Plantar warts are hard, grainy growths that
usually appear on the heels or balls of your feet, areas that feel the most
pressure. This pressure also may cause plantar warts to grow inward beneath a
hard, thick layer of skin (callus).
Plantar warts are caused by the human
papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters your body through tiny cuts, breaks or
other weak spots on the bottom of your feet.
Most plantar warts aren't a serious health
concern and may not require treatment. But plantar warts can cause discomfort
or pain. If self-care treatments for plantar warts don't work, you may want to
see your doctor to have them removed.
Causes
Plantar warts are caused by an infection with
the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the outer layer of skin on the soles of your
feet.
More than 100 types of HPV exist, but only a
few cause warts on your feet. Other types of HPV are more likely to cause warts
on other areas of your skin or on mucous membranes.
Transmission
of the virus
Each person's immune system responds
differently to HPV. Not everyone who comes in contact with it develops warts.
Even people in the same family react to the virus differently.
The HPV strains that cause plantar warts
aren't highly contagious. So the virus isn't easily transmitted by direct
contact from one person to another. But it thrives in warm, moist environments.
Consequently, you may contract the virus by walking barefoot around swimming
pools or locker rooms. If the virus spreads from the first site of infection,
more warts may appear.
The virus also needs to have a point of entry
into the skin of the foot:
- Cracks in dry skin
- Cuts or scrapes
- Wet, softened, fragile skin from being in the water a long time
Symptoms
Plantar wart signs and symptoms include:
- A small, fleshy, rough, grainy growth (lesion) on the bottom of your
foot
- Hard, thickened skin (callus) over a well-defined "spot"
on the skin, where a wart has grown inward
- Black pinpoints, which are commonly called wart seeds but are
actually small, clotted blood vessels
- A lesion that interrupts the normal lines and ridges in the skin of
your foot
- Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
Remedies
for Plantar Warts
1. Duct
Tape
Simply cover
the wart with a duct tape after soaking it in warm water, and then exfoliating
the wart-affected area. Cover the wart with the tape for about 6 days. Repeat
the soaking process every time you remove the tape. Repeat this remedy for a
few months, until the wart is totally gone.
2. Apple
Cider Vinegar
This is one
of the best treatments for plantar warts. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider
vinegar and apply it on the wart. Then, cover it with a duct tape. Replace it
once in every few days. Don’t forget to soak the feet in warm water every time
you remove the tape.
3. Banana
Peel
Cover the
wart by placing the inner part of banana peel and simply stick it with a tape.
4. Tea
Tree Oil
Tea tree oil
is another good home remedy for plantar warts on feet. Apply it frequently to
remove the plantar warts on toe.
5. Onions
Crush some
onion and apply its juice on the plantar wart. This is another easier method to
remove the plantar warts.
6. Lemon
Essential Oil
You can also
apply a few drops of lemon essential oil on the plantar wart. Use it for a few
days, continuously. This greatly helps in getting rid of the warts in some
days.
7. Aloe
Vera Gel
Fresh aloe
vera gel works well in removing the plantar warts from the feet. You need to
apply it heavily as it is quickly absorbed by the skin. Apply it several times
every day and cover it with a tape or bandage, until the wart dries off.
8. Garlic
Cut a thin
slice of garlic and place it over the wart. Hold it on the wart by using a
bandage. You can also press a garlic oil capsule on the plantar wart. Keep
applying it for a month until the wart is completely removed. The
anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic help in removal of
the plantar wart.
9.
Salicylic Acid
The most
common remedy to get rid of plantar warts is salicylic acid. There are many
plantar wart-removal products available in the market that contains salicylic
acid, such as Occlusal and Compound W. soak your feet in lukewarm water for a
few minutes. Then, remove the dead cells by using a pumice stone. Now, apply
the solution containing salicylic acid on the wart. Repeat it every day for
about 2 months. You will definitely feel the positive results.
Note- Prevent
unaffected skin from getting in touch with the salicylic acid.
10.
Potato Skin
Take a
potato and peel it. Now, use the inner part of the potato skin to rub on the
wart. Practice it 2 times a day. The wart will fall off within 1-2 weeks. This
remedy heals the wart in a natural manner.
11. Cold
Water
Soak your
foot in the cold water for 12-15 minutes. After that, dry it properly. This
will kill the virus, alleviating the warts.
REMEMBER
Anyone can
develop plantar warts, but this type of wart is more likely to affect:
- Children and teenagers
- People with weakened immune systems
- People who have had plantar warts
before
- People who walk barefoot where exposure to a wart-causing virus is common, such as public showers