Plantar warts are tough, horny growths that develop on plantar surfaces — that is, the soles (or bottom) of the feet. Normal standing and walking tends to force them into the skin, and the pressure makes the feet very painful. Like all warts, they are benign and may go away even without treatment, but in most cases they are too painful to ignore. Plantar warts that grow together in a cluster are known as mosaic warts.
What Causes Them?
Plantar warts are caused by a virus that invades the skin through tiny cuts or abrasions. The warts may not appear for weeks or months after the initial exposure. Like other viral infections, plantar warts are contagious, commonly spread in public swimming pools or communal showers. Epidemics of plantar warts sometimes break out among people who share gym or athletic facilities or who engage in group activities where bare feet are the rule. Because most people build immunity to the virus with age, plantar warts are more common in children than in adults.
Medically updated by Cynthia Haines, MD , WebMD, August 2005.
SOURCES: American Academy of Family Physicians. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The Mayo Clinic
