Plantar Warts

A plantar wart is a viral infection that is caused by the 'Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)'. This wart appears as a small mole or irregular bump on the surface of the foot. The virus is usually contracted through direct contact with a wart. The wart mostly affects the feet, but can also appear on other parts of the body due to its contagious nature.

Symptoms

Infection with this virus causes small blackish warts or lumps to appear on the surface of the skin. It is very itchy and considerable pain accompanies this infection. The affected skin gradually becomes hard and thick as the wart enlarges, causing pain while walking.

Natural Remedies

1. Do not scratch the affected area with bare fingernails as the virus can lodge under your nails and be spread to other parts of the body. 2. Always keep your feet dry and dust anti-bacterial powders on the affected area regularly. The best powders for this use are those made from herbs such as sage, thyme, garlic, cedar and pine. 3. Applying pure herbal ointments such as tea tree oil, turmeric or cinnamon ointment also help. Always wear clean and fresh socks.

Wash your socks well and let them air-dry thoroughly before use. Do the same for your shoes. Let your shoes be exposed to the sunlight or the open air for a while so the sweat and moisture inside dries completely. A very sensible yet hygienic option would be to wear alternate pairs of shoes so that each pair gets at least a day to dry. Trim your nails short and keep them clean and free of germs. If you have a plantar wart, you might consider avoiding all cosmetics or nail paint till healing is complete, as otherwise the infection may become worse and healing may be delayed.

The warts may take some time to disappear completely. However, if at any time the symptoms become more severe you need to get medical help from a podiatrist.