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.