Got Thick Yellow Toenails? Treat That Fungus Before Sandal Season
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Why Plantar Warts Are So Difficult to Treat at Home
With everything we use our feet for, it’s no surprise that millions of people deal with some form of foot pain due to injury, illness, or issue. Overall, 75% of people are likely to have foot problems over their lifetime.
A common cause of foot pain is plantar warts, which affect the soles of the feet and make walking uncomfortable.
While you may be tempted to try home treatments to alleviate foot pain and some offer temporary solutions, most foot issues need professional care.
If you live in the Lower Pacific Heights area of San Francisco or San Jose, California, and you cope with foot pain due to plantar warts, Dr. Andrew Harrison offers solutions to alleviate symptoms and improve foot health.
Plantar warts basics
The rough bumps that form plantar warts develop when human papillomavirus (HPV) enters the skin through a cut or abrasion.
It can happen to anyone, but is more likely in people with autoimmune diseases, people with a weakened immune system, children and teens, adults 65 or older, and white people.
It’s common enough that 10% of adults have these warts, and up to 20% of children and teens have them. When they develop, they cause pain and discomfort and become severe enough to change your posture and stress your feet and ankles.
Home treatment options
Several home remedies are used to deal with the symptoms of plantar warts, such as over-the-counter salicylic acid or freezing treatments. These break down the tissue in the warts, making them easier to remove.
Other home remedies include using a pumice stone to file down the wart.
Complications of home care
While home remedies can relieve symptoms and are largely harmless, they’re not optimal solutions for plantar warts.
Several factors contribute to why at-home care usually doesn’t work for plantar warts, including the low doses of salicylic acid available over the counter, the formation of a thick callus over the wart, and other products that just mask the symptoms.
The other problem is that at-home products often allow the problem to spread. Often, the virus clusters, making it more difficult to treat. Plantar warts get more painful over time as they push deeper into your skin.
To further complicate matters, the wart can also spread to other people from surfaces it comes in contact with.
For permanent relief from plantar warts, make an appointment with Dr. Harrison and his team today. Just call our office, and we can explain your treatment options and get you the plantar wart assistance you need.
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