Children are more susceptible to develop plantar warts, hard growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that appear on the soles of the feet. A plantar wart can be very uncomfortable and painful, making it unbearable to walk.

Where infection takes place

HPV thrives in warm and moist environments like public pools, showers, gyms and locker rooms. The virus normally enters the soles of the feet and develops the wart there, but it can also infect other parts of the body through direct contact.

Who gets infected

Children get infected more easily. Adults can also get it, but most of them develop immunity against the virus.

Symptoms

Plantar warts appear on the sole of the foot as small bumpy growths marked by dark spots (tiny capillaries that supply blood to the wart). Walking with a wart on the sole of the foot gives the sensation of having a pebble inside the shoe. The bump is smooth and does not have skin lines. The wart can bleed if scratched.

Treatment Methods

Warts are very resistant to treatment and will keep on growing back unless the virus is removed. Plantar warts are best treated by a podiatrist, so consult one before trying out any of the following treatment methods:

• Prescription cream: Painless alternative, sometimes using a formaldehyde formula, to get rid of warts. Podiatrists prefer this treatment method.
• Mild Acid: A podiatrist can apply an acid-based ointment or solution to the wart. Treatment takes several weeks of multiple applications that will eventually remove the virus so that healthy cells can replace them.
• Laser (Carbon Dioxide) Treatment: An outpatient procedure using local anesthesia. Very effective in treating plantar warts. If done properly, this will not produce skin scars.
• Over-the-counter medications: Some medications contain strong chemicals that can damage the healthy skin around the wart, so be careful when using them.
• Cryotherapy: Plantar warts are frozen with a very cold solution, destroying the virus, causing the wart to turn black and fall off. May be painful and prove ineffective if the solution does not penetrate deep enough to completely destroy the virus.
• Surgery: Also called debridement, this is not generally recommended to treat plantar warts because it can be painful and cause scars on the foot. Usually a last resort to get rid of large warts.