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 of the heel are called plantar warts. The word “plantar” is derived from Latin and means “of the sole.” A wart on the heel can be quite painful as this part of our foot endures a large amount of pressure and bodyweight when it strikes the ground during gait.
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Symptoms
The medical term for a plantar wart is verruca pedis. Plantar warts on the heel tend to be flat as pressure from the ground pushes the wart deeper into the tissue. These warts will have a cauliflower-like texture on the surface and may have callus around it as well. Plantar warts will appear either brown, grey or similar in colour to a person’s skin and can vary significantly in size. There may be a singular wart or a cluster. Black dots within the wart tissue indicate 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 or patch. After application, Duct tape is applied to cover the wart and increase the effectiveness of the medication and occlude the virus. Other treatments provided by medical footcare clinicians at BioPed include liquid nitrogen, Cantharidin and others. Professional debridement is key. The type of treatment depends on the age, a person’s overall health and the type of wart and where it is located. BioPed Chiropodists and Footcare Nurses are qualified to assess and treat plantar warts.
