What are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts or verruca plantaris is a viral infection of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are also known as foot warts because they usually appear on the underside of the foot. Plantar wart typically causes an area of hard, thickened skin that grows larger over time. It may or may not be painful, depending on its size and location. Plantar warts can look very similar to calluses or corns, so it is important to diagnose them correctly to get the correct plantar wart management in Singapore.
Types of Plantar Warts
There are 2 types of plantar warts – solitary and mosaic.
A solitary wart is a single wart that often grows to a large size over time. They can affect one or more areas, but they do not normally form clusters of lesions.
Mosaic warts, however, usually form a cluster of small satellite wart lesions and spread to the surrounding area. They tend to look like little black or red dots within an area of hard skin.
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Causes of Plantar Warts
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for causing the viral infection on the outer layer of the skin, typically through a small opening or skin breaks. The virus triggers excessive production of keratin, causing an area of hard, thickened skin to develop. A plantar wart lesion will then take weeks to show up after the infection.
Plantar warts are non-cancerous skin growths and are totally treatable.
Signs and Symptoms of Plantar Warts
Signs and symptoms of plantar warts include:
- Hard, thickened skin growths on the affected area
- Skin growths often resemble cauliflower appearance
- Dark-red spots of thrombosed capillaries may be present
- Loss of skin striation over the affected area (loss of “fingerprints”)
- Pain is reproduced when the area is pinched
Plantar Wart Removal in Singapore
Removing plantar warts or foot warts can be tedious, and the principle behind the removal options is to trigger an immune response from our body to fight the virus.
Options for plantar wart removal in Singapore include:
- Debridement (shaving) and over-the-counter salicylic applications for small superficial warts
- Cryotherapy or wart freezing
- Wart needling and curettage, or wart removal procedure
Your medical professional should recommend the best plantar wart removal approach based on the severity of the wart lesion.
Prevention of Plantar Warts
To prevent or reduce your risk of getting infected, it is best to:
- Avoid sharing footwear or towels
- Avoid being barefooted in communal areas
- Clean and dry both feet thoroughly during showers
- Clean and cover any cuts or skin breaks
Frequently Asked Questions on plantar wart removal
What are the different types of plantar wart removal available in Singapore?
There are various plantar wart removal options that you can find in Singapore. These include over-the-counter salicylic acid applications, cryotherapy (wart freezing), and wart removal procedure (wart needling and curettage). Your medical profession or podiatrist should assess and advise which option best suits your condition.
