Plantar warts are one of the many foot problems which most of us will experience in our lifetime. Chances are you or someone you know has had one at some point in their lives, but usually when young. They are a very common skin problem that podiatrists see every day! Questions we get asked are ‘what causes a plantar wart?’ and ‘how to get rid of plantar warts?’
What causes a plantar wart?
A wart is a viral infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV has many variations – over 100! It occurs on multiple parts of the body such as the face, hands and genitals and most forms are completely benign growths of extra skin. Plantar warts are often described as having a ‘cauliflower-like’ appearance and are commonly caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 60, and 63.
Plantar warts are picked up in the environment by skin to virus contact. The virus may be lurking on the floor of a communal change room, shower, or anywhere where people go barefoot. To infect the skin there will be some sort of break in the skin’s normal barrier like a cut or very moist skin (e.g. after swimming).
Who gets plantar warts?
Anyone can get a wart but people immunocompromised via certain medical conditions or medications are more likely to get them, and so are children. In fact, plantar warts are incredibly common in children as their immune systems are still in development. They are also more likely to be in communal areas where the wart virus is present
The difference between warts on other parts of the body and plantar warts is simple; being on the bottom of the feet means plantar warts are pressed into the skin rather than grow on top. This often makes plantar warts a much more noticeable and painful type of wart; it is no wonder people often seek out help to get rid of them!
What does a plantar wart look like?
Telling what is or is not a plantar wart can be tricky sometimes. Plantar warts normally show up with a ‘cauliflower-like’ appearance with little black dots inside (which are actually tiny blood clots). They will often develop a layer of callus (hard skin) over the top which can make them look like a corn. Corns are hard, compressed skin cells (not virus cells) which your podiatrist can cut out easily. Confusing a plantar wart for a corn is one of the most common mistakes people make.
Signs you have a plantar wart:
- The skin striations (lines in your skin – just like your fingerprints) will travel around the wart, rather than passing through the spot as they would in a corn.
- The wart will bleed when damaged, whereas a corn will not.
- Warts spread, grow larger and if picked can grow warts on other areas of skin.
- The spot will usually be more painful when pinched or squeezed at the sides, whereas a corn can be sore when pressed on directly.
A podiatrist is the best person to diagnose and treat a plantar wart. So if you have any questions about whether or not you have a wart, book in for an assessment today!
How long does it take for a plantar wart to go away?
Unfortunately there is no simple answer for this question as it may take weeks, months or years depending on your immune system, health and lifestyle. Like any viral infection, you are waiting for your body’s immune system to fight it off. The challenge with plantar warts is that the virus that causes them is very good at hiding from your body’s immune system. That said, most people will fight off warts within about 2 years with no external intervention whatsoever. Kids are particularly good at fighting off the virus naturally as their immune system continues to develop. The good news is that we have treatments available which will speed along the process and help you get rid of plantar warts fast.
What Brisbane plantar wart treatments are available?
When you see one of our Brisbane or Mount Isa podiatrists for plantar wart treatment there are a number of effective treatments for plantar warts available such as:
- Salicylic Acid – chemically debrides (removes) the infected wart tissue and triggers an inflammatory immune response. Podiatrists safely apply a much stronger formulation than you can buy from pharmacies.
- Silver Nitrate – only available to medical professionals such as podiatrists, this is another form of safe medical debridement. It is usually painless and will form a black plaque over the site of the wart.
- Cryotherapy / freezing – most GPs offer this freezing treatment which aims to damage the wart tissue with cold. Freezing a wart can be painful and has a relatively low success rate.
- Swift Microwave Therapy – a modern and very effective plantar wart treatment. It uses a concentrated set of microwaves which penetrate the wart tissue to a controlled depth.
- Surgical removal (multi-puncture technique) – usually considered for stubborn plantar warts and done under local anesthesia. Using a thin surgical needle the wart tissue is repeatedly punctured which pushes the viral particles where they are more easily detected and fought off.
Best plantar wart treatment - swift microwave therapy for plantar warts
Swift wart treatment refers to a specific and unique machine designed to treat warts via targeted microwaves delivered into the skin. It is one of the best plantar wart treatments available in our Brisbane clinics. Swift is easy to recommend as a first-line treatment for warts – it is quick, effective, safe and has no after-care requirements.
How does swift microwave therapy for plantar warts work?
The Swift machine consists of a main unit which generates the microwaves and a shielded cable running to a handpiece. The handpiece has a removable single-use head which we change for every patient. Microwaves emitted from the handpiece enter the wart tissue to a controlled depth and intensity. Energy penetrates to the root of the wart and causes a ‘shock’ reaction to the tissue. This activates dendritic cells to release T-cells which triggers the bodies’ immune system to attack the viral cells. Healthy normal cells then replace the viral cells of the now-gone wart.
Is swift microwave therapy for plantar warts safe?
You may be wary when you hear the term ‘microwave’ however rest assured that the microwaves emitted are very safe and only contain enough energy to vibrate the water molecules within cells in a very small area. There is no burning, freezing or acid. In fact, one of the main benefits of Swift wart treatment in comparison to other treatments is how safe and non-invasive it is. Swift works by applying energy into the skin rather than by damaging the skin. Swift is safe for children.
Book an appointment to get rid of plantar warts
Across our five clinics in Brisbane and Mount Isa, our podiatrists offer many ways to get rid of your plantar warts. We also have the best plantar wart treatment available right in Brisbane with the Swift microwave therapy machine. So if you or your child is suffering from plantar warts, come and see us today for a thorough assessment and safe, effective treatment.