Monday, June 5, 2006

DEFINITIONS

A plantar wart is a wart caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
It is a small lesion that you can see on the sole of the foot and typically resembles a cauliflower. A plantar wart may have small black specks within it that ooze blood when the surface is shaved; these are abnormal capillaries. Though the name plantar wart describes specifically HPV infection on the sole of the foot, infection by the virus is possible anywhere on the body and common especially on the palm of the hand, where the appearance of the wart is often exactly as described above for plantar warts. Because of pressure on the sole of the foot, a layer of hard skin forms over the wart. A plantar wart may or may not be painful. It can be spread in communal showers, around swimming pools, and by sharing shoes and socks.