Skincare - Warts (Verucca Pedis)

A viral wart is a very common benign lesion caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Verucca Pedis (plantar warts) develops on the feet' soles (or bottom). Plantar warts are harmless and may go away even without treatment, but in many cases, they are too painful to ignore. Plantar warts that grow together in a cluster are known as mosaic warts. These warts can occur on the fingers / hands as well.

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Symptoms 

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1. Small, fleshy, grainy bumps

2. Flesh-colored, white, pink or tan

3. Rough to the touch

4. "Cauliflower" border

5. Absence of "footprint" linear lines on affected area

6. Sprinkled with black pinpoints, which are small, clotted blood vessels

7. Pain with side-to-side pressure/ when squeezing
    

Viral warts are often spread by casual skin contact or through shared objects, such as towels, washcloths, commonly at shared communal bathrooms (wet floor) - this is why you should never go barefoot in communal toilets. The virus usually spreads through breaks in your skin, such as a hangnail or a scrape. Biting your nails also can cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails. Th

 

Who is more likely to contract a wart?

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People at higher risk of developing common warts include:

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• Children and young adults, because their bodies may not have built up immunity to the virus
   

• People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, people who've had organ transplants or anyone with an underlying medical conditions which leads to weaker immune system.
   

What are the preventive measures?

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To reduce your risk of common warts:

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• Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts.

• Never go barefoot if you are sharing the same bathroom with an affected individual (this includes public showers, and walking along swimming pool area, where you assume the worst-case scenario )

• Don't pick at warts. Picking may spread the virus.

• Don't use the same pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on your healthy skin and nails. Use a disposable emery board/ nail-filer instead.

• Don't bite your fingernails. Warts occur more often in skin that has been broken. Nibbling the skin around your fingernails opens the door for the virus.

• Never share the same footwear as an affected individual.

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Are corns and callous the same?

No. They are 3 different lesions. 

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The easiest way to differentiate is by going through the list of symptoms of the individual conditions. Here is an overview to differentiate.

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