If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard of plantar warts, but do you really know what they are and how to treat them?
Plantar warts are common skin growths that appear on the bottom of the foot. They can be painful and annoying, but with the right information, you can identify them, treat them, and prevent their recurrence. Let’s take a closer look at plantar warts!
What is a plantar wart?
A plantar wart is a small, fleshy bump that appears on the bottom of your foot. It is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
It is important to note that not all skin bumps on your feet are plantar warts; some may be corns or calluses. The key difference between a plantar wart and other skin conditions is that a plantar wart often has tiny black dots in the center, which are tiny blood vessels that have grown up into the wart.
How Do We Get Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are highly contagious and can be spread through contact with an infected person or surface. This means if someone with a plantar wart walks on the same floor as you or shares socks with you, there’s a chance you could contract it too.
Is a plantar wart painful?
Unfortunately, yes. Because of the pressure placed on them, plantar warts frequently cause pain when walking or standing. As they grow larger, this pressure increases and can cause extreme discomfort when walking or running.
How Long Does It Take for a Plantar Wart to Heal Naturally?
Unfortunately, there’s no definitive answer here, as every case is different.
Generally speaking, though, if left untreated, it may take anywhere from several months to years for a wart to heal naturally without any intervention from medical or natural treatment methods such as freezing, laser treatments, or the use of essential oils.
What Are Some Natural Healing Solutions for Plantar Warts?
If you want to try treating your plantar wart naturally, there are several options available, including:
- Tea tree oil
How does tea tree oil help heal plantar warts?
Tea tree oil has become a popular natural remedy for all kinds of skin ailments, and its antiviral properties have made it especially beneficial when applied to plantar warts.
Tea tree oil’s ability to combat the HPV virus that causes these warts makes it a great option for at-home treatment without having to use harsh chemical treatments.
It can be directly applied onto the wart in drops or by cotton swab multiple times daily for up to 8 weeks until the wart is destroyed.
Tea tree oil is essentially nature’s way of giving us an at-home method of fighting off this pesky virus with pleasantly scented essential oils!
Be sure you choose an organic, undiluted tree tree essential oil like this one:
Tea Tree Essential Oil by Fiora Naturals
- Duct tape therapy
Using duct tape occlusion therapy, which entails covering the wart with duct tape for six days, soaking in warm water for ten minutes, and gently removing any dead skin cells with an emery board or pumice stone,
- Garlic juice or apple cider vinegar
Many people have found success with natural remedies such as garlic juice or apple cider vinegar applied directly to the wart three times per day for several weeks until it resolves itself.
- Iodine
If you are open minded and want to try more than one natural therapy, try powerful iodine! Iodine is antibacterial and will help reduce the inflammation and potentially even preventing future plantar wart infections.
If you thought iodine was only good for disinfecting cuts, think again! It turns out that using topical iodine can be a great way to clear up pesky plantar warts. To start off, it’s important to file down the wart before applying iodine.
Don’t worry – you won’t even need a trip to the store – just grab an emery board sitting in your nightstand drawer. Then apply iodine on and around the wart, check with your doctor if you have questions.
This method is not fool-proof, but if it works for other pesky infectious agents, why not try it on plantar warts? Some people have successfully gotten rid of their plantar’s warts with iodine, but they have applied it consistently up to a few times a day for weeks.
For anyone who hates hearing “take two aspirin and call me in the morning!” here’s what we say: take two drops of iodine and cross your fingers!
Are plantar warts contagious?
Yes! As previously mentioned, plantar warts can be spread through contact with an infected person or surface. It is important to take precautions when dealing with them, such as wearing socks.
Avoid contact with the floor where other people who may have had exposure to an infected surface. This will reduce your chances of contracting one yourself.
Plantar warts can be avoided in several ways
The best way to prevent getting plantar warts is by taking steps such as frequently washing your hands after coming into contact with someone who has been exposed to an infected person or surface.
Plantar warts can also be avoided by not walking barefoot in public places like locker rooms and swimming pools, where HPV viruses may be present on surfaces waiting for unsuspecting hosts!
Moreover, wearing appropriate shoes that provide adequate support will help decrease any pressure being placed upon existing warts, which could slow down their healing process over time if not managed properly from the outset.
Concluding thoughts on plantar warts
All in all, knowing about plantar warts isn’t something anyone enjoys learning about, but it’s important information nonetheless!
Knowing how they spread and how we can protect ourselves against them is incredibly valuable knowledge that everyone should possess, regardless of whether they have been affected by one before or not.
With proper protection measures taken seriously, like frequent hand-washing after coming into contact with someone who has had exposure to an infected person or surface, we can significantly reduce our chances of ever having one develop in our feet again! So don’t forget—prevention is key!
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