Plantar warts occur exclusively on the feet. They are highly contagious and are primarily noticeable by pain during exertion. The warts can be removed by icing, but also by medicines with salicylic acid. In addition, various home remedies have also proven to be an effective treatment option. We reveal what helps against plantar warts.
What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts are also known as plantar warts or plantar warts. They occur on the foot, usually on the bottom of the foot, heel or under the toes. If warts appear on other parts of the body, they are usually not plantar warts. On the other hand, not every wart that appears on the foot is necessarily a plantar wart. Plantar warts belong to the group of viral warts and are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). As with other viral diseases, infection with the virus is favored by a weakened immune system. After infection, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for the first symptoms to become noticeable.
Are plantar warts contagious?
HPV viruses are transmitted by smear infection and can therefore spread quickly and easily. Plantar warts are considered extremely contagious, as the viruses can survive for several months without affecting a host. Infection often occurs through walking barefoot, for example:
- In the sauna
- In the swimming pool
- In the locker room of a gym
Here the risk of infection is particularly high, because these localities are used by many people. Through the water contact in the swimming pool, the skin dries out and the viruses thus have it easier to penetrate the body. In addition, they can multiply particularly well in the warm and humid climate that prevails in saunas and swimming pools. In addition, the viruses can also be transmitted by wearing socks or shoes together. Infection is also possible through the use of the same towel. Therefore, strict hygiene rules should be followed in case of infection with plantar warts.
Recognize plantar warts
Since plantar warts grow inward similar to a thorn that bores into the foot, they are barely visible on the surface. In most cases, the wart is covered by a thicker corneal callus and thus not visible to the layperson at first glance. If the superficial callus is scratched, small bleedings occur. Plantar warts often extend very deep into the tissue and develop a much larger diameter there than on the surface. As a result, they can cause severe, stabbing pain, especially when walking. This is due to the fact that large plantar warts bump against the extremely sensitive periosteum during stress.
Remove plantar warts
If a plantar wart is present on the foot, treatment is usually always necessary. On the one hand, this is because the wart becomes more and more uncomfortable over time. On the other hand, the risk of infection can only be eliminated by treating and removing the plantar wart. As long as there is an infection, strict hygiene rules must be followed: Therefore, do not share your towel, washcloth or similar with other people. Also, refrain from walking barefoot in public places.
Various treatment options
There are various procedures available to treat plantar warts.
- Ointments or tinctures with salicylic acid are often resorted to, which ensure that the corneal callus becomes thinner. This causes the wart to migrate outward and can be removed piece by piece. When removing, however, one should proceed extremely carefully, because if the skin is injured, it can lead to a new infection.
- Other methods available are icing (cryotherapy) and laser treatment. In icing, mostly cooled liquid nitrogen is used. Via an applicator, this is brought into contact with the wart for about half a minute. A bubble is formed, which falls off after a few days together with the upper corneal layers. In the case of deep plantar warts, multiple icing may be necessary.
- Finally, surgical removal is also possible. This involves scraping out the wart with a so-called “sharp spoon”. However, in no case try to remove a plantar wart on your own by using a sharp object. If the wart is injured, there is a high risk that the infection will spread further.
Treat plantar warts with home remedies
In general, in the case of plantar warts, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. This can examine the wart on the foot and recommend a suitable remedy. If plantar warts are treated on one’s own, drugstore products with salicylic acid are often used. Other popular home remedies include products containing aloe vera and tea tree oil. More often, the following home remedies are also resorted to for the treatment of plantar warts – however, their effectiveness is controversial:
- Attach a piece of onion soaked in vinegar with a plaster on the wart and leave it overnight.
- Dab the wart several times a day with lemon juice or a vinegar-salt solution.
- Some people also swear by sprinkling the wart with its own urine.
- Halve a clove of garlic and rub the wart several times a day with the juice.
