Symptoms Of Plantar Warts

Plantar warts occur when small growths appear on the weight-bearing areas of the foot. The most common place for them is on the heel. The pressure from an individual's weight can sometimes lead to the warts growing inward underneath a thickened and hard layer of skin, otherwise known as a callus. This condition is caused by the human papillomavirus, which enters the body through small cuts, abrasions, or other weak openings in the bottom of the foot. The majority of plantar warts aren't indicative of a serious health concern. They tend to resolve without treatment after a while. If they're causing discomfort or cosmetic anxiety, though, patients might do self-care treatments at home or talk to a doctor about having them removed.

Calluses

Calluses are one of the symptoms of plantar warts. When the warts don't appear on the surface of the skin, they sometimes grow underneath the skin, leading to a thickening and hardening of the skin (callus). It's common for calluses to develop on the feet, especially if individuals wear ill-fitting shoes or do a lot of standing and running. However, they aren't always a sign of plantar warts. Some calluses are good for the feet, as they help protect the skin against abrasions.

When calluses aren't caused by plantar warts, they tend to occur in areas where the skin has been repetitively rubbed or irritated. Calluses caused by plantar warts tend to be smaller than calluses caused by abrasions. They form over one well-defined spot. This is the place the wart has grown inward instead of growing from the surface of the skin. If individuals experience discomfort along with the callus, they should talk to a doctor, particularly if the discomfort interferes with their ability to do daily activities.

Black Spots On The Skin

Plantar warts tend to form with black spots on the skin. These are most commonly referred to as wart seeds. Many individuals mistakenly believe that these black spots are where warts are forming or will form in the future, but this isn't the case. The spots are tiny and clotted blood vessels. They tend to be small, looking more like pinpricks than large blotches. Some of the spots might appear inside the warts themselves, which is another factor leading to them being called seed warts. The spots aren't seeds or growths, and they can't be dug out.

Blood vessels grow into the wart and then cause clotting, which isn't the same as seeds. When individuals walk, the pressure from their feet can flatten the effect of plantar warts. They might not notice they have them, but they might notice little pinpricks that occur in strangely raised areas of their feet. Not every plantar wart forms with seeds. Some warts might develop little black pinpricks over time, rather than having them from the onset.