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Warts are skin lesions caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Over 120 genotypes of HPV have been identified. The most common form are the warts that generally affect the fingers and account for 70% of total cases, followed by warts affecting the palm of the hand and sole of the foot and flat warts. The prevalence of skin warts is estimated at 7 to 10%.
Warts can grow on any part of the body but generally affect the feet, hands, elbows and knees, i.e., the areas most exposed to the external environment and to small wounds that allow the virus (HPV) to penetrate the skin. The infection, which has an incubation period of three to four months, is facilitated by grazes and wounds that enable the dissemination of the virus inside the skin.
The most frequent form of wart that appears on the sole of the foot is the simple plantar wart. The lesion is surrounded by a ring and is particularly painful since plantar warts are usually located on weight-bearing areas of our body. Official statistics show a marked increase in the incidence of this infection over the past thirty years.
School-age children and teenagers are the main hotbed for HPV. Infections peak between ages 10 and 15 with warts being present in 5 to 30% of children.
Transmission of the HPV virus responsible for warts occurs through direct contact with the skin of an infected person or indirectly through contact with an external surface in high traffic areas like showers, gyms and swimming pools where a warm, humid environment allows the virus to survive. To prevent infection in these situations avoid sharing towels, bathrobes, footwear and nail care accessories.
In some cases - after thorough preliminary analysis by a specialist - surgery or laser can be used to remove warts.
However, warts can usually be cured with topical treatments using self-medication products, which are available in various forms: liquids, creams or occlusive plasters.
For the most frequent cases of plantar warts, products with exfoliating agents like salicylic acid are preferred and must be applied to the wart for several weeks. Specifically, occlusive plasters boost efficacy protecting the wart, limiting transmission to other areas and reducing the risk of bacterial infection.
