions. [emedicinehealth.com]

• Skin Disease

  Simon Nuttall Learn about this topic in these articles: childhood skin diseases In childhood disease and disorder: Skin disorders …rather flattened is called a plantar wart. [britannica.com]

  If you are uncertain that a skin growth is a wart, or if you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or other major illnesses that may affect your treatment, it is best to see a health professional. [northshore.org]

• Formication

  Aim The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of 85% formic acid application, an inexpensive therapy, for the treatment of warts. [doi.org]

  A 12-week daily treatment with salicylic acid has been shown to lead to a complete clearance of warts in 10–15% of the cases.Formic acid — Topical formic acid is a common treatment for plantar warts, which works by being applied over a period of time [en.wikipedia.org]

  Formic acid Imiquimod Imiquimod is a topic cream for both benign and malignant genital and general warts. It’s a so-called immune response modifier which stimulates the immune system to defend itself from pre-cancerous and cancerous skin conditions. [runnerclick.com]

• Hyperhidrosis

  […] to cancer of the cervix Risk factors for warts Anyone can develop warts, but factors that increase the risk include: injuries to the skin skin infections that break the skin surface frequently getting the hands wet hands or feet that sweat heavily (hyperhidrosis [betterhealth.vic.gov.au]

  These include trauma or maceration of the skin, frequent wet work involving hands, hyperhidrosis of feet, swimming pools, and nail biting. Butchers and slaughterhouse workers also are at increased risk for developing warts. [emedicine.com]

• Skin Discoloration

  They look rough and create some skin discoloration in adjoining areas. There are multiple types of warts that can be found on the head and face. One is a filiform wart that can appear around the nose, mouth, and chin. [runnerclick.com]

• Confusion

  Therefore, they often are confused with corns or calluses. Warts contain many blood vessels and nerve endings, and can bleed profusely when cut. It is recommended that you never attempt to cut or trim plantar warts. [asafoot.com]

  Plantar warts are often confused with corns as they have a similar appearance, however you will find that most plantar warts have a small black dot in the middle and are painful when squeezed from the sides. [activepod.com.au]

  Plantar warts are often confused with calluses, however, there is a simple observation that can differentiate them. In case of plantar warts, the striations of the feet go around the lesion of the wart. [symptoma.com]

  Other lesions on the bottom of the foot that are often confused with plantars warts are porokeratoses and inclusion cysts. Treatment There are a variety of ways to treat warts. [podiatrynetwork.com]

Plantar warts can usually be diagnosed simply upon physical examination. Plantar warts are often confused with calluses, however, there is a simple observation that can differentiate them.

In case of plantar warts, the striations of the feet go around the lesion of the wart. On the other hand, in the case of calluses, the striations run straight across the top layer of the skin, even over the lesion.

Plantar warts should be treated by medical or surgical interventions if the pain is too much to bear.

• Keratolytic agents (agents that break down keratin) containing salicyclic acid are the first line of treatment for plantar warts [5] [6]. These agents are often available as over the counter medications. They are used daily for 12 weeks with a complete success rate of 10-15%. Similar agents containing trichloroacetic acid are also equally effective.
• Immunotherapy is the second line treatment for plantar warts [7] [8]. Antigens that trigger the immune response of the body are injected. The resultant immune response is quite localized to the area of the wart. This often leads to a faster resolution of the lesion.
• Surgical interventions are considered when other therapies are not effective [9] [10]. Cryosurgery which involves internal freezing of the cells of the warts by the use of liquid nitrogen is one of the frequently used methods. Other methods include surgical excision and removal of the wart, cauterization and laser therapy.

The prognosis of the patients suffering from plantar warts is excellent. In up to 27% of the patients, the disease may resolve on its own without any treatment. In the rest, medical and surgical treatment is associated with a very good cure rate and the patients do not suffer from long term nuisance because of these warts.

The causative agent of plantar warts is a virus known as the human papilloma virus (HPV) [1]. There are more than a hundred types of this virus. Out of them, the types that commonly lead to the development of plantar warts include types 1, 2, 4, 60 and 63 [2]. Rarely, plantar warts may be caused by types 57, 65, 66 and 156.

Infection occurs when the virus invades the compromised portions of the skin through direct contact. This may occur when a person with cuts or abrasions walks on moist surfaces such as near showers or swimming pools.

This infection is uncommon in people who always walk barefoot since the soles of such people’s feet become hard and crusty. As shown by a survey in China and India, there is only a 0.29% incidence of plantar warts in people who walk barefoot [3].

Plantar warts affect around 7 to 10% of the population in the United States. Males and females are affected equally; however, genetic and racial factors play a predisposing role. Certain researches indicate that warts occur two times more commonly in blacks as compared to whites [4].

The invasion and infection of the human papilloma virus in the plantar skin triggers a series of changes that leads to the formation of warts. The exact mechanism of these changes is not very clear; however, it is known to be due to an immune response to the virus.

The primary changes that occur consist of the thickening of several of layers of the skin including the stratum corneum (by deposition of excess of keratin), stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum, as well as elongation of the rete ridges.

• Walking barefoot is known to be an effective preventive measure against the development of plantar warts. Barefoot walking makes the skin of the feet thicker that helps prevent plantar warts.
• The infection progresses in moist, closed environments due to which it is recommended to avoid wearing shoes immediately after walking barefoot in moist public areas such as pools and showers.
• Since these warts are contagious, they should not be touched directly. Sharing of socks or shoes with the affected person should also be avoided.
• According to the British National Health Service, children with warts should wear an adhesive bandage when they swim; wear flip-flops when they use public showers and avoid sharing their towels with anyone else.

Warts are small, rough growths that develop on the skin. Plantar warts refer to those warts that form on the foot, primarily on the sole. Warts have multifactorial etiology; however, plantar warts in particular are caused by human papilloma virus. Several strains of this virus can cause the development of plantar warts.

The disease is self-limiting and requires only conservative treatment. Complicated cases that fail to respond to conservative treatment may require minor surgical intervention.

Warts that form on the sole of the foot are known as plantar warts. They may have a rough, cauliflower like shape or may resemble a blister. They are formed as a result of infection with several strains of a virus known as human papilloma virus.

Plantar warts often heal on their own and require very limited treatment. Cases that do not heal despite proper treatment may require some minor surgery for the removal of the wart.

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