Plantar Warts & Verrucae

What are Verrucae?

Verrucae, sometimes called plantar warts or spelled verrucas, are warts that develop on plantar surfaces – that is, the soles (or bottom) of the feet. The pressure from normal standing and walking tends to force the warts into the skin, and this can make the warts painful. Like all warts, they are harmless and may go away even without treatment, but in many cases, they are too painful to ignore. Verrucae that grow together in a cluster are known as mosaic warts.

What causes Verrucae?

Like all warts, verrucae are caused by a virus (Human Papillomavirus) that invades the skin through tiny cuts or scrapes. It can take some weeks, or even months, for a verruca to appear after you have contracted the infection. This is called the incubation period. Like other viral infections, verrucae are contagious, commonly spread from the surface of floors in public swimming pools, communal showers, or even your shower at home. Epidemics of verrucae sometimes break out among people who share gym or athletic facilities or who engage in group activities where bare feet are the rule, such as yoga and martial arts. Because most people build immunity to the virus with age, verrucae are more common in children than in adults.