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What are warts?

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Warts are an infection of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut. It then forms a rough bump on the surface of the skin. Warts are benign (non-cancerous) growths.

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Who can get warts?

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• Children and teenagers

• People with weakened immune systems

• People who have had plantar warts before

• People who walk barefoot where exposure to a wart-causing virus is commo

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How can you get Warts? 

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The HPV strains that cause plantar warts aren't highly contagious. So the virus isn't easily transmitted by direct contact from one person to another. But it thrives in warm, moist environments. Consequently, you may contract the virus by walking barefoot around swimming pools or locker rooms. If the virus spreads from the first site of infection, more warts may appear.

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Prevention?

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To reduce your risk of plantar warts:

• Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts. Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.

• Keep your feet clean and dry. Change your shoes and socks daily.

• Avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools and locker rooms.

• Don't pick at or scratch warts.

• Don't use the same foot filer, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on your healthy skin and nails.

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Treatment

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Most plantar warts are harmless and go away without treatment, though it may take a year or two. If your warts are painful or spreading, you may want to treat them:

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• Prescription-strength wart medications with salicylic acid work by removing layers of a wart a little bit at a time. They may also stimulate your immune system's ability to fight the wart.

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• Freezing medicine (cryotherapy). Cryotherapy done involves applying Nitrous Oxide to the wart with our CRYOPEN®.