Plantar Warts: Their Cause And Treatment

Plantar Warts: Their Cause And Treatment

By:


Have you noticed warts on the bottom of your foot and wondered how they got there?

Chances are these are what are known as plantar warts. These are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and while pretty much harmless in and of themselves, they can be painful due to the fact that just by walking and otherwise living your life, you can irritate the warts, causing you pain

Youre not alone with your plantar warts. Up to 10 percent of the U.S. population has plantar warts at some point in their lives. Most people get the virus (and the wart) from walking on moist surfaces, such as around swimming pools or showers. The virus enters your skin through tiny cuts or abrasions on your feet, cuts and openings you may not be able to see. The warts may not appear for several weeks or months but because of the pressure you put on your foot as you walk, the virus pushes inward and a hard layer of skin may form over it.

You may at first think the wart is a callus or corn, but if you look closely, youll see it looks something like a cauliflower, with black hemorrhages under your skin. They may bleed if you scratch them.

You have several options for treatment. you could try an over-the-counter salicylic acid, such as FreeZone or Compound W One-Step Wart Remover for Feet. If that doesnt work, your next tool could be cryosurgery, where your podiatrist or other health care professional applies liquid nitrogen directly to the wart. The wart turns red and scaly within hours and sloughs off in a few days, leaving little or no scar. However, the success rate of using cryosurgery on plantar warts is only about 50 percent.

My preferred method is to inject (with a pressure syringe, no needles) of diluted Bleomycin into the plantar wart. The drug actually breaks down a plantar warts DNA. This is a one or two-visit procedure and is very successful in removing plantar warts, especially if the warts have had the opportunity to grow and multiply into a plantar wart cluster.

To prevent plantar warts, dont walk barefoot around swimming pools or in the changing area, especially near the showers, at the gym. Wear your own flip-flop or shower shoes. Dont share shoes and socks.

Human immunity to the HPV virus grows as you age, so children are more susceptible than adults. Be sure your children wear shower shoes or flips flops at the pool and in the showers at school.


Copyright (c) 2010 Dr Alireza Khosroabady DPM

About the Author:
Dr. Alireza Khosroabady is a Fellowship trained foot & ankle surgeon. He did his Surgical training in NY and his fellowship at the Rubin institute for Advanced Orthopedics/International Center for Limb Lengthening at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore with world renowned Orthopedic Surgeons. He is practicing in LA, CA . More information @ http://www.fixmyfoot.com you can also request his free book.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Health Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.