Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which infects the skin through small cuts and abrasions.
Plantar warts are warts on the bottom of the feet.  They are often mistaken for corns or calluses -- which are layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated.  Plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries.  Warts are generally raised and fleshier when they appear on the top of the foot or on the toes.  Plantar warts are often gray or brown (but the color may vary).  Black dots can sometimes be seen in a wart.
These are actually blood vessels that have grown rapidly and irregularly into the wart and have clotted off.
Plantar warts are often contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or ground where the virus is lurking.  The Human Papilloma Virus lives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in communal showers, and other wet surfaces such as around pools.
Plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart.  The wart may also bleed and spread that way.  Left untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several warts called mosaic warts.  When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing areas of the feet under the ball of the foot or the heel they can cause sharp, burning pain especially when walking or standing.
Contrary to popular belief, warts do not have "roots."  They only grow in the top layer of skin, the epidermis and does not grow into the dermis.  The underside of a wart is actually smooth.
Who gets warts?  People of all ages can get warts, but they are most commonly seen in children, teens and young adults.  They spread by direct contact.  Your immune system determines your susceptibility to getting warts and the length of time it takes for them to go away.
Prevention tips
Occasionally, warts can spontaneously disappear and, just as frequently, they can recur in the same location.  The key to prevention is to not get infected.
o Avoid walking barefoot on solid surfaces where the virus can live.
o Keep feet clean and dry, change your shoes and socks daily.
o Check your children's feet periodically for signs of warts.
o Avoid direct contact with warts -- from other persons or from other parts of your own body.
o Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your skin.
o Visit your podiatrist as part of your annual health checkup.
Tips for individuals with warts
o Avoid self treatment with over-the-counter preparations.
o Seek professional podiatric evaluation and assistance with the treatment of your warts.
o Diabetics and other patients with circulatory, immunological, or neurological problems should be especially careful with the treatment of their warts.
Warts may spread and are contagious.  Make sure you have your warts evaluated to protect yourself and those close to you.
Self treatment
Self treatment of warts is generally not advised.  However, there are several over-the-counter preparations of acids or other chemicals that are used to treat warts.  Self treatment with such medications should never be used by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders.  Also, never use them in the presence of an active infection.  To relieve pressure and pain in the area you can use a pumice stone or foot file to file down the wart after the foot has been soaked in water for 20 minutes to soften the wart.  After filing your wart, wash the file carefully since you can spread the virus to other parts of your body if you use thin contaminated file.  After touching any of your warts, also wash your hands carefully.
Professional Treatment
If your wart does not resolve spontaneously or with your home treatment, see a podiatrist for definitive treatment and a cure. Your podiatrist may choose from several different techniques for removing plantar warts.
One of the most common methods to burn warts off is with an acid applied topically to the wart.  Several applications may be required over the course of several weeks to achieve this.
Lasers have become a common and effective treatment to destroy the wart. The procedure is performed in the physician's office and is safe.
Cryotherapy, freezing warts with liquid nitrogen is also used and frequently successful and there is no scaring.
Surgical excision of warts may be a treatment option according to the location of the wart but is not recommended since the surgery may leave a painful scar on the bottom of the foot and it is common for warts to return in the scar tissue.
Immunotherapy and other treatment options are available if the wart proves to be resistant to the more common treatment methods.
To see a podiatrist visit Bahamas Foot Centre, Rosetta Street 325-2996, Bahamas Surgical Associates, Albury Lane 394-5820 or the Foot & Ankle Institute, Dean's Lane 326-5402 or email at foothealth242@hotmail.com or www.apma.org.
 

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian