Summer and Swimming and... Plantar Warts!?

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With Summer just around the corner, you and your children are at risk for picking up the painful and unsightly plantar wart, which is caused by a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV).  The human papilloma virus enters the skin through small cuts or abrasions and may take several weeks to become visible.

The plantar wart appears on the bottom of the foot. They are similar to corns and calluses as a layer of hard skin forms over top of the lesion. Plantar warts are differentiated from corns/calluses by appearance. Plantar warts typically have small black hemorrhages under the skin giving the appearance of black dots; skin lines also diverge around warts and not through the lesion.

Plantar warts are contagious; however, the HPV strains that cause plantar warts are not easily transmitted by direct contact from one person to another. The virus thrives in warm and moist environments—such as shower floors, locker rooms and public swimming areas. When children are in swimming pools they often get small abrasions on the bottoms of their feet from the rough surface of the pool bottom. The virus enters these small abrasions, infects the basal cells resulting in plantar wart a few weeks later.

Our podiatrists, here at Community Foot Specialists, see a huge increase of patients with plantar warts in the warm Summer months. Here are a few precautions you can take this Summer to reduce your risks of plantar warts:

• Don't go barefoot in public areas. Wear sandals or flip-flops in public pools and locker rooms.
• Don’t share towels, washcloths. Even with members of your own family.
• Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts.
• Keep your feet clean and dry. Change your shoes and socks daily.
• Don't pick at warts. Picking may spread the virus.
• Don't use the same file, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on your healthy skin and nails.
• Wash your hands carefully after touching your warts.

If you think you or your child may have a plantar wart, come in and see one of our podiatrists at Community Foot Specialists; we’re located in the Dayton/Springfield area and we can treat you with one of the following options

• Salicylic acid
• Cantharadin (blistering agent from beetle extract)
• Compounded medication that triggers an immune response against the virus
• Cryosurgery (with liquid nitrogen) freezes the internal cell structure of the wart
• Laser therapy (pulsed dye laser or CO2 laser
• Surgical excision of the verruca

Community Foot Specialists - Podiatrists/Foot & Ankle Surgeons Serving Dayton and Springfield, Ohio Call today to schedule your appointment! (937) 426-9500

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