Plantar verrucae, or warts on the sole, may present in different forms depending upon the type of HPV contracted. They start as small shiny bumps resembling sago grains. Within a few days the lesions enlarge to become rough and thickened. Because of the pressure on the warts while walking, the plantar warts grow in depth faster than warts on other areas of the body. On scraping, small bleeding spots or black dots are seen on the surface of the warts.
How do You Get Plantar Warts?
Foot warts are transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces like shared footwear, bathroom floors, communal baths, swimming pools and public workout areas. Plantar warts are more common on pressure areas of the sole, though they may appear on other areas also. Any type of injury to the skin will favor the inoculation of the HPV. Excessive sweating of the soles and maceration caused by yeast or fungal infections increase the risk of contracting plantar warts.
What are the Different Types of Plantar Warts?
Depending upon the type of HPV involved, there are three main types of plantar warts.
- Myrmecia or ant hill warts, also known as inclusion warts, are caused by HPV type 1. They appear as raised, dome shaped and painful growths. These are highly infectious as they contain a high number of infective virus particles.
- Mosaic plantar warts are caused by HPV 2 and appear as numerous, superficial and confluent groups of warts. These are not as painful as the inclusion warts, but are very persistent.
- Small, thick, punctate keratotic plantar warts due to the HPV 4 type may show a central depression and a collar of thick skin. Smaller plantar warts may also be caused by HPV types 2 or 57.
Plantar warts may persist for months to years, though, left untreated, more than 50% of the warts may disappear by themselves. Certain neutralizing antibodies produced by the body against the HPV virions attack and kill them in such cases.
How to Differentiate Plantar Warts from Corns and Callosities?
Plantar warts may be confused with callosities and, especially, corns on the soles. Certain clinical features are useful in differentiating between these painful conditions of the feet.
- The bleeding points or black dots appearing after scraping off the surface of the plantar warts is the main differentiating point between plantar warts and corns.
- Corns will show a central whirled appearance.
- Skin markings are usually disrupted in plantar warts. The return of the skin markings indicate clearance of the warts.
- Pain is more on direct pressure in corns while, in warts, the pain is increased upon squeezing the warts between the thumb and the index finger.
- Callosity, of course, has the typical waxy appearance and is only seen on pressure points of the sole.
- Corns are also seen only on the pressure points of the sole. Plantar warts, though they favor the pressure points, are quite often seen in other areas of the soles as well.
There are many ways to get rid of plantar warts. The treatment decision is taken depending upon the number, depth and extent of the plantar warts.
Reference:
- Sterling JC. Virus Infections, in Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2004
Disclaimer
The information given in this article is for educational purposes only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, the author or Suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purpose only.
Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...
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