Planters Warts - What Do They Have To Do With Planting?
When I was younger, I would hear my mother talking about Planters warts and I actually thought they had something to do with planting! That’s probably because she would always warn me that I might get them if I walked around barefoot outside. I took this to mean that if I was planting in the garden barefoot I would get these type of warts.
While warts of any type are quite undesirable, those on the bottom of your foot can be really painful as I soon found out. Because these warts often like to crop up on the ball and the heel of the foot – where we put the most pressure - they can really be a pain. Luckily mine went away on their own as they often do, but, after that I was really careful about going around barefoot.
It wasn’t until many years later, then I realized that she wasn’t saying “Planters warts” but was actually saying “Plantar warts” which get their name because they are found on the surface or plantar of the foot!
Like other warts, these are caused by a virus which can get in through cracks in the skin. If you’ve ever looked at the bottom of your foot, you probably noticed that the heels and balls can be prone to cracks simply because of the wear and tear you put your foot through everyday. Combine this with the fact that they thrive in a warm moist area and you can see why people often associate plantar warts with going barefoot in public showers, pool areas and gym locker rooms.
One person with plantar warts can walk barefoot on the floor and deposit the virus which will hang around waiting for the next person to walk by and, if you are unlucky, make its way into your skin to cracks in the bottom of your feet.
Most people actually fight off this virus through their immune system and never get warts. But other people are prone to warts and should really take care to make sure they have something on their feet and these types of environments.
So, “Planters warts” have nothing to do with planting and everything to do with proper foot hygiene in public areas.
Got plantar warts? Check out this e-book on how to get rid of your warts and one to three days in the privacy of your own home - Click Here!
