Plantar warts are a type of warts that grow on the soles of your feet. Certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause these warts, and you most often contract the virus through barefoot exposure in warm, humid areas.
In contrast to warts that may grow elsewhere, plantar warts are usually much less bumpy and fleshy. Walk, standing, and moving around normally pushes the warts inward, so plantar warts are usually only slightly raised, or even completely flat.
Plantar warts are usually round, and they may have a rough, grain-like texture. In some cases, you might see a tiny black spot in the middle of the wart, which is a broken blood vessel.
Plantar warts, corns, and calluses can all grow on the feet, and so they’re sometimes confused.
Corns are circular areas, usually smaller than calluses, with a hard center. Normally, corns appear on top of or between the toes, so they’re not easily confused with warts.
If you have growths of any kind on your feet, it’s important to know that you don’t have to live with them. Whether they’re plantar warts, calluses, or corns, Dr. Harrison can diagnose and treat the problem quickly to make you comfortable.
Plantar wart treatment can include:
Topical solutions can allow the wart to be peeled away gradually in layers.
Cryotherapy involves an application of liquid nitrogen. This freezes the wart tissue, and it should fall off in a week or so.
Laser cautery can cut off the blood supply to a wart, and the infected tissue eventually dies and falls off.
If necessary, Dr. Harrison can also perform traditional surgical removal to permanently excise your plantar warts. Once you’re free of plantar warts, it’s vital that you prevent HPV exposure by wearing shoes in public areas like pools and showers.
Click the online appointment maker or call Andrew R. Harrison, DPM, MS, to get help for plantar warts today.
