HPV, or human papillomavirus, is an STD – a sexually transmitted disease, an infection spread from one person to another through sexual contact. STDs are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites and can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex, heavy lovemaking or intimate physical contact. However, experts say walking barefoot in a public area like a gym or swimming pool can also spread the virus, which causes warts and some cancers.

HPV is a common virus with more than 100 types that affect different parts of your body, including strains that cause warts on your hands, feet, and face. About 30 HPV strains affect your genitals, including your vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, and scrotum, in addition to your rectum and anus.

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact, most often during sexual activity. However, plantar warts form with HPV in the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. Warts develop when the virus enters through small cuts, breaks or weak spots on the bottom of the foot. If left untreated, warts can last from a few months to 2 years in children and several years in adults.

“Can you get HPV without being sexually active,” Los Angeles-based anesthesiologist Dr. Myro Figura said on his Instagram channel. “Walking barefoot at the gym is the most common way to get it. HPV is transmitted any time there is human-to-human contact and the most common presentation is a wart on your finger or a wart on your foot,” he said.

Dr. Figura said that even though HPV is very common and more than 100 types of the virus exist, only a few of them cause warts on the legs. Other types of HPV are more likely to cause warts on other areas of your skin or mucous membranes.

virus transmission

Experts say everyone’s immune system reacts differently to HPV and most people who are exposed to it will not develop warts. Even people in the same family react differently to the virus.

According to Dr. Figura, the HPV strains that cause plantar warts are not highly contagious and so they do not spread easily from one person to another through direct contact. But it thrives in warm, moist places, so you can get this virus from walking barefoot around a swimming pool or locker room. If the virus spreads from the first site of infection, more warts may develop.

What are the risk factors for warts?

Although anyone can develop a plantar wart, these types of warts are more likely to affect:

• children and teens
• people with weak immune systems
• people who have previously had plantar warts
• People who walk barefoot in areas where the virus that causes warts is common, such as locker rooms and swimming pools

Ways to prevent warts

To help prevent plantar warts:

• Avoid direct contact with warts, including your own. Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.
• keep your feet clean and dry
• Wear sandals or other foot protection when walking in a swimming pool, locker room or gym shower
• Do not pick or scratch warts
• When using an emery board, pumice stone or nail clippers on your warts, choose one that you would not use on your healthy skin and nails.

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