Most people think of warts as the unsightly bumps often seen on the hands, but warts can appear on the bottom of the feet, too. When warts grow in the bottom of the feet, they are known as plantar warts, since the term "plantar" means "bottom of the foot." What do these warts look and feel like, and what should you do if you develop them? Read on to learn.

What do plantar warts look like?

Though they are caused by the same virus that causes warts elsewhere in the body, plantar warts appear quite different from other warts. Because of the pressure placed on the bottom of the foot when a person stands, they tend to grow inward rather than outward. So, instead of looking like a bump, they look flat. They have a grainy appearance, can be black or white in color, and they make it feel like you're stepping on a stone or a piece of rice.

What causes plantar warts?

Plantar warts occur when the human paillomavirus enters your body through a tiny cut or break in the skin on the bottom of your foot. You can be exposed to this virus when you walk barefoot in an area where someone with warts has walked, or if someone who has warts happens to touch your feet. You may even get it by wearing someone else's shoes or socks.

How can you treat plantar warts?

Plantar warts can be quite annoying, as they make it uncomfortable to walk. Sometimes they itch and cause pain even when you're not standing on your foot. So, as soon as you notice them, you want to take action in treating them.

The first-line treatment for plantar warts is using an over-the-counter wart remover solution. Some of these products must be painted into the wart and allowed to dry. Others come in the form of patches that you stick to the wart and leave in place for a few days. With any luck, the wart should dry up and peel off of the bottom of your foot easily within a week or two following treatment.

If over-the-counter treatments do not alleviate your plantar warts, see a podiatrist for treatment. They can freeze the warts with liquid nitrogen or remove them surgically if needed.

Keep in mind that once you develop plantar warts once, you're more likely to get them again in the future as the virus tends to stay in your body. Be vigilant about watching out for them so you can treat them while they're still small and not overly painful.

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