Most times, when people notice a hard patch on their foot, they immediately assume it’s a callus. That’s probably because calluses are very common. They are a result of the friction from our favorite shoes or the need to stand on our feet for long hours. However, that hard spot that appears on your feet doesn’t necessarily need to be a callus. In fact, it could also be a plantar wart, caused by a viral infection that may spread and can be painful. Distinguishing between the two is important because treating a plantar wart the way you’d treat dry skin can make the problem worse and spread the infection elsewhere.
In this article, we’ll break down what plantar warts actually are, how to tell them apart from calluses, how to treat them, and how to prevent them from appearing and causing discomfort.
1. Why are plantar warts often mistaken for calluses
When you notice a thickened patch of skin on the sole of your foot, the first thing that comes to mind is obviously a callus. Calluses are merely a natural defense mechanism your body uses to protect you from constant rubbing or pressure. Eventually, that outer layer of skin will become hardened in order to protect the skin from further harm, and will feel rough and hard to the touch. For most people, calluses aren’t a problem since they can often be treated with simple exfoliation of the skin.
A plantar wart, on the other hand, is much more than just hardened skin. It’s a viral infection triggered by specific strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the NHS explains. Further, they define warts and plantar warts (often referred to as verrucas), as small lumps on the skin caused by the virus. Although they usually appear on the sole of your foot, just like calluses, they are fundamentally different.
Unlike calluses caused by rubbing, plantar warts develop when the HPV virus sneaks into the skin through tiny cuts and cracks or abrasions, Mayo Clinic notes. Once the virus settles in, it begins to stimulate unusual growth. Since it’s viral, the virus has the potential to spread across the foot or even to other people in the right environment, which isn’t the case with calluses.
Plantar warts often grow inwards due to the pressure of walking, especially on the heel or ball of the foot, they are usually hidden under a thick layer of skin. This is what makes the wart appear as callus at first glance, but using callus remedies on a wart can only slow down the healing process and even trigger a painful irritation.
2. Causes and signs that can help identify plantar warts
What causes each?
As described above, calluses form when the skin is constantly grinding or pressing against the shoe, the ground, or even another toe. When this happens, the skin creates a sort of shield that helps protect it against the friction. It is not infectious or contagious.
Plantar warts on the other hand are infectious. HPV thrives on warm, damp surfaces like locker room floors, public showers, and pool decks. If you walk barefoot in places like these even with a microscopic nick on your foot, the virus will take advantage of the opening and will invade the foot. Since it’s an active infection, the wart can spread to other parts of your foot and even to other people.
Appearance
Although they are similar in appearance, there are a few differences between calluses and plantar warts:
Plantar warts tend to have a rough appearance. When you look closely, you may even see tiny black dots inside the wart. These are actually tiny clotted blood vessels, which are sometimes called “wart seeds.”
Calluses tend to have a more even appearance. There are no black dots inside a callus.
As plantar warts are viral in origin, this also interferes with the natural fingerprint-like ridges of your skin. A doctor can usually immediately tell if the lines in the skin are indicative of a wart or just hardened skin.
Pain and sensation
The way that the pain feels can often be the most obvious clue:
Calluses generally hurt if you press directly down on them, such as if you’re standing still.
Plantar warts sting more if you pinch them from the sides. This is because the pressure of walking pushes them inwards, making the pain deeper.
While calluses often occur in areas such as the heel or the ball of the foot because these areas have the most friction, plantar warts can occur anywhere on the sole where the virus entered the foot.
3. Treatment, prevention, and why proper diagnosis matter
The greatest risk of incorrectly identifying a wart is that a person might try to “file it away” like a piece of dead skin. While pumice stones or razors used on a wart can remove some of the skin cells on top of it, they won’t kill the virus. In fact, they can cause more pain or even spread the virus to more areas of the skin.
Proper treatment
NHS notes that because plantar warts are caused by a virus, it means the treatment focuses on removing the affected area in order to stop the virus from spreading. According to medical standards, some of the most common treatments of plantar warts include:
Salicylic acid – the application of a slow-acting peel on the wart.
Cryotherapy – the application of liquid nitrogen on the wart to freeze it.
Immune system stimulation – in some instances, doctors may apply a stronger acid to stimulate the immune system to fight the virus.
There are cases when the warts go away on their own, especially in young children, but this can take years. Seeking professional help will speed things up, particularly if the wart is painful or spreading. However, it is worth noting that if you’re a diabetic, have poor circulation, or a weak immune system, it is best to consult a professional first before using any home remedies.
Prevention is key
Preventing plantar warts is much easier than treating the problem once it appears. As we already discussed, the virus causing these warts thrives in warm, damp environments and enters the skin through tiny cracks on your foot. A few simple habits can go a long way when it comes to preventing the virus to enter your skin and causing further issues.
One of the most effective steps you can take is to keep your feet clean and dry. Make sure you wash your feet regularly, especially if you have just finished a workout session at the gym. Soap and water are your best friends if you want to avoid issues with plantar warts. After washing, make sure you dry your feet properly, and pay special attention to the area between your toes.
It’s also smart to wear flip-flops or sandals in public showers, locker rooms, and at the pool. These shared areas are the hotspot for the virus to spread, and having that extra layer of footwear can prove to be a crucial barrier between your feet and a contaminated floor.
It is also important that you don’t share personal items such as towels, socks, and shoes. The virus has the ability to spread through these items, and you might end up transferring the virus from one person to another unknowingly. Finally, if you do happen to spot a wart, you should avoid picking or scratching it. This will not only spread the virus to other parts of your skin, causing more warts to appear, but also goes against the prevention of foot infections. By following these tips, you’re going a long way in keeping your feet healthy.
Health experts, including the NHS, emphasize that although both plantar warts and calluses have the appearance of hardened skin, they are two separate conditions. While calluses are simply a physical response to pressure, plantar warts are viral growths.
Since one is a mechanical issue and the other is an infection, plantar warts need medical or professional intervention, while calluses don’t require any special treatment.
Conclusion
While calluses and plantar warts may sound like “twin” siblings at first, there are many differences between the two. One is the body’s own protection against friction, while the other is a viral infection that’s not going away anytime soon and can even spread and cause pain. Knowing the difference between the two will allow you to give your feet the treatment it truly needs.
If you find a patch on your feet that’s not responding to basic filing and creams, and hurts when pinched or has small black spots on it, it’s not a bad idea to consult a healthcare professional quickly. The sooner you do, the smoother the road to healthy and pain-free feet will be.
*Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about a skin condition or foot pain, consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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