Does My Yoga Mat Need a Wipedown?

Often, we think of warts as prevalent in the summertime more than the winter. We tend to think of summer time as being the most likely season of the year to contract a plantar wart especially when we spend more time at the local swimming pool or the beach barefooted. However, the winter months are not without risks too. It can also be just as possible for anyone to get a plantar wart. It is extremely infectious and can lurk on surfaces, clothing, towels and skin. And just because it is winter, it does not mean that the virus cannot be passed on. Think of gyms, locker rooms, indoor swimming pools, and mats used for exercise classes at the gym. For this reason, there are several brands popping up on the scene advertising to the Yoga-going public about wipes for mats, to prevent odor, prevent the spread of bacteria, and prevent the spread of the virus that causes plantar warts.
The virus that causes warts is HPV (human papilloma virus). Direct contact with any HPVs can infect your skin through a scratch or minor wound. There is thickening and damage to your skin followed by the appearance of plantar warts; it may appear as pinpoint dots, or just a thickening of skin with an interruption of skin lines on the bottom of your foot. They can be difficult to spot at first when they are small and often painless but that is the easiest time to treat them. At this point, you would benefit from a visit to teh podiatrist to diagnose and start treatment on the warts immediately before they become bigger, or even worse, before they spread.
So when you think the time of year leaves you at lower risk to contract warts, think again! And beware when barefooting it... even in the winter months.