Are Plantar Warts Lurking At Your Favorite Swimming Pool?

Are Plantar Warts Lurking At Your Favorite Swimming Pool?

Plantar warts are hard growths that appear on the soles of the feet.

Are plantar warts lurking at your favorite swimming pool?

What Are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

HPV thrives in warm, moist environments, which is why it is easily spread at public swimming pools, communal showers, gyms and locker rooms.

Plantar Warts Can Enter The Skin After Direct Contact With Someone Infected

According to New York City Podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong of NYC Footcare the virus can also enter the skin after having direct contact with someone who is already infected.

Unlike other types of warts, a plantar wart can be very uncomfortable and are often painful. Because people develop immunity against these viruses as they get older, plantar warts are more common in children than in adults.

How Plantar Warts Can Be Prevented & Treated

Dr. Zong provides the following useful information on the symptoms of plantar warts and how they can be prevented and treated:

1.  Small, bumpy growths on the soles of the feet that may feel spongy.

2.  They may have dark spots on their surface (tiny capillaries that supply blood to the wart).

3.  Extreme tenderness in the soles of the feet when standing or walking.

4.  Bumps that interrupt the normal lines and ridges on the skin of your feet.

5.  May cause bleeding if scratched or traumatized.

6.  Often cause pain on the bottom of the foot and may feel like a stone in shoes.

7.  Because of the pressure from standing and walking, plantar warts rarely rise above the skin’s surface.

More Information On Dr. Oliver Zong of NYC Footcare

Dr. Zong did his podiatry residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn NY where he earned the Resident of the Year award at graduation.  He was valedictorian of New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY.  He has a BSc in Biology from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York and a MSc: in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Dr. Zong is the author of numerous articles in magazines such as Shape and Glamour.  Additionally Dr. Zong is the Director of Residents: Fifth Avenue Surgery Center and on the Board of Directors: Fifth Avenue Surgery Center.