It's a great time of year to be outside, walking around barefoot at the pool, amusement park,or gym. But what lurks on those surfaces is not anything you would want your tootsies to come in contact with. Did you know you can catch diseases and infections from pools, like
warts?
Most foot warts are harmless, even though they may be painful. They are often mistaken for
corns and calluses, which are layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated. A wart however, is caused by a viral infection which invades the skin through small or invisible cuts or abrasions. Foot warts are generally raised and fleshy and can appear anywhere on the foot or toes. Occasionally, warts can spontaneously disappear after a short time, and then, just as frequently, they can recur in the same location. If left untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into a cluster of warts. Children, especially teenagers, tend to be more susceptible to warts than adults.
Plantar warts, also known as
verrucas, appear on the soles of the feet and are one of the soft tissue conditions that can be quite painful. Unlike other foot warts, plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries. They are often gray or brown (but the color may vary), with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black. Plantar warts are often contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground. The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in public pools and locker rooms.
Like any other infectious lesion, plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also breed, another route for spreading. Plantar warts that develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot (ball or heel of the foot) can cause a sharp, burning pain. Pain that occurs when weight is brought directly on the wart, although pressure on the side of a wart can create equally intense pain.
To prevent the spread of warts, follow these tips:
- Avoid direct contact with warts, both from other persons or from other parts of the body.
- Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches.
- Change your shoes and socks daily.
- Check your children's feet periodically.
- Keep your feet dry and clean.
It is important to note that warts can be very resistant to treatment and have a tendency to recur. Over-the-counter wart treatments are usually ineffective because their use can inadvertently destroy surrounding healthy tissue. Please contact a podiatrist for help in treating warts.
If you believe you may have a wart, call one of our six locations to make an
appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
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