Are Warts a Health Concern?

Like all warts, plantar warts, those affecting the soles of your feet, result from infection with certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), typically entering the skin through an abrasion, cut, or other break in the skin. 

While most common warts are simply benign, symptomless cosmetic issues, plantar warts can cause bigger problems due to their location and nature. At Hudson Valley Foot Associates in Kingston, New Windsor, Wappingers Falls, Hudson, Red Hook, Margaretville, and West Coxsackie, New York, we take plantar warts seriously. Unlike other warts, plantar warts are under considerable pressure on the bottom of your feet, in an area that is often moist, especially when inside shoes and socks. 

This is an excellent breeding ground for the viruses that cause warts, while the weight your feet bear pushes warts below the surface. Though you won’t suffer from serious illness, plantar warts can make day-to-day living uncomfortable and painfully distracting. 

Are plantar warts a health concern? 

The strains of HPV that cause warts don’t really do anything else. Skin cells at the site of infection start to grow at an increased rate, forming the wart. Though, as we’ve seen, plantar wart infections get pressed inward, below the skin’s surface. 

HPV infections are highly infectious and are transmitted easily by sharing personal items. You can even infect yourself in another part of your body. 

Plantar warts only become a problem when you experience discomfort or pain from them. These sensations may make you walk differently, which in turn can cause joint problems in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and higher. 

 Changes to your gait (the way you walk) can become habitual, affecting your posture, which in turn affects many other systems in your body. 

Preventing plantar warts

You can reduce the risk of infection by keeping your feet protected. Wear shoes and socks whenever possible in public places. Use shower shoes in shared locker rooms or public pools. 

Keeping your feet clean and dry is another key footcare tip that reduces your chances of HPV infection, since these pathogens prefer moist environments. However, they can survive in dry locations, so you can still become infected. 

When to see a podiatrist

You can have symptom-free plantar warts that require only periodic monitoring to ensure they don’t get worse. Otherwise, book an appointment as soon as you notice any changes, such as new discomfort or pain. 

If you notice new or rapidly growing warts, or if your warts start to bleed, plan a visit, even if there’s no pain. If you have circulation issues or diabetes, medical observation is always a good idea since foot wounds can be slow to heal. 

Contact Hudson Valley Foot Associates as soon as you recognize signs of plantar wart growth. The sooner you receive treatment, the better your prognosis is likely to be. Call or click to make an appointment with our nearest location today.