Why Do I Have a Wart On My Foot?

Broken Foot Skin

Broken or cracked foot skin can allow the infiltration of bacteria and viruses. When the top or outer layer of your skin is infected, warts can occur. 

Most warts heal without treatment but in some cases may require some medical attention. 

Types of Foot Warts

Warts are categorised based on their location. Warts, also known as common warts, are most usually found on the hands, whereas Plantar Warts. Warts can range in size from a pinhead to a few millimetres.

The most common type of Foot Warts are Plantar warts and they develop on the bottom of the feet. These warts are most uncomfortable when located on pressure points of the foot such as the heel and the metatarsal heads at the front of the foot.

How Do Warts and Plantar Warts Occur?

Plantar warts are produced by an HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection in the skin's epidermal layer on the soles of your feet. 

They form when the virus enters your body via tiny cuts, fractures/stress fractures, or other weak places on the bottoms of your feet. 

HPV is extremely prevalent, with over 100 different strains of the virus. One may experience heel pain and a fracture occurs. Unlike cancer, warts are noncancerous growths.

Who Do Warts and Plantar Warts Affect?

The majority of warts and plantar warts affect young children, teens, and young adults, especially those who are 12 to 16 years old, and military personnel.

Causes of Warts and Plantar Warts?

Factors that increase the chances of developing warts include: 

• being age 35 or younger, 
• wounds, 
• having damaged skin due to ‘sun exposure resulting to sun-damaged skin, 
• nail-biting or shaving, 
• having exposed scratches, 
• being a meat or fish handler, 
• having a weakened immune system, or 
• walking barefoot in moist, warm environments.

Plantar Warts and Wart Symptoms 

Among the symptoms are:

• Small rough skin growths on the hands or soles of the feet have been 
• Skin thickening in the same places, and
• Tenderness when using one's hands, walking, or standing.
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How to Prevent Warts and Plantar Warts?

• Do not touch warts directly, this includes your warts. Carefully wash your hands after warts are removed. Also, avoid using scratch remover or doing paint scratch.
• Make sure your feet are dry and clean. Always wear new socks and shoes.
• Don't walk barefoot near swimming pools and locker rooms to avoid picking up HPV on your feet.
• Avoid deep scratches on your wart to avoid bacterial skin infections on the top layer of the skin.
• Don’t use the same board, pumice stone, or nail clipper on your warts to your clean skin and nails.

Wart Warnings Signs

Waiting for warts to go may backfire as a wart may become larger, more warts may form, or you may pass them on to someone else.

It is recommended that you see your podiatrist when:

• The wart or lesion is bleeding, painful or has changed shape or colour,
• Home wart treatments have failed and the wart continues to grow, multiply, or reoccur.
• Wart Discomfort is interfering with your activities.
• Diabetes or a weak foot sensation is also occurring, or
• You are not sure if the lesion is a wart.

You also have a weaker immune system because of immuno-suppressing medicines, HIV/AIDS or other immune system diseases.

Common Wart Treatments

Most warts are harmless, and there's no need to treat them unless they're unpleasant or embarrassing.

The optimal treatment for you is determined by your age, health, and type of wart. However, because there is no cure for HPV, some of the viruses may remain in your skin after the wart has vanished and resurface later.

Peeling Products

Over-the-counter gels, lotions, and pads containing salicylic acid work by gently dissolving the wart by peeling away the dead skin cells. 

Before applying the lotion, wet the wart in warm water and gently sand it with a disposable emery board for best results. Make sure to use a fresh emery board every time. Be patient; it could take months.

Duct Tape

Yes, you might be able to find a wart treatment in the hardware shop! The outcomes of the studies are inconsistent, however wrapping warts with duct tape may rip away layers of skin and irritate it in order to stimulate your immune system. 

Soak, sand, and then cover the area with duct tape (use silver because it's stickier). Remove the wart and repeat the procedure every 5-6 days until it is gone. If it works, the wart should be gone in four weeks.

Next Step

Call Eastpoint Podiatry at Edgecliff on (02) 9362 4111 or visit www.eastpointpodiatry.com.au to book a time