They're small, noncancerous, and usually not a medical concern, so why are plantar warts something you want to avoid? It boils down to the word plantar, which means these growths appear on the underside of your foot, and walking on them can be terribly uncomfortable. In fact, plantar warts, which affect about 10% of the general population, can be downright painful.
While Dr. Francine Rhinehart and the team here at our podiatry practice offer quick-and-easy treatments to rid your feet of plantar warts, we also want to dive into some preventive practices, three of which we review here.
Medically known as verruca plantaris, plantar warts are caused by coming into contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which loves to hang out in dark, warm, and moist places. This perfectly describes locker rooms, communal showers (think dorms), and public pools, so it's really important that you create a barrier between your feet and the floor with shoes.
So, anytime you’re walking around a public place where HPV may thrive, wearing shoes can not only prevent plantar warts, but also toenail fungus and athlete’s foot.
This frontline protection is also vital if you have any openings in your foot, such as an old blister, or if you are immunocompromised. Fissures in your feet and immunity issues are two large risk factors for plantar warts
Another great practice to prevent plantar warts is to make sure your feet are clean and dry, as much as possible. This means swapping out sweaty socks after you exercise and washing and drying your feet before you go to bed.
It’s a good practice, especially in warm temperatures, to always have a pair of dry socks on hand so you can swap them out if you need to. Or, keep an extra pair of dry shoes handy if you’re going sockless.
The point here is to avoid trapping your feet in damp socks or shoes, which creates the perfect environment for plantar warts to form.
We also recommend that you throw used socks and towels directly into the washer after each use. And you can use a disinfectant spray for your shoes.
Plantar warts stem from an infection that is contagious, so avoid sharing anything that might touch your feet or the feet of others. This means nail clippers and other pedicure tools, towels, shoes, and socks.
If you do need to borrow or lend something for your feet, make sure that these items are clean and disinfected first.
While these steps are effective in preventing plantar warts, sometimes this tough infection can still strike despite your best efforts. Should you develop plantar warts, the good news is that we can make quick work of them through a variety of treatments, including cryotherapy, acids, and laser treatments.
If you have more questions about plantar warts, whether it's for prevention or treatment, we invite you to contact us at our office in Dallas, Texas, in the Oak Cliff area to schedule an appointment.
