Warts - How to Diagnose and Treat Warts Effectively
Todd Mumford
May 01, 2007
Plantar warts are a fairly common infection of the skin, occurring on the bottom (plantar) surface of the foot. No matter what ancient folklore or some old wives’ tales would have one believe, warts are not spread by toads, nor does a person get warts by touching them. Warts are caused by different variants of the Papilloma virus that enters the body through a cut or gap in the skin. Planter warts are no exception either.
The virus thrives in moist and warm conditions. Such conditions are frequently seen in locker rooms, or inside shoes. As a person perspires, the sweat and the resultant moisture get trapped in the shoes and create an environment that promotes the growth of the virus. Lack of personal hygiene, using public showers or even walking around the locker room in bare feet multiplies the risk for developing plantar warts manifold. A weakened immune system can also increase the risk of an attack. The warts have an incubation period ranging from 1 to 20 months. Therefore, it is very difficult to tell accurately when the virus was introduced into the body.
Planter warts can erupt on any part of the sole. They often resemble calluses and it can be difficult to distinguish between the two sometimes. And that is why close observation is needed to identify planter warts.
When someone has planter warts, the person will have very small black dots on the surface layer of the warts. These dots are the ends of capillary blood vessels. On the other hand, calluses display no such blood vessels. They appear as yellow candle wax and occur where the skin bears weight. It is important to remember that calluses (or corns) are basically layers of dead skin that the body builds up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated or which has to bear a substantial weight. Planter warts, however, are a viral infection, caused by a virus.
Planter warts are among the most common types of warts caused by the Papilloma virus. People of all age groups can get Planter warts. However, they are prevalent among children aged 12-16 years and teenagers.
Yes surely. Most people who have had Planter warts before, or are currently having them, would testify to the great degree of pain and discomfort that they cause. Plantar warts are tender in nature and they can get very painful. As a person stands or walks around, the warts are pushed flat. Consequently, they swell up within the skin and give a nagging stone-in-the-shoe sensation.
Even though Planter warts disappear on their own over time, treatments reduce the symptoms, especially the pain associated with the outbreak. The condition can also be checked quicker as also the spread of the virus. Often, if left untreated, Planter warts can grow larger (an inch or more in circumference) and multiply and spread into clusters of several warts. These clusters are sometimes called mosaic warts. Therefore, if Planter warts are suspected, medical attention is needed to treat the warts before they grow into a bigger and more painful menace.
The virus thrives in moist and warm conditions. Such conditions are frequently seen in locker rooms, or inside shoes. As a person perspires, the sweat and the resultant moisture get trapped in the shoes and create an environment that promotes the growth of the virus. Lack of personal hygiene, using public showers or even walking around the locker room in bare feet multiplies the risk for developing plantar warts manifold. A weakened immune system can also increase the risk of an attack. The warts have an incubation period ranging from 1 to 20 months. Therefore, it is very difficult to tell accurately when the virus was introduced into the body.
Planter warts can erupt on any part of the sole. They often resemble calluses and it can be difficult to distinguish between the two sometimes. And that is why close observation is needed to identify planter warts.
When someone has planter warts, the person will have very small black dots on the surface layer of the warts. These dots are the ends of capillary blood vessels. On the other hand, calluses display no such blood vessels. They appear as yellow candle wax and occur where the skin bears weight. It is important to remember that calluses (or corns) are basically layers of dead skin that the body builds up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated or which has to bear a substantial weight. Planter warts, however, are a viral infection, caused by a virus.
Planter warts are among the most common types of warts caused by the Papilloma virus. People of all age groups can get Planter warts. However, they are prevalent among children aged 12-16 years and teenagers.
Yes surely. Most people who have had Planter warts before, or are currently having them, would testify to the great degree of pain and discomfort that they cause. Plantar warts are tender in nature and they can get very painful. As a person stands or walks around, the warts are pushed flat. Consequently, they swell up within the skin and give a nagging stone-in-the-shoe sensation.
Even though Planter warts disappear on their own over time, treatments reduce the symptoms, especially the pain associated with the outbreak. The condition can also be checked quicker as also the spread of the virus. Often, if left untreated, Planter warts can grow larger (an inch or more in circumference) and multiply and spread into clusters of several warts. These clusters are sometimes called mosaic warts. Therefore, if Planter warts are suspected, medical attention is needed to treat the warts before they grow into a bigger and more painful menace.
Print
Email
