Plantar Warts

What are plantar warts?

Plantar warts are small growths that develop on areas of your feet under pressure, such as the heels and the balls of your feet.

Warts result from an infection of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can enter your body through cuts or cracked skin on the bottom of your feet. HPV spreads through physical contact with an infected person. You can also get the virus by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces.

Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute offers comprehensive care for plantar warts in adults and children. The experienced podiatry team focuses on relieving any discomfort a wart causes and lowers your risk of spreading the infection to others.

How do I know I have plantar warts?

Plantar warts look like skin-colored bumps on the bottom of your foot; they feel rough and may have black pinpoints in the center, which are tiny vessels that supply the wart with blood.

Some plantar warts do not cause any issues and disappear over time. However, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute if you have painful warts or warts that interfere with your ability to walk comfortably.

You also need to schedule an evaluation for plantar wart symptoms if you have poor blood circulation in your feet due to diabetes. The team offers diabetic foot care to ensure warts won’t cause additional complications.

How are plantar warts treated?

Your treatment plan for painful plantar warts may include therapies such as:

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid removes plantar warts one layer at a time. While several over-the-counter wart removers are available, they may not be as effective as acids used by the podiatry team.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy plantar warts, and after applying the nitrogen to your wart, a blister forms. Eventually, the treated tissue falls off on its own.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy uses laser energy to close the tiny blood vessels that feed the wart so the wart dies and falls off.

Surgery

You might need minor surgery to remove a plantar wart when other treatments don’t work. The team uses a surgical tool to cut the wart and surrounding tissue as an in-office procedure.

Call the Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute office near you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for plantar warts, or book an appointment online today.