Plantar warts
Plantar warts are caused by a virus that affects children and adults. They lead to the emergence of rough, sometimes painful lesions.The HPV virus infection is one of the most frequent reason for consultation with a podiatrist. They may occur in patients of any age, but are more frequent in school-aged children.
Verrue plantaire
Présentation typique d'une verrue plantaire
Schéma de la peau montrant une infection par le VPH, c'est-à-dire une verrue
Verrue plantaire
Symptoms:
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Plantar warts are mostly present under the foot, but can also be found between the toes or on top of the foot.
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Pain is usually felt when the lesion is pinched
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May appear as a single lesion, or a group a multiple lesions
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May present one or many black dots (coagulated blood vessels)
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Under the foot, they are often covered in callus
Causes:
The virus may be contracted by direct or indirect contact, meaning a skin-to-skin contact or stepping over a surface previously contaminated by someone else. Therefore, places where a lot of people walk barefoot are at higher risk. These include:
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Group classes (yoga, dance, etc)
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Pools, spas
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Locker rooms
Treatments:
Above all, we must make sure not to contaminate more people around us. It is therefore imperative to cover the skin if we suspect a wart is present, either with a bandage or a sock. For the shower, it is recommended to wear a sandal.
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Treatments are topical and depend on the severity and size of the wart. Your podiatrist will discuss the possible options and prescribe the most appropriate one for your case.