Plantar warts... not just a curse for swimmers!

​Plantar warts, also known as verrucaes, are benign noncancerous growths that occur on the soles or other weight bearing areas of the foot. Pressure from standing and walking often causes them to grow inwards into deep layers of the skin.
 
The human papilloma virus (HPV) invades the body through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin on the bottom of the foot. The virus often transmitted via contaminated surfaces such as tiled floors of gyms and swimming pools,  yoga mats and most recently through unsterile instruments at pedicure spas. 

Verrucaes present as

• A small grainy growth on the bottom of your foot, usually the base of the toes and forefoot or the heel
• Hard, thickened skin (callus) over a well-defined "spot" on the skin, where a wart has grown inward
• Black pinpoints, which are commonly called wart seeds but are actually small, clotted blood vessels
• A lesion that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your foot
• Pain or tenderness when walking or standing

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Over-the-counter pharmacy medications contain chemicals that destroy skin cells (e.g. acid) damaging healthy tissue surrounding the wart contributing to it's spreading. Self-treatment for plantar warts using an over-the-counter preparation is not recommended.

​At Katie Nilan Podiatry we are able to tailor treatment specifically to your age, activities and medical history.