Plantar warts are known as small growths that appear on the heels or other weight-bearing areas on your feet. This pressure can also cause plantar warts to grow inward instead of outward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin called a callus.
 
Plantar warts are caused by the HPV virus which enters your body through tiny cuts, breaks, or other weak areas on the bottom of your feet. Most plantar warts are not a serious health concern and usually go away with medical treatment by a podiatrist.

As previously mentioned, plantar warts are caused by the HPV virus which is an infection in the outer layer of your skin on the soles of your feet. Plantar warts can develop when the HPV virus enters your body through tiny cuts, breaks, or other weak areas on the bottom of your feet.

The HPV virus is very common, and more than 100 variations of the virus exist. Only a few of these viruses however can cause warts on the feet. Other types of the HPV virus are more likely to cause warts on other areas of your skin or mucous membranes than your feet.

Each individual will respond differently to the HPV virus, not everyone who comes into contact with the virus will develop plantar warts. Even individuals in the same family may react to the virus differently.

The HPV virus strain that causes plantar warts are not highly contagious compared to other warts, so the virus cannot be easily transmitted by direct contact from one to another. It does thrive and live in warm, moist environments like showers, pools, or locker rooms.

 Symptoms of plantar warts may include:

● Small, fleshy, rough, or grainy growths on the bottom of your feet, usually located at the base of the toes or forefoot of the heel
● Hard, thick skin over a well-defined area on the skin, here a wart can grow inward
● Black points that may look like seeds but are small, clotted blood vessels on your feet
● Lesions that can interrupt the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your feet
● Pain or tenderness may be felt when walking or standing

 To help prevent or reduce your risk of plantar warts, you can:

● Avoid direct contact with warts by washing your hands and feet carefully if you come into contact with a wart
● Keeping your feet clean and dry consistently and changing your shoes and socks each day
● Avoid walking barefoot around locker rooms and swimming pools. Instead, wear pool shoes or slippers into the areas
● Don’t pick or scratch at warts if you have one
● Do not use the same pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you will use these same items on your healthy skin and nails

If you leave your plantar wart untreated, the plantar wart can grow up to at least 1 inch in circumference and can easily spread into clusters on your foot and to your other foot, which are called mosaic warts.

In severe cases, it is noted that plantar warts can change gait or posture which results in leg or back pain. Our job as podiatrists is to make sure this does not happen, and that we are able to treat your plantar wart effectively so it goes away.
 
New York Foot Experts offer Plantar Wart Treatment at all four of our locations in Illinois. Quit living with the pain, discomfort and look of plantar warts and book your appointment today with New York Foot Experts Specialists for your plantar warts. Our treatments offer you the ability to treat your plantar warts effectively and relieve the pain and discomfort you may be experiencing. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. Our clinics are located in Wall Street NYC, Midtown NYC, and Harlem NYC. We serve patients from Wall Street Financial District NY, Harlem NY, Midtown NY, Lower Manhattan NY, Brooklyn NY, and Yorkville NY.