Plantar warts can be painful and inhibit your ability to pursue normal, daily activities. It can be difficult to discern whether the bump on your foot is a plantar wart or some other foot condition. We have provided this article to help you identify plantar warts and seek treatment for them. The Best Foot Doctor offices are located in NYC (New York City) in the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens boroughs. Our friendly, helpful staff will be happy to help you schedule an appointment.
What Causes Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and these warts can appear on any area of the body. It can be present inside someone for a long period of time or their whole life. HPV and plantar warts can be spread from person to person, so it is important to be treated for this condition right away so as not to spread it around.
The easiest way to catch HPV and plantar warts is by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. You can also be indirectly infected by touching something (such as a sock or shoe) that is contaminated by the virus.
HPV can live in a body for a long time before warts appear, or they may appear right away. Plantar warts are not dangerous but can cause issues and should be dealt with right away.
If left untreated, plantar warts put you at risk of:
- Spreading the virus to someone else or another part of your body
- Developing posture issues due to corrections because plantar warts can be painful to walk on
- Pain from plantar warts
You can differentiate plantar warts from other types of foot conditions by the presence of a small black dot in the center of the wart. If you need more help in identifying plantar warts or think you may need treatment for this condition, please call our offices to schedule an appointment.
Preventing Plantar Warts
While there are vaccines that can prevent the growth of genital warts caused by HPV, these medicines are not effective at treating the strain of HPV that causes plantar (foot) warts. Regardless, there are ways to prevent contracting HPV and plantar warts.
4 Ways to Prevent Plantar Warts
- Wash and dry your feet regularly. Keeping them clean and dry is critical to preventing plantar warts. Talcum powder may be used to help absorb sweat and moisture on your feet.
- Wear shoes in common areas where the virus may be present. This includes locker rooms, pools, gyms, showers, and any public place where people may go barefoot.
- Prevent infection while getting a pedicure by choosing clean salons that sanitize their equipment. Some salons may allow you to bring your own tools to help limit the risk of infection.
- Prevent HPV from spreading by wearing shoes and socks if you have plantar warts. Putting socks on before getting dressed can help prevent the disease from spreading from your feet to the rest of your body.
How to Find A Plantar Warts Foot Doctor in New York City (NYC)
If you have plantar warts and need treatment, Best Foot Doctor is ready to help. Give our offices in Brooklyn, Queens, or Manhattan a call today to schedule an appointment.