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Brown spots on the soles of your feet could indicate the onset of a fungal infection, but the most likely cause is Plantar Warts. These are noncancerous skin growths that appear on the soles of the feet. It is caused as a result of an infection by the HPV or human papillomavirus virus. The virus enters through breaks in the skin or tiny cuts and generally tends to develop beneath pressure points like the balls of your feet or the heels. In most cases they are not a cause for worry, but can become bothersome and painful. In some instance they may be resistant to treatment, in which case you will need to get your doctor to remove them.
The symptoms of plantar warts include:
- Small, grainy bumps or lumps on the soles.
- Hard, flat growths that have a rough surface with well-defined boundaries.
- Brown or grey lumps that may have one or more black pinpoints. These are not wart seeds, but are small, clotted blood vessels.
- Bumps in the normal ridges and lines on the skin of your feet.
Plantar warts can usually be treated quite effectively at home itself. Most of the over the counter treatments require a combination of salicylic acid and adhesive bandages. This treatment helps melt or dissolve the formation of skin. You can even use corn treatments since both contain similar ingredients that will dissolve skin lesions. When using this treatment make sure that the patches only cover the warts as the corrosive effects of the acid will also damage healthy skin.
Home remedies for plantar warts are completely safe and will not cause damage to your skin, making them the best option. Here are some home remedies for the treatment of plantar warts that are quite popular.
- Apply some apple cider vinegar to the area with warts. This will help hasten healing.
- According to some people simply leaving the wart area covered in normal duct tape is an effective remedy. This needs to be done for a week or two. You can also add in an apple cider vinegar soaked cotton ball, directly over the warts.
- Try to give your feet a good hot water soak daily.
- According to some traditionalists keeping a banana peel taped on to the warts can help remove it. This however is quite impractical because of footwear, so you could try doing it in the night instead.
Personal care and hygiene is extremely important as for any foot infection, whether fungal or viral. The infection can spread and also infect others, so do not use public showers and swimming pools or even your shower at home if used by others. Use shower shoes when bathing. Keep your feet clean at all times and your socks and shoes likewise.
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