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Warts are usually nothing more than a minor annoyance, but sometimes they need medical attention - especially if they are on the foot. Varruca plantaris - plantar warts - are small skin tumors found primarily on the bottom of the foot. These callous-like eruptions are usually benign but without early diagnosis and treatment, plantar wart pain can be so severe, even stepping out of bed can be torment. Plantar warts can erupt on or between the toes, under the heel - even under toenails. Like other warts, they are caused by a virus which enters the foot through minute scratches or cuts. People who walk barefoot often unknowingly suffer microscopic breaks in the skin, which open the door to a nasty virus. The virus can be active for six months before pain drives its host to a podiatrist. To the untrained eye, plantar warts look like corns or callouses. On the surface, they are the size of a pea, but the warts have roots that grow deep into the foot. Neglected too long, the virus spreads and causes multiple plantar warts to erupt in a large mosaic pattern. Some develop into malignant melanoma - skin cancer. Treatment for plantar warts used to be painful, drawn-out surgery with heavy bleeding and swelling. Today, laser surgery is the most effective way to remove plantar warts. Laser treatment dramatically reduces pain, swelling, blood loss and hematoma - blood pooling under the skin. The wart is sent to a laboratory for biopsy and the surgery usually heals in about 30 days. Patients can avoid surgery if they detect plantar warts early. Sometimes chemotherapy is enough. A single wart is treated with a peeling agent called salicylic acid. A dressing is placed over the lesion, which is then padded and bandaged. The wart is evaluated a few days later and, if the acid killed off a good portion of the lesion, dead tissue is trimmed away from the wart and the patient is instructed how to repeat the salicylic acid treatment at home. If more progress is seen when he or she returns a
week later, continued acid treatment may be all that is needed.
Even if the surgery is necessary, the acid treatment helps to shrink
a wart to allow surgery to be less invasive. But plantar warts are
preventable. Here's how: Clean the shower with an antiseptic, anti-fungal
agent. Keep your feet dry and protected. Never walk barefoot. Resist
infection. Eat a healthy diet, exercise and get enough rest. Verbalize
anger and anxiety and take other steps to minimize stress. For some
patients I prescribe vitamin A to stimulate the immune system. Examine
your feet regularly. At the first sign of changes in the foot, such
as wart - or mold-like eruptions, see a podiatrist. Early diagnosis
is half the battle.Do not cut any growth on the foot's surface.
You can create a scar that will leave a worse problem. Follow home-care
instructions carefully and keep follow-up appointments with your
podiatrist to prevent recurrence. Don't rely on over-the-counter
medicines. They may do more harm than good, especially in patients
with diabetes or poor circulation. Home | About the Doctor
| Free Foot Exam & Consultation email: info@thefootspecialist.com Telephone: (856) 848-3338 |
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