A wart is a benign or non-cancerous skin lesion that is caused by the human papillomavirus. Warts, also known as verrucae, are contagious in nature and can be spread from one person to another. They are classified depending on where on the body they occur and how they look. Warts on the bottom or pulp of a toe are called plantar warts. A wart on the pulp of a toe can be painful as this is the area of the toe that bears weight when walking.
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Symptoms
The medical term for a plantar wart is verruca pedis. They are located on areas of the foot that typically bear the weight of the body. Plantar warts are the pulp of the toe, are flat, and either brown, grey or similar in colour to a person’s skin. They tend to be small in size and feel rough to the touch and firm in texture. There are usually black dots within the wart which indicates bleeding from the tiniest blood vessels in the body and is a common feature of warts. Warts need a supply of blood to feed the virus and keep it alive.
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Causes
Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a viral infection that causes skin and mucous membrane growths such as warts. There are over a hundred different strains of this virus, but only a few are linked to warts on feet. Not everyone who is exposed to HPV will develop a wart. A weak immune system or a break in the exposed skin can increase a person’s risk for developing a wart. Warts are common in children and teenagers because their immune systems are still developing.
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Treatment
With warts, it is a good idea to seek advice from a primary care professional or medical footcare clinician. At home treatment includes a medication called salicylic acid, that is applied to the wart as a solution or cream. After application, Duct tape is applied to cover the wart and increase the effectiveness of the medication. Other treatments provided by foot care clinicians at BioPed include liquid nitrogen, Cantharidin and silver nitrate among others. Professional debridement or trimming is a key component of treatment. The type of treatment depends on the age, a person’s overall health and the type of wart and where it is located.
