Plantar Warts (Verruca plantaris) or Matang Isda

What is Plantar Warts or Matang Isda?

Place your feet flat on the ground. Do you like there's something small and round stuck on the sole of your foot? But when you look at it, there's nothing to be seen.

Try again, this time really feel that small ball sticking there. Examine it more carefully. You'll probably notice a small mound of callous skin right where you think a bump should be.

Congratulations! You're a lucky winner of a plantar warts or commonly called in the Philippines as matang isda.

Photo courtesy of http://www.emedicinehealth.com/

Since plantar warts grow on the feet, is actually inverted. Removing the callous skin will reveal the actual image of the wart, which resembles a clump of fish eggs rather than fish eye which what matang isda means.

What causes plantar warts or matang isda?

Plantar warts like many common warts is caused by the same virus that causes cervical cancer; the human papilloma virus (HPV) but of a different strain thus it's not cancerous.

Plantar warts is more common among young adults and adults rather than small children. It may also appear on other parts of the body like the hand, but is more common on the soles of the feet and in between the toes.


You can get plantar warts from public showers, sharing of shoes with a person who has plantar warts and direct contact from a person with plantar warts.

Treatment
Home treatments for plantar warts includes:

• Putting a few drops of salicylic acid on the wart. This may have to be done several times until the warts is fully removed.
• Soaking the affect area in a warm water then scrubbing the callous with an emery board until the warts is removed. This may take several sessions until the warts is removed.

If the above home treatments don't work, visit your dermatologist to have the warts professionally removed. Your doctor may opt to freeze or burn the warts to remove it.


Prevention

• Avoid walking barefoot on wet areas. Opt to use sandals or slippers.
• Change socks daily.
• Clean shoes regularly.
• Avoid borrowing of socks, shoes or sandals.
• Keep feet and hands clean and dry.
• Avoid direct contact with people infected with warts.
• Treat the warts immediately to avoid it from getting worse.

Source:  emedicinehealth.com