Plantar Wart: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Cost

A plantar wart is a small, painfully irritating growth of the skin typically located on the sole of the foot and caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Being extremely contagious, the virus can be passed from one person to another through touch or shared materials.

• Common wart: A verruca, commonly referred to as a common wart, is a skin growth brought on by certain forms of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The hands are where common warts often emerge, although they may also develop elsewhere. Common warts have a rough appearance and frequently develop in skin regions that are subjected to pressure or friction, like the tips of the fingers or the soles of the feet.
• Mosaic wart:A mosaic wart is made up of a number of little common warts related to one another. They often appear on the hands and feet.The cause of mosaic warts is unknown but they can be spread through cuts or scratches in the skin from contact with infected surfaces.
• Filiform wart: A filiform wart is a type of common wart that has long thin strands extending out from its surface. Despite the fact that it may appear anywhere on the body, it often appears on the face, neck, and eyelids.Its cause is unknown but it may be related to irritations from shaving or excessive rubbing of an area that has been exposed to HPV infection before appearing as a filiform wart.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus called the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is present in the environment and can be contracted through direct contact with an infected person or object.

The virus enters through tiny cuts or broken areas on the soles of your feet, which can occur from walking barefoot in public areas.

It may take weeks or months for a plantar wart to develop after exposure to the virus.

• Pain and tenderness: Plantar warts cause pain when touched or pressed, as well as when walking or standing.
• Hard, grainy lesions: They usually have a hard surface with tiny black dots, which are small blood vessels.
• Change in skin colour:It's possible for the afflicted region to be brighter or darker than the skin around it.
• Single or clustered growths: Plantar warts can occur as single growths or in clusters of several warts close together.

• Keep your feet clean and dry by washing them every day.
• Wear sandals or shower shoes in public spaces like locker rooms and swimming pools.
• Don't pick, scratch or otherwise touch warts on your own or anyone else's skin.
• Replace nail files and other personal items after each use.
• Avoid direct contact with warts on others' skin; don't share socks, towels, razors, etc..
• Consider protective coatings like duct tape to limit contact with the wart virus.

• Physical examination: Diagnosis of a plantar wart is usually done through physical examination. The doctor will be looking for a raised, hard bump on the bottom of the foot that appears darker than skin colour, since warts often contain tiny blood vessels. The bump may appear alone or in a cluster and may feel rough or irregular in shape.
• X-ray:Usually, a plantar wart may be identified by looking at the afflicted region visually.X-rays can sometimes be used to confirm the diagnosis and may be necessary if the wart is located deep beneath a callus or is on a bony prominence of the foot.
• MRI: An MRI scan can provide detailed images of internal structures, which can be useful in diagnosing and treating Plantar Warts. An MRI might be a good option for medical professionals to consider if other images (such as X-rays) do not show enough information about the wart.
• Biopsy: A biopsy may also be done to remove part of the wart and have it analysed under a microscope, though this is rarely necessary for making an accurate diagnosis of a plantar wart.

• Bleeding: If the wart is picked off or if it's scraped off, there can be a substantial amount of bleeding.
• Infection: Bacteria on the skin's surface or being scratched open can cause warts to become infected.
• Pain and Discomfort: Plantar warts are usually painful when they press against socks and shoes, as well as when walking on them.
• Spread of the Wart: If not treated promptly and effectively, plantar warts can spread to other areas of the body or to other persons.

• Apply neem oil directly to the wart: Neem oil is a natural antifungal and antiviral agent. It can help fight off the infection that is causing the wart and lead to its natural death.
• Mix turmeric powder with castor oil and apply to wart: Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pain associated with the wart, while castor oil reduces itchiness caused by it.
• Make a paste of ginger and honey: Ginger helps in reducing pain, swelling, and redness associated with plantar warts and honey possesses antiseptic properties which aid in quickly eliminating the infection from your feet.
• Put aloe vera gel on warts: Aloe vera gel helps fight infections such as warts, due to its strong antibacterial property and contain compounds like lupeol which inhibit the growth of bacteria that could aggravate the condition further.

• Eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, and tomatoes.
• eating a diet that is well-balanced and full of healthy fats like the kind found in nuts and olive oil, as well as lean proteins and complex carbohydrates.
• Adequate amounts of vitamin A and C rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, oranges, kiwis etc.
• Drink a lot of water throughout the day to keep hydrated and help the body flush out impurities.

