Warts

A: Warts are non-cancerous, but highly contagious, skin growths that are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). When warts appear on the soles of your feet, they’re called “plantar warts.”

A: Because HPV thrives in warm and moist conditions, you can pick it up in places where you’re prone to walk barefoot, such as pools and gyms. When the skin on your feet is irritated or cut, you’re more likely to pick up an HPV infection. If you have plantar warts, you can also spread your warts to other people by walking barefoot in such environments.

A: Plantar warts are small — usually no larger than the head of a pencil eraser — and can be flat or raised. When you have raised plantar warts, you may feel like you have rocks in your shoes when you walk. Warts can grow in clusters and cover large areas of your feet. Sometimes plantar warts contain a small black dot, known as a seed. Occasionally plantar warts look like calluses, but they’re more painful than calluses.

A: Plantar warts, like all warts, tend to resolve on their own after months. However, they can be embarrassing and painful. The older you are, the longer they may last. Sometimes over-the-counter (OTC) wart remedies resolve your warts. If your warts are extensive or don’t respond to OTC treatments, contact us for wart removal.

A: Our podiatrists prefer minimally invasive treatments whenever possible. They can remove your warts in the office with either cryotherapy or pulse-dye laser treatment. Both cryotherapy and pulse-dye laser treatment only require local anesthesia, but they’re otherwise quick and pain-free procedures. We remove the thickened skin, destroy the blood vessels that feed the wart, and kill the HPV. After removing the warts, you can return to your normal activities; there’s no downtime at all. When our podiatrists treat your warts with cryotherapy or pulse-dye laser, they’re less likely to reoccur than if they resolved on their own. Treat your warts and prevent recurrence by contacting PRINE Podiatry for plantar-wart removal. You can phone our friendly staff or book a wart consultation online.