Warts are a viral infection that invades the foot thru microscopic breaks or wounds in the skin. With time the wart grows into a rough hard growth on the skin. Plantar warts are the most common type of wart and are found on the bottom of the foot, but warts can appear anywhere on the foot. They can appear as a single round lesion, or as a cluster of lesions, which are caused Mosaic warts. They are very painful especially when they are squeezed from their sides. Contrary to the old wive's tale, they are not caused by touching frogs, and for the most part, tend to be seasonal, generally appearing in the months of October, November and December; this is because warts spread in places like public pools and showers during the summer months, and it takes approximately three months for the virus to grow, once it invades your foot. They can also be passed from person to person in the same household. There are over 200 different treatments for warts. Conservative treatment can include by not limited to acid treatments, orthotic therapy, ultra sound, curettage and vitamin supplements. The main thing to remember about a wart is that it should receive immediate attention. If it is ignored, it may spread to other parts of the body, and since warts are extremely painful, it is best to check this condition in its earliest stages. It is also very common for Calluses and Corns to be misdiagnosis as warts, and vice versa. Calluses are treated totally differently from warts and that is why it is vital to get the proper evaluation from a specialist who knows all about them. For your information, Dr. Burton Schuler co-authored and published an article in the Journal of the American Podiatry Association about wart in May 1975. Back

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