Do you ever happen to have those hard, grainy growths found on the heels or balls of your feet? You do? I bet you despise seeing those disgusting plantar warts, right?
Well, who doesn’t?
Plantar warts are thick, rough, and benign skin growth located at the bottom of your foot. They are commonly form on pressure points (heels and balls of the foot). They are usually flat, appears grey or brown, and has black dots in the center. Sometimes it is painful or tender every time you walk or stand.
These growths develop when the skin is infected by an HPV (human papillomavirus), the same virus that causes warts on other areas of the body.
HPV spreads through direct contact. It usually enters the skin through cuts or any opening at the bottom of your feet. And yes, you could get a plantar wart if you touch someone else’s wart. Children, adolescent, elderly and those with poor or weak immune system are at higher risk in developing these warts. More so, if you have had a plantar wart before, you are more likely to get one again.
The risk also increases if you walk barefoot and if your foot touches warm, moist areas and gets wet all the time.
- Avoid direct contact with warts
- Do not touch someone else’s wart.
- Do not walk barefoot in public places: Wear shower shoes or sandals in warm, damp areas.
- Keep your feet clean and dry: Use foot powder in between your toes and on your feet after you wash and dry them.
- Change socks often to avoid damp feet. If your shoes are damp from sweat, set them in a place where they can dry out before you wear them again.
- NEVER share or reuse items, such as: nail files, pumice stones, socks, or towels. Clean these items with hot soapy water before you use them again.
Image Credits: hamptonpodiatry, dermishealth, nkfaz, drugs, noskinproblems
