Wart Removal Canberra
Improve the appearance and discomfort of warts with comprehensive wart treatment.
Plantar Warts And Verrucae
Warts, or verrucae, are growths that can appear in many places around the body. One of the most common areas is the feet. Warts on the feet are more specifically known as plantar warts and often appear on the balls, heels, or toes.
Plantar warts can be uncomfortable and unsightly and are contagious. They may go away without treatment, however, this can take a long time. Due to their position, this is not ideal as they have the potential to become increasingly painful and the risk of sharing the virus with someone else is high.
Therefore, seeking professional help from a Canberra podiatrist is often the best way to deal with plantar warts.
Causes of Plantar Warts
Warts develop because of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which thrives in moist, warm environments. The virus enters the body through weaknesses in the skin, such as scratches and cuts. There are many strains of HPV, but only a few that cause the warts that can appear on your feet.
This slow-growing virus is contagious, which means it is passed from one person to another either directly, such as by touching the affected area, or indirectly, such as walking barefoot on surfaces that someone who is infected has walked. Whether you develop a wart after exposure to the virus, or how long it may last, largely depends on how well your immune system responds.
Plantar Warts Symptoms
Warts can be uncomfortable. The bigger they grow, the more likely they are to become more painful, especially as they may press on nearby nerve endings. When warts are on the feet, there are other factors that may increase the discomfort, such as the pressure from weight bearing and footwear.
Plantar warts generally appear as small, grainy and rough fleshy lesions with a solid border that distorts your skin’s usual patterns and lines. There may also be dark spots on the surface of the lesion, which are caused by leakage from small blood capillaries. The skin over the top of the warts may become thickened, yellow and hard. Sometimes, more than one wart will appear in the same location, which is known as a mosaic wart.
Plantar Wart Treatment
Your podiatrist will assess the affected area and discuss your symptoms. The most common test to diagnose a wart is known as the squeeze test. This involves squeezing from either side of the hard, rough area. If there is pain, it is likely to be a wart, as opposed to a corn, which may look similar. Our podiatrists are highly experienced when it comes to warts and can usually identify it by its appearance as well. Assessment also involves evaluating the nerves and blood flow in your feet.
Once your podiatrist has diagnosed the wart, they will discuss with you treatment options. These may include:
- Gently paring down, or debriding, the wart and surrounding skin and applying salycilic acid paste to the affected area. Carefully scraping away the skin and any foreign items may improve the uric acid’s ability to penetrate the wart and work better.
- Freezing the wart with liquid cryogen, also known as cryotherapy. Rapidly freezing and thawing the skin lesions aims to damage the cell membranes, releasing the viral antigens and encouraging your body to mount an immune response to fight the infection.
Putting off treatment may mean dealing with warts for months upon months. Undergo comprehensive podiatry care to improve your body's ability to say goodbye to plantar warts!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are risk factors for warts?
As warts are caused by a virus, everyone has the potential to develop a wart. However, just because you come in contact with HPV, does not mean you will develop a wart. There are some factors that may increase the likelihood of developing or struggling to treat warts. These include:
- Having no previous exposure to HPV, such as a children.
- A weak immune system.
- An autoimmune disease.
- Visits to areas with a high risk of infection, such as community swimming pools or changing rooms in gyms.
- Sharing items such as used socks and towels.
- Having points on the skin of your feet that provide the virus entry into your body, such as a cut.
Does pressure cause plantar warts to develop?
Because plantar warts often appear on the balls and heels of feet, it could be assumed that it is because of the high level of pressure these areas deal with. This is not the case as warts are caused by HPV.
However, the pressure can change the way warts grow. They can grow inward and a thick, hard skin layer, known as a callus, can develop.
Do warts look like skin tags?
Skin tags are smooth, soft and vary in size. They hang off the body and usually appear in areas where the skin rubs against skin or clothing. Their appearance differs from warts, which are typically rough, hard, speckled, small and uncomfortable.
How many treatments will I need to get rid of the wart?
How long it takes for the wart to respond to treatment depends on what type of procedures your podiatrist identifies as most suitable for you, how long you have had the wart, and how well your immune system is functioning.
Why Visit CBR Podiatry?
Experienced Podiatrists
We are highly qualified and experienced in treating a broad range of issues related to the feet and lower limbs.
Quality Resources
Our clinic utilises the best possible equipment and treatment options, which can make a significant difference when dealing with warts.
Local Clinic
We love to support our community and provide high-quality service and support to everyone.
Seek Treatment For Warts at CBR Podiatry
If you are dealing with a wart or an uncomfortable area on your feet, please contact our friendly team to organise your initial consultation. We look forward to assisting you and getting you back on track as soon as possible!
No Referral Needed
