How to Avoid Plantar Warts on Vacation
Summer is finally here, and that means more free time and travel! And nothing can wreck a vacation more than getting an infection to bring home with you. One of the most uncomfortable, unnoticed infections is plantar warts on the bottom of the feet. Today, the doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center are sharing ways you can avoid plantar warts on vacation this year.
Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which develops on the outside layer of skin on the bottom of your feet. This contagious infection thrives in warm and damp environments and can be contracted simply by walking barefoot around public places, especially pools.
So how do you identify a plantar wart? The warts are noticeable on the soles of your feet. While warts vary in size, they can flatten due to walking and get larger over time. If several warts grow close together, a cluster can develop on the soles of feet. In some cases, blood vessels are visible on the skin forming a small dot in the middle of plantar warts.
How to Prevent Plantar Warts on Vacation
One way to prevent plantar warts while on vacation is to wear comfortable, closed shoes while in the airport, especially when you need to walk long distances to your terminal. Wear closed shoes with socks to avert the damp environment around your feet.
Another thing you can do is pack sandals or flip-flops to wear when around public swimming pools. Be sure to take antifungal foot cream along if you travel to a foreign country and stay in a hotel where you’ll use the public pool.
If you already have plantar warts, you can stop them from growing by covering the wart with athletic tape or a bandage. Picking at the cuticles of the nails can spread warts to your fingers.
If you do contract warts, you might be able to treat them at home. OTC plantar wart creams available at pharmacies could work, although it might take several months to heal completely. A faster and more successful option would be to see our podiatrists, who can freeze the wart off.
If you think that you may be dealing with one or more plantar warts, don’t hesitate! Contact our office today to schedule an appointment to have them removed so they don’t spread or multiply.
Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience addressing foot needs, including bunions and hammertoes, pediatric foot care, custom orthotics, heel pain, diabetic foot care, and more. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.