Plantar warts
Plantar warts are benign growths that develop on the soles of the feet, commonly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can often be mistaken for corns or calluses but are characterized by clusters of flat warts featuring small black dots on their surfaces. While generally harmless, plantar warts can be tender and may spread to other areas of the foot or body. The virus is typically contracted by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces, and certain factors, such as having a weakened immune system or conditions like atopic dermatitis, can increase the likelihood of developing these warts.
Symptoms include hard, flat growths accompanied by pain, particularly when pressure is applied. Diagnosis is usually made through a medical examination, often involving a specialist like a podiatrist or dermatologist for complex cases. Treatment options include over-the-counter remedies, duct tape methods, and various medical procedures such as cryotherapy, laser treatment, or surgical removal. Preventive measures focus on minimizing exposure to unsanitary surfaces and maintaining good foot hygiene, including wearing protective footwear in public spaces. Regular checks for warts, especially in children, can aid in early detection and management.
Plantar warts
- ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Feet, skin
Definition
Plantar warts are growths on the soles of the feet. They are often mistaken for corns or calluses. The warts are different because they are caused by a virus. Warts grow in clusters and are usually flat. A plantar wart can often be distinguished by numerous black dots visible on its surface.
Although plantar warts are generally harmless, their location beneath the feet can make them tender. They also have a tendency to spread locally to other sites on the foot and elsewhere on the body.
Causes
Plantar warts, which are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can be contracted by walking barefoot on unsanitary surfaces. Touching and scratching can cause the virus to spread.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop plantar warts. Factors that increase the chance for plantar warts include exposing one’s feet to unsanitary surfaces. Plantar warts are more common in children and teens and in persons with atopic dermatitis (eczema) or with a suppressed immune system caused by AIDS, lymphoma, or the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of plantar warts are hard, flat growths on the soles of the feet; heaped-up calluses surrounding the wart surfaces; and pain in the area of the warts. Other symptoms include pain or tenderness when walking or standing, as well as black pinpoints on the skin.
Screening and Diagnosis
A doctor will ask about symptoms and medical history and will examine the patient’s feet. Some doctors may wish to refer difficult cases to a specialist, such as a podiatrist, whose focus is on foot disorders, or a dermatologist, whose focus is on skin disorders.
Treatment and Therapy
There are many over-the-counter products available to treat warts. These therapies often contain a mild acid and can usually be applied when a wart first appears. Another popular and less expensive treatment is using duct tape to cover a wart for one week at a time. This is also done with weekly “sanding” of the wart with a pumice stone. A person should see a doctor if experiencing recurrent warts, if initial treatment fails, if over-the-counter therapies are not well-tolerated, and when the diagnosis is unclear.
After confirming the diagnosis of plantar warts, the doctor may use one or more of the following treatments: cryotherapy (freezing the warts to kill the virus), laser treatment (using a laser to kill the virus and destroy wart tissue), electrocautery treatment (burning the wart), surgical removal (cutting out the wart, with the patient under anesthetic), and immune therapy (application of substances that stimulate the immune system’s response to the wart-causing virus).
Most plantar warts are not a serious health concern and go away without treatment.
Prevention and Outcomes
The best way to prevent plantar warts is to keep one’s feet from coming into contact with the virus that causes the warts. The following preventive measures are recommended: Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches; wear plastic sandals when showering in public bathrooms; change shoes and socks daily, and keep feet clean and dry; avoid direct contact with warts (of others or of one’s own body). In addition, periodically checking for warts on children’s feet may help prevent the warts from becoming larger and painful.
Bibliography
Al-Gurairi, F. T., M. al-Waiz, and K. E. Sharquie. “Oral Zinc Sulphate in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Viral Warts: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” British Journal of Dermatology 146 (2002): 423-431.
Alexander, Ivy L., ed. Podiatry Sourcebook. 2d rev. ed. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 2007.
Brodell, Robert T., and Sandra Marchese Johnson, eds. Warts: Diagnosis and Management. Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Francis, 2003.
Lorimer, Donald L., et al., eds. Neale’s Disorders of the Foot. 7th ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2006.
McCance, Dennis J., ed. Human Papilloma Viruses. New York: Elsevier Science, 2002.
"Plantar Warts." Mayo Clinic, 7 Feb. 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20352691. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Weedon, David. Skin Pathology. 3d ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2010.