Plantar's Warts: Tips to Get Rid of Them For Good!

All warts usually go away on their own, but most people would rather treat them than wait years for them to disappear. In addition to traditional medical treatments, they can also be treated naturally or homeopathically. The treatment that will be effective in a particular case is highly variable. The most comprehensive medical review found that no treatment method was more than about 73% effective and that even using a placebo had a 27% average success rate. So you may be wondering: will duct tape actually work ?

In a well-publicized 2002 study, duct tape wiped out more warts than freezing (cryotherapy) did. Study participants who used "duct tape therapy" covered their warts in duct tape for six days, then soaked their warts in water, and gently rubbed warts with an emery board or pumice stone. Oddly, this was effective, but took many rounds of 6-10 day treatments to fully remove small warts. According to my doctor, using Mediplast andathletic tape (rather than duct tape) is more likely to give better results. (Chemicals in the duct tape adhesive may be toxic to humans.)

As all warts are contagious, precautions should be taken to avoid spreading them. Warts may spread through autoinoculation, by infecting nearby skin or by infecting walking surfaces. They do not, however, usually spread to areas that are a different kind of skin. In other words, plantar warts do not spread to the genitalia.

Because foot warts are spread by contact with moist walking surfaces, they can be prevented by not walking barefoot in public areas such as showers or communal changing rooms, not sharing shoes and socks, and avoiding direct contact with warts on other parts of the body or on other people. The Human Papilloma Virus, which causes most warts, can even be picked up on city sidewalks -- so don't go barefooted downtown!

Generally, warts go away on their own with time, but plantar's warts should be treated to lessen symptoms, especially pain, to decrease duration of symptoms, and to reduce transmission to others. Because foot warts cause so much discomfort, it's important to practice techniques to try to avoid getting them in the first place. Prevention can include frequent changes of socks and shoes to keep feet dry. You may need more aggressive treatment to get rid of them. If yours continue to plague you despite these efforts, a visit to your health care provider and/or dermatologist may be warranted.

Note that if you have been diagnosed with diabetes or circulatory problems, consult your family doctor to determine your most appropriate treatment.