Plantar Wart Removal: It Is Important Not to Confuse It with a Corn

Even if plantar warts look like simple thickened skin, they are a viral skin disease, so it is important to respond early. Even if there is no pain, if the shape looks unusual or it keeps coming back, it is advisable not to simply leave it alone and to check the symptoms.

If you see bumpy papules on the sole of your foot?

If bumpy papules appear on the sole of your foot, you may often suspect a plantar wart. Warts are viral skin diseases caused by the human papillomavirus, and warts that appear on the sole of the foot are also called “plantar warts.” Plantar warts often grow inward into the stratum corneum of the skin and become firmly established, and they can also cause pain when pressed. Unlike ordinary warts, because of the characteristics of the sole of the foot, where pressure is continuously applied, they often appear as flattened, pressed-down lesions, and sometimes they can look like corns.

Corns and warts: what is the difference?

Plantar warts most often develop in weight-bearing areas such as the heel, beneath the toes, and the ball of the foot. Because the skin on the sole is thick and frequently irritated, it can create an environment where the virus can invade more easily, and the risk of infection may increase especially in places where people walk barefoot, such as shared swimming pools, gyms, and bathhouses. A plantar wart may appear as a single lesion, but depending on immune status, several may cluster together, and as time passes they can spread to the surrounding area, so caution is needed.

Many people mistake the hard thickened skin on the sole for a corn or a simple callus, and as a result, they sometimes shave it off with a blade or nail clippers, or pick at it without thinking. A corn is an abnormal thickening of skin tissue caused by repeated friction, while a wart is an infection caused by a virus. Although they can look similar, a wart may show black dots that look like tiny specks in the center, and when pressed, it often causes sharp pain. Above all, warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact or if there is a wound on the skin, and they may spread more easily when immunity is reduced.

Plantar wart removal should be managed according to the condition

Treatment for plantar warts is determined by considering the location and appearance of the lesion on the skin, as well as the cause of the outbreak. Commonly known treatments include cryotherapy, carbon dioxide laser treatment, medication, and electrocautery. Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and remove wart tissue, and after the procedure the area may swell or form a blister. Carbon dioxide laser treatment removes the wart by burning it with a laser, and after treatment there may be a wound or temporary pain. Medication treatment involves consistently applying a topical medicine that contains ingredients that dissolve thickened skin to remove the wart tissue, and electrocautery uses electric current to burn and eliminate the wart tissue.

Let’s also learn the precautions for warts

Plantar warts tend to occur especially in seasons such as summer, when sweating is common and people frequently use public facilities, and the risk of infection may increase especially when immunity is low or there are wounds on the skin. Even after receiving treatment once, warts can recur, so it is important to maintain thorough hygiene habits in daily life. In public places, it is best to wear slippers whenever possible, be careful not to injure your feet, and keep your feet clean and dry at all times. During wart treatment, you should not share towels and other items so as to prevent transmission within the family. If symptoms that seem to be a wart appear, avoid touching the area with your hands or shaving it off, and it is best to get examined quickly.