Plantar warts – Causes and treatments
Plantar warts are hard growth on the top layers of the skin, and it is caused by a viral infection. Plantar warts appear on the heels or balls of the feet, and these can be cured at home as well. Although plantar warts go away within a few months or weeks, home remedies for plantar wart removal can also be time-consuming. There are several kinds of warts such as common warts, plantar warts, genital warts, flat warts, to name a few.
Before we know various treatments for plantar wart removal or genital wart treatment, let us check out some of the causes of plantar warts.
Plantar warts are caused by HPV infection. This affects the outer layer of the skin that is the soles of the feet. These types of warts develop when the virus enters the body through tiny breaks, cuts or injuries under the feet.
People might have a misconception about HPV but it is a common virus, and there are a number of these that exist. Not all of the HPV viruses cause plantar warts.
How does the virus get transmitted?
It is a fact that every person’s immune system responds differently to HPV. It is seen that people from the same family respond differently to this virus.
The virus of plantar warts thrives in moist and warm environments, and therefore it is important to keep the feet dry for treatments of plantar wart removal. A person can get in contact with the virus by walking barefoot in moist places such as swimming pools or locker rooms.
Let us look at the common treatments for plantar wart removal:
Salicylic acid
This is considered as a safe and effective treatment for plantar wart removal or genital wart treatments. If a person is using salicylic acid as plantar wart removal or genital wart treatment, then primarily it takes around 2 to 3 months. It is recommended to consult the doctor on how to use the salicylic acid.
Tape Sealing
Another way to remove plantar warts is by using a duct tape to cover the wart. This would take up to one to two months.
Cryotherapy
Over-the-counter cryotherapy can be used for plantar wart removal but not for genital wart treatment. There are cryotherapy kits for home, but one should always consult the doctor before using these treatments.
