The human papillomavirus (HPV) is often associated with cervical cancer and other sexually transmitted infections, but did you know it can also affect your feet? Certain strains of HPV cause plantar warts.
Plantar warts are small, hard growths that form on the plantar surface (i.e., your sole) of your foot. You might notice a small black dot on your plantar wart.
Because untreated warts can spread into clusters of warts, Aamir Mahmood, DPM, Joseph Wilson, DPM, FACFAS, and the Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic team encourage you to visit us here in the Chicago metropolitan area or northwest Indiana.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about HPV and plantar warts.
HPV enters your body through tiny cuts or cracks on your skin, especially in areas exposed to moisture, such as locker rooms, public showers, and swimming pools.
Once inside your skin, the virus causes skin cells to grow rapidly. This triggers the growth of warts on the bottom of your feet.
These warts can grow deep into the skin and become painful, especially when you walk.
Plantar warts pose another problem: they shed HPV. This means that one plantar wart can increase the risk that your wart spreads to other parts of your foot — or other people in your home.
You might suspect you have a plantar wart if you spot:
Plantar warts are diagnosed through examination. In some cases, you may need a biopsy to confirm or rule out the source of your bumps.
With a few lifestyle modifications, you can reduce your risk of developing plantar warts. Practice good foot hygiene, wear flip-flops in public showers or pools, and keep your feet dry. This also helps avoid other foot problems like athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, and yeast infections.
To avoid spreading warts through your household, avoid walking barefoot, don’t share socks or linens, and clean the shower between uses.
If you develop a wart, over-the-counter treatments like salicylic acid can help. However, if you really want to get to the root cause, you need treatments that target the virus too — and that’s what we do. The Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic teams focus on plantar wart treatments that destroy the virus behind the warts.
Potential treatments include:
As you combat HPV-related warts, continue to practice good foot hygiene, avoid walking barefoot, and nourish your body with foods rich in vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and vitamin D.
If you suspect you have plantar warts, call the location of your choice — Michigan City, Chesterton, Indiana, or Lombard, Illinois — and find the wart solution that works for you.
You can also schedule an appointment online.
