Plantars warts occur on the bottom or sole (plantar surface) of the foot. As plantar warts are under pressure from standing and walking, plantars warts grow inward, often causing great discomfort and pain. Plantars warts are caused by a virus (human papilloma virus, HPV) and are contagious. plantar warts can be differentiated from a simple callus by characteristic dark specks (thrombosed capillaries) in the center.
Infection from plantars warts (HPV) usually occur through tiny cuts or abrasions on the skin. It may take several months for a plantars wart to appear after initial exposure. As plantar warts is a virus, plantar warts are contagious, commonly spread in public swimming pools or communal showers. To help stop transmission of plantar warts, avoid going barefoot in public places like showers, gyms, locker rooms and around swimming pools.
Plantar warts are also contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces where the plantars wart virus is lurking. The plantars wart virus thrives in warm, moist environments, making plantar wart infections a common occurrence in communal bathing facilities.
If left untreated, plantars warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several warts; these are often called mosaic warts. Like any other infectious lesion, plantars warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another plantar wart. Plantars warts may also bleed another route for spreading.
Plantar warts are usually very painful, but are generally harmless. Plantars warts are often mistaken for a corn or layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated (calluses).