Warts
Our Patient Education
Warts can appear anywhere on the body. When they are on the bottom of your foot, they are called plantar warts because they occur on the sole of your foot.
Because the bottom of the foot has a lot of pressure, the warts grow inward into the tissue of your foot. Sometimes they are covered by a callus that you can see on the surface of the skin.
Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus which enters the body through a break in the skin. This virus is very contagious and can be picked up in public areas such as swimming pools, showers and locker rooms. Teenagers and children are prone to getting this virus as are those with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms
- A rough, grainy growth on the bottom of the foot
- A callus that may have covered the war
- Black pinpoints on the surface of the wart
- Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
Treatment
Over-the-counter wart treatments are not effective in eradicating the wart. Our professional treatments include:
- Prescription salicylic acid treatments to peel away the wart.
- Using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. This is also called cryotherapy. The area will be numbed to reduce pain. The dead tissue will come off in a few weeks.
- Laser treatment to destroy the wart by closing off the blood vessels.
- Surgical removal of the wart.
Prevention
- Always cover feet with shower shoes or flip-flops in public areas.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Change socks and shoes daily.
- Don’t touch any warts that you have as they can spread.