What Are Warts
- A soft tissue lesion caused by an invading virus and most commonly appear on the sole of the foot.
- Usually presents as a well defined elevated lesion with embedded black dots and cauliflower appearance.
- More commonly seen in teenagers and children.
Causes
- Small cuts or breaks in the skin
- Barefoot walking (especially in dirty surfaces, bathing facilities etc.)
- Contact with skin shed from other warts
Symptoms
- Sharp or burning pain
- Inability to wear shoes
- Bleeding
When To Visit A Foot Specialist
- Any suspicious growth on the skin should be assessed by a foot specialist.
- If left untreated, warts can increase in number, grow bigger in size and/or spread to other areas.
- Although rare, more serious lesions can be misidentified as a wart (i.e. melanomas).
What Can I Expect During The Visit
- Physical examination of the lower limbs.
- OTC or prescription wart-removal preparations.
- Surgical removal of the wart under local anaesthetic
Prevention
- Avoid barefoot walking.
- Shoes and socks changed daily.
- Practice good foot hygiene.
- Check feet daily.
- Avoid contact with warts.
- Annual foot check-ups
- A soft tissue lesion caused by an invading virus and most commonly appear on the sole of the foot.
- Usually presents as a well defined elevated lesion with embedded black dots and cauliflower appearance.
- More commonly seen in teenagers and children.
Causes
- Small cuts or breaks in the skin
- Barefoot walking (especially in dirty surfaces, bathing facilities etc.)
- Contact with skin shed from other warts
Symptoms
- Sharp or burning pain
- Inability to wear shoes
- Bleeding
When To Visit A Foot Specialist
- Any suspicious growth on the skin should be assessed by a foot specialist.
- If left untreated, warts can increase in number, grow bigger in size and/or spread to other areas.
- Although rare, more serious lesions can be misidentified as a wart (i.e. melanomas).
What Can I Expect During The Visit
- Physical examination of the lower limbs.
- OTC or prescription wart-removal preparations.
- Surgical removal of the wart under local anaesthetic
Prevention
- Avoid barefoot walking.
- Shoes and socks changed daily.
- Practice good foot hygiene.
- Check feet daily.
- Avoid contact with warts.
- Annual foot check-ups