Skin growths caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) can be very irritating and painful at times. Most typically, they form on the soles of feet after a person walks barefoot on a dirty floor or ground. It’s necessary to know the symptoms of infection in plantar warts to fully heal from this condition and avoid potential complications without undergoing plantar wart removal. Find out all the tell-tale signs of infection in this blog.
What Is a Plantar Wart?
A plantar wart is a non-cancerous skin growth caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), and it generally infects the soles of the feet. The warts develop in rough, small brownish or gray lesions with defined borders. Plantar warts can grow worse after constant friction and pressure while a person walks or stands.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Infection in Plantar Wart?
When the skin tears and the foot is not cleaned properly, the wart can be exposed and thus get infected with bacteria. Also, while walking in uncomfortable high-heel shoes and exposing the foot to different environments, you can contaminate the wart with dirt, which can also lead to an infection. Here are the most common symptoms.
Redness and Swelling
When bacteria enter the wound, the first sign of an infection would be redness, inflammation, and swelling. The signs of infection are the same as when a corn on the bottom of the foot gets infected. The presence of the infection will exacerbate the pain and discomfort.
Increased Pain and Tenderness
Another tell-tale sign you should watch out for is tenderness and increased pain. This symptom goes hand in hand with swelling and redness. When the area with warts starts spreading, and it is more painful to the touch, it will be difficult to put weight on the affected foot. Recognize the sign of the infection immediately and seek a podiatrist.
Pus or Discharge
If redness and tenderness don’t persuade you that you are dealing with an infection in the plantar wart, pus and discharge are the sure sign that there is an infection. This can mostly occur if you tried picking the wart and it got infiltrated by bacteria.
Your body’s immune system will signal the body to form pus which is a mixture of tissue debris, bacteria, and dead white blood cells. The discharge will smell bad, and the discomfort in the foot will be exacerbated.
Spreading or Spreading Beyond the Borders
When there is an infection, the wart will grow faster and spread to the healthy surrounding skin. As the virus duplicates, the new skin cells are infected, and additional warts will emerge as a result.
When Should You Visit the Doctor?
Visit the doctor as soon as you see that the over-the-counter treatments and natural remedies are not making a significant impact and not leading to healing. When persistent discomfort, difficulty walking, swelling, and redness start hindering you from your daily activities, seek prompt medical evaluation.
Schedule a Visit With Your Miami Surgeon and Get Rid of Plantar Wart As Soon As Possible
Don’t delay the healing of plantar warts and wait for an infection to spread or flare up, visit the podiatry experts in the Miami clinic Luxe Foot Surgery. Our team of professionals would assess the issue and provide an accurate diagnosis of whether you have a wart or just a corn and what the best treatment would be. If you get the condition treated early on, the medical techniques will be more effective, and the healing will be fast. So, contact us right away and solve your problem!
References
- Mayo Clinic: Plantar Warts
- Healthline: Treating and Preventing Plantar Warts
- The Feet People: Plantar Warts
