The feet are more vital than most people think. Aside from helping you walk to your school or office, run to catch the train, or jump and dodge a cockroach, your lower extremities support your body weight and maintain your balance. They also absorb shock from the ground to help your soles adapt to the floor. Moreover, the feet assist individuals with paralysed or amputated hands and arms. They can hold mugs, open doors, and even use pens and paintbrushes. But like other body parts, the feet are prone to experiencing health issues. They could encounter injuries like fractures, deformities like bunions, and diseases like a plantar wart that require treatment.
I. What Are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are the most prevalent foot concern in numerous parts of the globe, including Singapore. According to research published in De Gruyter, plantar warts have an annual incidence of 14%. Academics D. J. Witchey, N. B. Witchey, M. M. Roth-Kauffman, and M. K. Kauffman noted that children and adolescents frequently encounter these lumps—especially immunocompromised ones. Only 2% of the patients get plantar wart treatment since these growths typically resolve over time.
If you think you have plantar warts that require removal, do not feel alarmed since these lumps do not pose a severe threat to your well-being. You could manage them at home or get them treated within a few visits to your trusted specialist. But how can you ensure that you have plantar warts? What are the signs of this illness?
A. Symptoms
Before undergoing any plantar wart treatment, you must first understand the symptoms of this condition to confirm its existence. Here are the most prevalent warning signs of plantar warts:
- Discomfort or tenderness when moving the foot (e.g. walking or standing)
- Tiny lumps on the heel, ball, or at the base of the toes
- Black dots surrounding the growth
- Lump clusters on the underside of the foot
- Thickened skin under the foot
- Lesions on the bottom of the foot
B. Causes
The human papillomavirus or HPV causes plantar warts. They are not an STD or sexually-transmitted disease, but they are contagious—especially if you are fond of walking barefoot in warm and moist areas. HPV, a group of viruses, causes infection on the outermost layer of your feet. Warts develop when the HPV enters your lower extremities through bruises or weak spots. Without appropriate plantar wart treatment, the lumps could last on your feet for months, causing pain when walking.
C. Signs To See A Specialist
As soon as a few lumps develop on the underside of your feet, you should consider seeing a doctor immediately and undergo plantar warts removal procedures in Singapore. Doing so would prevent the growth from progressing into severe wart cases that may result in cancer. You could wait a few weeks and see if the lumps will disappear, but it can be better to book an appointment with a doctor as soon as you notice wart growth to keep yourself from facing alarming health concerns.
II. A Guide To Removing Plantar Warts
Like bunions, plantar wart treatment can be successful without surgery. These lumps rarely cause alarm and can disappear through correct self-care guidelines. But if left untreated, plantar warts could last up to two years and cause extreme discomfort. They could prohibit you from fulfilling your duties at work and home. If your child has them, these lumps could keep them from living their best lives as youngsters.
If you wish to undergo plantar warts removal in Singapore, here is a guide to follow:
A. Be Wary Of Home Remedies
While you can receive plantar wart treatment at home, be wary of guidelines you see online. Do not follow a remedy without verifying its source—specifically the website that recommended it. It may be best for you to book a consultation with a reliable foot doctor to ensure the effectiveness of the self-care practices you will follow to remove your plantar warts.
B. Look For A Reliable Specialist
The efficacy of a plantar wart treatment plan depends on the physician you choose. Avoid working with someone with an inadequate background in your condition as much as possible. Opt for a doctor who specialises in plantar warts and has treated numerous patients with a similar concern as yours. Doing so will ensure the effectiveness and safety of the treatment plan you follow.
C. Follow Their Treatment Plan
If you want your plantar warts to disappear, follow the removal plan your doctor has suggested. Avoid steering away from their recommendations like purchasing insoles for flat feet to avoid complications. If your specialist said you should rest for at least a week after the removal procedure of your lumps, do so without protest. Following their guidelines will help you find relief from the discomfort you have been experiencing because of your plantar warts.
D. Ask Questions And Raise Concerns
If you have inquiries or concerns about your treatment plan, do not hesitate to raise them during your consultation with your doctor. You could ask them if wearing insoles for flat feet or applying apple cider vinegar will flatten your lumps and ease your discomfort. You could also ask questions about the possible causes of your condition and voice your queries about their prevalence among Singaporeans to understand your health concerns better.
E. Learn Plantar Warts Prevention Tips
If you have plantar warts and have undergone removal to eliminate them, you will most likely want to avoid them in the future. You could ask your specialist for preventive measures to help you sidestep risk factors leading to foot lumps.
III. Get Your Plantar Warts Removed Today!
Like bunions, plantar wart treatment is possible without surgery. You could eliminate them by following a few simple self-care guidelines and keep them from troubling you through preventive tips. But before following home remedies you found online, you should consult with a reliable specialist to understand your condition better and ensure the effectiveness of your treatment.
ECPC is a podiatry clinic that has helped numerous patients through their plantar warts removal procedures in Singapore. Visit their website below to learn more about their expertise in treating and preventing foot lump development.