What Are Plantar Warts?
Warts are small rough lumps on the skin. They are caused by a virus (human papillomavirus) which causes a reaction in the skin. Warts can occur anywhere on the body but occur most commonly on hands and feet. Sometimes several occur in the same area of skin. The shape and size of warts vary.
Who gets warts are they harmful?
Most people develop one or more warts at some time in their life, usually before the age of 20. They are not usually harmful. Sometimes plantar warts are painful if they press on a sensitive part of the foot. Some people find their warts unsightly.
Are warts contagious?
Yes, but the risk of passing them on to others is low. You need close skin-to-skin contact. You are more at risk of being infected if your skin is damaged, or if it is wet and in contact with roughened surfaces. For example, in swimming pools and communal washing areas.
You can also spread the wart virus to other areas of your body for example they can spread if you pick at them. If you have a poor immune system you may develop lots of warts which are difficult to clear.
To reduce the chance of passing on warts to others:
- Don’t share towels.
- When swimming, cover any wart or verruca with a waterproof plaster.
- If you have a plantar wart, wear flip-flops in communal shower rooms and don’t share shoes or socks.
Salicylic Acid Treatment
Studies report that about 8 in 10 warts are cleared within 3 months with use of salicylic acid. Here at Podiatry First we use a strong dose of Salicylic acid as a weekly treatment, with the patient applying a daily ointment at home.
- The plantar wart is debrided to remove the top layers of dead skin
- The skin is masked to prevent the acid damaging healthy tissue
- The acid is applied and a cover dressing is place over the top to hold in place
- Its advised to keep the dressing on and dry for 3 days to get the best results
On the third day the dressing can be removed and the home treatment of Duofilm can be applied until the next podiatry treatment.
If you would like to make an appointment please call the clinic on 0293871545.
