Plantar warts are small yellowish chalice type warts
found on the bottom of the feet known as the 'plantar'
side of the foot. Plantar
warts are distinguished by the small black dots
on the bottom of the foot which are blood vessels.
Warts are a very common infection for people to have
on their body. There are at least 100 different strains
of the human papillomavirus, in short the HPV viral
infection, which causes plantar warts. About ten percent
of the American people have some type of wart and
10 percent of the teenage population have or contract
warts.
Who Gets Plantar Warts?
Almost anyone can get plantar warts, which are caused
by the HPV virus, which can develop in people over
time. The virus can be in the body of someone and
not actually appear in the form of a plantar-style
wart until much later. Weight gain and a lot of pressure
on the ball or heel of the foot can cause a plantar
to develop. Children and adults can develop plantar
warts but the plantar viral infection is a lot more
common in pre-teens. Swimming in public pools, walking
around in a gym locker room and using objects on the
feet that someone with plantar warts had previously
used. People who do illegal drugs or who have any
immune deficiency viruses can also have plantar warts
develop easily.
How Does a Person Know They Have Plantar Warts?
This variety of warts vary in color from yellow to
brown and are hard callace like pieces of skin on
the bottom of the foot. They will have black dots;
these are usually blood vessels which have come to
a stop when they reach the top of the plantar. The
area on the foot where a plantar wart is will be really
sensitive to weight; it is compared to having a pebble
in your foot. Plantar warts are known to spread to
other parts of the foot as the pressure makes them
spread. Plantar warts are flat because they cannot
hold the pressure on the foot in order to be large
lumps. Most warts heal themselves in time but can
be a nuisance and cause slight discomfort.
Are There Cures?
Plantar warts can go away within several years time
by themselves. If they become to many or too bothersome
there are home as well as doctors methods to remove
them. It is important to consult a physician as to
what if any thing on your foot is a plantar as there
are other foot conditions which can cause similar
markings or lumps, such as corns. Most types like
plantar warts are relatively harmless but be aware
any warts of any type can become cancerous at some
time in life. To avoid catching the HPV strain which
causes plantar warts please be sure to wear water
socks in strange homes, public showers and any areas
in which many people walk barefoot.
Resources
* http://orthoinfo.aaos.org
*www.emedicinehealth.com
