Plantar warts are small, noncancerous growths that usually appear on the foot. These warts are caused by the HPV virus, which enters your body through cuts or breaks in the skin at the bottom of your foot. Plantar warts usually develop around weight-bearing areas of the foot such as the soles or the heels.
Plantar warts are generally harmless and often go away with time and treatment.
Common symptoms of plantar warts include:
Small, rough growths on the bottom of your feet (primarily the soles of your feet and your heels)
Black dots at the center of the wart (clotted blood vessels)
Pain or tenderness when you stand or walk on the affected area
There are hundreds of types of the HPV virus, and every individual responds to an HPV infection differently. Because of this, you may come into contact with the HPV virus that causes warts and experience no symptoms at all. Transmission from person to person is not all that common, although it is easier for the virus to live in warm, moist climates. The floors of public showers or around swimming pools are areas that are commonly contaminated with wart-causing viruses.
Plantar warts are not a medical emergency, and rarely cause complications. Pain and tenderness in the affected area are the most common problems associated with plantar warts. If you have to adjust how you stand to avoid putting pressure on the wart, you may experience some soreness or muscle pain from holding your body abnormally.
If you have attempted self-care treatment, if the wart begins to bleed, or if you have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS, talk to a health care professional to discuss treatment options.
Treatment Options
Doctors and providers on Sesame offer the following medications often used to treat {{ searchTerm }} for just $5 with free delivery. Book a visit today to discuss if the following medication can be part of a treatment for {{ searchTerm }}.
Note that all prescriptions are at your provider's discretion.
Most plantar warts are harmless and do not require medical treatment. However, if the wart has begun to spread or if it is causing you pain, you may want to speak to a health care provider to discuss treatment options.
Below are common treatments for plantar warts. During your appointment, talk to your provider about the treatment plan that is right for you.
Self-care
Most plantar warts can be effectively treated with self-care strategies. These methods include:
- Salicylic acid medicine: Over-the-counter wart removal medications frequently contain salicylic acid, which can peel the affected skin off your foot. These products are available as patches or liquid. Apply peeling medication after washing your foot in warm water and scrubbing the area with a pumice stone or emery board to remove the outer layer of rough skin. The liquid medication is usually applied daily, while patches are changed every day or two. Repeat application of these medications until the wart has gone away. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
- Freezing medicine: Over-the-counter products such as Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away will freeze the wart, which may cause it to go away. Follow the directions on the packaging and keep these products away from flammable objects.
Prescription Medication
If over-the-counter products do not work after several weeks, talk to your health care provider. They may be able to prescribe prescription-strength versions of these medications. Salicylic acid medicine can usually be applied at home, where prescription-strength freezing treatment may be applied at the doctor’s office to ensure safe application.
Other Treatments
Your doctor may recommend other forms of treatment if salicylic acid and freezing medication do not effectively treat the plantar wart. Other forms of treatment include:
- Laser therapy: A light laser destroys blood vessels in the wart, causing the growth to die. Laser therapy may require multiple treatments and may cause scarring.
- Immunotherapy: This process involves applying a topical chemical to the wart that stimulates your immune system, which attacks the HPV virus causing the wart.
- Surgery: Surgery for a plantar wart may cause scarring, so it is usually only recommended after other treatments have failed. The affected skin is numbed, and a small needle is used to cut away and destroy the wart.