Plantar Warts
Warts are one of the most common foot conditions that we treat at Collective Foot & Orthotic Clinic. They are highly contagious, spread easily, and can appear on various parts of the body. Warts have the ability to hide from your immune system, so they will not be resolved on their own and usually require treatment. Wart treatments vary, depending on the severity of the infection.
Warts are most common on the bottom of the feet where it’s easiest to be exposed to the virus. They are typically a raised circular area and can occur anywhere on the skin. Often, they can be uncomfortable and even painful.
Collective Foot & Orthotic Clinic can perform a variety of wart treatments, including wart removal, to help you alleviate discomfort and help treat the infection!
Causes and Prevention
Plantar warts are caused by an infection by the Human Papilloma Virus. Breaks in the skin let the virus in, which is why they often appear on the bottom of the foot. For this reason, being barefoot in public places is a common cause of plantar warts. Some people are more susceptible to plantar warts than others, so it’s difficult to predict who is most at risk in different environments.
Preventing plantar warts from spreading or preventing yourself from getting infected is very simple. Always wear footwear (like water shoes or flip flops) in public showers, pool decks, gyms, and any other place where people are frequently barefoot. Make sure you only use clean tools on your feet and always sterilize any instruments that are used on feet in order to kill the virus.
If you have plantar warts, these rules are essential to follow to prevent the spread of the virus. Furthermore, wearing waterproof bandaids over warts when going to public places will ensure that the virus doesn’t get transmitted to any surfaces. To prevent the spread of bacteria to other parts of the body, never pick at or scratch a wart.
Treatment
There are a variety of plantar wart treatments depending on the severity of the infection:
Prescribed topical ointments for home use
In-office topical medications
Swift Microwave Treatment
Surgical wart removal
If left untreated, plantar warts can easily spread to other areas of your skin, like your face or hands. It’s also easy for the Viral particles to spread to people who come in contact with the warts, like family members in your house. They can become painful and sometimes cause difficulty walking.
If you are suffering from warts, it’s important to have them treated or removed quickly to prevent the spread or further discomfort.
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Contact us today to learn how Collective Foot and Orthotic Clinic can help you control outbreaks and prevent the spread of plantar warts.
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