A plantar wart (often misnamed the planter wart) is a common type of wart that occurs on the sole of your foot or your toes. This is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and can be very painful, especially when you're walking or if you accidentally rub the affected foot on a hard surface.
"What do they look like?"
If you are not sure what a plantar wart looks like; it looks different from the common wart. It is a small, rough cauliflower-shaped lesion. At a glance, they resemble calluses but you can tell the difference when you observe it closely and see tiny blood spots in it. If you are interested to know more, take a look at Plantar Wart Removal.
As with other warts, plantar warts are more common in children. This is because children often don't pay attention to good hygiene practices. The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm, moist environments. Being highly contagious, the plantar wart virus is also transmitted person to person.
"How can you avoid them?"
Prevention is always the best health measure. It is easy to prevent the occurrence of warts if you maintain good hygiene at all times.
To avoid plantar warts, foot care is very important. You should wear the right footwear (which is not too tight), preferably open type such as flip-flops, slippers and sandals. When you are wearing closed shoes such as rubber shoes, always make sure your socks are clean and dry. Also avoid sharing your footwear with other people to be on the safe side.
It is difficult to completely eliminate plantar warts quickly once you get infected. Unfortunately they also have a bad habit of reoccurring. Just like the common wart, methods used for the removal of plantar warts include cryosurgery, laser therapy, excision and the use of salicylic acid. A painless method that your doctor might also suggest is the use of cantharidin. It is combined with salicylic acid and is literally painted onto the wart. You should expect the wart to be gone in about a week if you choose this method of removal.
Usually, treatment for plantar warts is done to alleviate the symptoms such as pain. These types of warts are not a serious health concern and in time, they will disappear. Even though plantar warts are not deadly, they do hurt and that is the biggest reason people want them removed quickly.
While alternative, homemade and over-the-counter treatments do exist for plantar warts, it is best to seek treatment and or advice from a doctor when you have this type of wart. That being said, lots of folks are removing their plantar warts themselves with alternative methods. For more detailed information, visit Plantar Wart Removal.