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Plantar warts (Verruca Pedis; VP) are caused by the human papilloma virus. They are small lesions that appear on the sole of the foot and are cauliflower in appearance and may have small black specks within it. Due to pressure on the soles of the feet, a layer of hard skin forms over the wart. A plantar wart may or may not be painful. It can be spread in communal showers, around swimming pools, sharing shoes etc.
There are many treatment options to remove plantar warts. Home treatments are available from pharmacies that are based on mild acid formulas to remove the wart tissue with multiple applications. Some health professionals recommend the application of small amounts of banana or banana skin pulp to the wart (eg under a band aid) which may kill the wart in 1-12 weeks. Options to treat stubborn warts include freezing (cryotherapy), burning with an electric current (electrosurgery), burning with stronger acids, laser and surgical excision.
Verrucae Pedis "Plantar Warts" can often be differenciated from Helomas "Corns" by close observation of skin striations. Feet like hands are covered in skin stria which are more commonly called finger prints. Where verrucae pedis are present, the skin stria can be observed as going around the lesion; where the lesion is not verrucae pedis, the cell DNA are not altered and the striations continue across the top layer of the skin.
Furthermore, VP's tend to be painful on application of pressure from either side of the lesion rather than direct pressure. Hellomas tend to be the opposite and are painful on direct pressure rather than pressure from either side.
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