Plantar warts (known as papilloma because of the virus that causes them) are lesions on the skin that form a small cavity with dark circles; these circles are the papillae of the skin affected by the virus.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus (HPV or human papillomavirus). It can be spread by contact with an affected person’s skin or by sharing the same space with bare feet, in public showers or exercise areas, for example.

There are more than 100 types of the virus, and not all of them cause warts on the feet; they can cause warts on other parts of the body. Warts are a reaction of the body and consist of small bumps of skin, similar to corns. The difference is that they have black dots, which are tips of blood vessels that calluses do not have. This cavity is usually covered by a layer of hardened skin, so we can confuse it with a callus. In addition, it differs from the common wart in that it grows inward and is not only superficial.

It is benign and eventually disappears with time but must be treated as it is contagious and often painful, especially in areas of pressure.

There are two types of plantar warts:

• Solitary warts: a single wart that increases in size occasionally may form another set of warts around it.
• Mosaic warts: are small warts that grow side by side. This type of wart is more challenging to treat. It is a widespread viral infection in the population, but few people suffer from pain.

The diagnosis of these warts can be made by visual inspection by the physician and clinical interview. A biopsy may also be performed for microscopic examination if it is not clear that it is a wart caused by a virus.

Most plantar warts disappear with time and are harmless. However, when they cause discomfort, it is preferable to treat them. Some of the most commonly used treatments to combat plantar warts are:

Salicylic acid: prescription salicylic acid medications work by removing the layers of a wart little by little.

Cryotherapy: This treatment is performed in the doctor’s office and involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart using a spray or swab. The chemical causes a blister to form around the wart, and the dead tissue eventually falls off. It is possible to repeat the treatment for as long as two or three weeks in some cases.

When none of the above methods work, it is advisable to resort to one of these other methods:

Other acids. After shaving the surface of the wart, trichloroacetic acid is applied. As side effects may appear stinging and burning.

Stimulation of the immune system. This method uses drugs to stimulate the immune system to fight warts.

Laser treatment. This treatment burns the small blood vessels closed, and eventually, the tissue dies, and the wart falls off. Unfortunately, this technique can leave scars and must be repeated for three to four weeks.

About how do you know when a plantar wart is gone, the patient is usually seen every 15 days to see how it evolves and make delamination of the area; if you touch the wart by giving it a tiny pinch and it does not hurt, it usually means that it is already cured.

In any case, it is advisable to consult a doctor to assess the state of the wart and determine what treatment is best suited to the characteristics and needs of the patient, and when the time comes, you will be discharged.