Are plantar warts contagious?

Plantar warts are small growths that usually appear on the heels or other weight-bearing areas of your feet. This pressure may also cause plantar warts to grow inward beneath a hard, thick layer of skin (callus). Plantar warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) and can spread from person to person or from a warm, moist environment to a human being.

Although plantar warts are contagious, it is important to examine all the facts.

First, the strain of HPV that causes plantar warts isn’t highly contagious as antibodies will often kill the virus before it has the opportunity to cause warts. Plantar warts are common in people with cuts or open sores on their feet and in people with weakened immune systems. Although plantar warts are typical in children aged 12 to 16 years old, they impact people in all age groups. Here are some tips to help you address this common issue:

Preventive Measures

We recommend avoiding contact with a plantar wart. Even if the plantar wart is your own, we recommend avoiding contact as it can spread to other areas of your foot. We recommend keeping your feet clean and dry while avoiding walking barefoot in public places, especially if you have any open cuts or blisters on your feet.

Symptoms

Plantar warts typically come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It could be a bump with a rough surface or flat and smooth. A wart is usually painless but can be painful if it grows in a spot where pressure is applied such as a finger or on the bottom of the foot.

A Podiatrist can usually diagnose if a skin growth is a wart. Click here to set up an appointment with our team at River Podiatry.