Steer Clear of Plantar Warts This Summer

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Summer is here, and the change from wearing closed-toe shoes to sandals puts our feet on display. Healthy feet are crucial for enjoying the summer season to its fullest. If you are participating in a lot of outdoor activities, your feet will need some extra attention. In addition to keeping your feet well moisturized, prevention against developing plantar warts is also essential. Today Dr. Stuart Snyder and Dr. Sara Sharma, of Maple Springs Foot Center, LLC are sharing important information regarding this condition. 

Plantar warts are caused by HPV that infects the outside layer of the skin on the bottom of your feet. It typically first appears as a scaly and rough patch on the skin with small dark spots.  

They can become painful when aggravated by physical activity. Too much pressure on the skin of the feet can cause calluses to form and cover the wart. Because of this, plantar warts are often mistaken to be a painful corn or callus. 

HPV can infect the skin via a small crack or cut on the bottom of your foot. The virus can stay alive on wet and warm surfaces such as changing rooms, in the bathtub, shower stall, or at the swimming pool.  

People are at a higher risk for developing warts if they walk barefoot, have very sweaty feet, or have cracks in the feet. Contingent on your immune system, some occurrences of plantar warts can resolve spontaneously. However, persistent or painful warts require treatment to prevent the spread of them to other areas or family members. 

Treatment for Plantar Warts 

Depending on the severity of warts and your overall health, home remedies or over-the-counter treatments may not be effective enough in treating warts, leading to complications.  

Treatment options for plantar warts can include:

  • Applying topical medicine to remove the wart;

  • Freezing the wart with cryotherapy to destroy it;

  • Laser surgery to destroy the wart. 

Prevention Against Plantar Warts 

Maintaining proper foot hygiene is important for prevention against plantar warts. Below are some tips to help keep your feet healthy: 

  • Always wear clean and dry shoes and socks;

  • Change your socks daily and clean the insides of your shoes regularly;

  • Avoid sharing towels, shoes, or socks;

  • Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing or showering;

  • Avoid walking barefoot;

  • Clean your bathtub or shower regularly. 

Don’t take any chances – if you think you may be experiencing symptoms of what you believe might be a plantar wart - contact the offices of Dr. Stuart Snyder and Dr. Sara Sharma, of Maple Springs Foot Center, LLC to schedule an appointment. Call us today us at (301) 762-3338 or book your appointment online.

foot care, foot conditionsMaple Springs Foot Centerplantar warts, corns, calluses