Plantar Wart therapy

Plantar Wart therapy

What are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts (Verruca Pedis) are skin infections caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cause a hard and often painful thickened lesion on the sole of the foot. The viruses are present everywhere and are spread when they comes in direct contact with the skin where the outer protective layer is broken, either by minor trauma or by moisture.

Plantar warts are different in their appearance from the raised wart commonly seen on the knees and elbows of children, although these too are most common in children due to their less mature immune system. Plantar warts often make running, jumping, and even walking, uncomfortable because they press inwards on the sensitive nerves of the skin.

Treatment

Warts should be treated if they are spreading (either elsewhere on your foot or to other members of the family), unsightly, or continue to be painful. Unfortunately, ‘over the counter’ preparations are generally unsuccessful in treating plantar warts due to their deeper and calluses-over formation.

At Sydney Foot Clinic some of the treatments used for Plantar Warts are;

• Debridement of the verrucae.
• Application of a mild acid (e.g., salicylic acid) to the wart over the course of several weeks (2-3 times). This destroys the viral/infected cells.
• Application of a stronger acid.
• Wart curettage (excision).
  • performed if there have been multiple failed treatments to remove the wart.

The following tips may help to prevent plantar warts;

• Keep feet dry and clean.
• Avoid walking barefoot in communal showers, change rooms or pools.
• Avoid direct contact with warts on another person.
• Check children’s feet frequently.
• Rotate shoes and change socks daily.