Plantar warts (also called verrucae plantaris) are non-cancerous skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They develop on the soles of the feet and can be painful due to pressure from walking or standing.
Appearance:
Small, rough, grainy lesions with a well defined border.
Often have tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels, not "roots").
May grow inward due to pressure, forming a hard callus-like layer.
Pain: Can feel like "stepping on a pebble," especially when walking.
Clusters: Sometimes appear in groups (mosaic warts).
Causes & Risk Factors:
-HPV strains (usually types 1, 2, 4, 60, or 63).
- Direct contact with the virus (e.g., walking barefoot in pools, gyms, or shared showers).
- Weakened immune system (higher risk of persistent warts).
- Skin breaks (micro tears or moist skin increase infection risk).
Treatment Options:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatments:
Salicylic acid (plasters, gels, or liquids) gradually peels the wart.
Medical Treatments:
Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen) Freezes and destroys the wart.
Swift verrucae tretment.
Verrucae Needling.
Verrutop- Creating cell death of the wart tissue.