• Avoid consumption of processed and deep fried foods, as these contain unhealthy fat that can aggravate the wart.
• Limit your intake of dairy and dairy products as they can increase inflammation in the area around the wart.
• Do not consume sugary food items like candies, cakes, pastries, etc., as they raise your blood sugar level and can aggravate healing of the skin around the wart.
• Refrain from consuming alcohol or caffeine as they create a dry environment on your skin around the wart and it will slow down the healing process.
• Avoid eating too much spicy food as it increases irritation of the affected areas which will delay the healing process altogether.

• Topical Treatments: Topical treatments are medicines applied directly to the wart and can involve using creams, ointments, medicated plaster, or solutions.
• Cryotherapy: To destroy the virus producing the wart, this entails freezing it with liquid nitrogen. It is often carried out across many sessions, one every few weeks.
• Curettage: Uses a sharp, spoon-shaped instrument known as a curette to shave the wart away.
• Electrocautery: Utilises an electric current to destroy the wart tissue and stimulate healing of the surrounding skin cells.
• Laser Surgery: Can be used to burn away or vaporise the wart tissue, while protecting nearby healthy skin cells from heat damage during treatment.
• Surgery Excision: The complete cutting away of the wart using a scalpel or scissors for deeper warts or lesions located on callused areas of thickened skin, such as plantar warts on feet.

Plantar warts can often be treated by an experienced primary care physician, dermatologist, or podiatrist.

Depending on the severity of the wart and the patient's overall health, other specialists may need to be consulted.

• Antiviral Drugs: These drugs interfere with viral replication by inhibiting the growth of the virus in the host cell. Examples include acyclovir, famciclovir and penciclovir.
• Immunomodulatory Therapy: This therapy involves stimulating or blocking certain immune components to stop the spread of the virus that causes plantar warts. Examples include imiquimod, an immunomodulator, cimetidine and interferon alfa-2b.
• Topical Agents: These agents are applied directly to the wart and work by loosening its hold on the skin, causing it to fall off or become easier to remove and prevent new warts from developing. Examples include salicylic acid, podophyllotoxin and cantharidin.

Recovery from plantar warts typically takes between three and twelve months, but can take even longer depending on the severity of the case.

Treatment options vary, and the wart may require several different treatments in order to eventually get rid of it completely.

Good hygiene and increased immunity also plays a major role in helping the body recover faster.

• The effects of treating a plantar wart might vary depending on the kind of therapy performed.
• Generally, those who use cryotherapy to freeze the wart may experience permanent results while those who use topical treatments such as salicylic acid may need to continue treatment until the wart has cleared up completely.
• It is also important to note that even with treatment, some warts may recur over time.

Most post-treatment guidelines for plantar warts involve:

• Avoiding any activities that could cause the wart to be in contact with more moisture, such as swimming or showering for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
• Socks and broad, comfy shoes should be worn to protect and cushion your foot.
• Applying an antifungal cream or drying powder to the area twice daily until the wart has completely healed.
• Regularly washing and cleaning the area with soap and water while reducing friction on the affected skin by applying a bandage if necessary.
• If needed, apply additional anaesthetic cream to help with any pain in the area after surgery or when needed (e.g., when you are going out).

• The price of treating plantar warts in India might vary depending on the severity of the condition and the chosen course of treatment. Typical cost ranges for treatment plans include:
• Home Remedies: Free up to Rs 200.
• Over-the-Counter Medicine: Rs 300 - 500.
• Cryotherapy/Cryosurgery: Rs 500 - 1000.
• Laser Surgery/Radiofrequency Ablation: Rs 1500 - 5000.

• Physical pain: Treatment of a plantar wart can cause discomfort and pain.
• Re-emergence of the wart: In some cases, the treated wart may reappear or other warts can grow nearby.
• Skin irritation:The skin surrounding the treated region may become red, irritated, and uncomfortable as a result of the treatment approaches.
• Scarring: Carpet warts can lead to permanent scarring on the soles of your feet if not treated properly.

If you have any plantar wart issues, you should see a doctor in your area right away because they can lead to 'bleeding, infection, spread of the wart' and require a treatment plan that can last anywhere from a few months to years, depending on how severe the problem is.