Plantar Warts

What are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are small, benign growths that appear on the soles of the feet, often resembling calluses. A plantar wart is a harmless skin growth. On average, plantar warts are small, about the size of a pencil eraser.
If you have plantar warts in the Fort Mill area, contact SpecOrtho today to schedule a consultation.

What Causes Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the skin and typically enters through tiny cuts or breaks. There are many types of HPV strains, and those that cause common warts on your hands and feet are not the same strains that cause genital warts. They are very common, especially in children.

You can get plantar warts from walking barefoot in public spaces, your immune system, or having certain skin conditions.

Will Plantar Warts Go Away?

Some plantar warts will go away naturally. Others may require at-home or medical treatments. Warts usually go away on their own in months or years.

Will Plantar Warts Spread?

Warts are spread easily. You can infect yourself again by touching the wart and then touching another part of your body. You also can infect others by sharing towels, razors, or other personal items. Avoid picking at warts because this can spread the virus to other areas of the foot or to other people.

What are the Symptoms of Plantar Warts?

Although plantar warts are not harmful, they can be painful and may affect your mobility.

Plantar warts can vary in appearance but typically present the following symptoms:

• Hard, grainy growths – Often have a rough surface and a flat top
• Pain or tenderness – Especially when walking or standing, as they are located on weight-bearing areas of the foot
• Black dots – Small, dark spots within the wart, which are actually tiny blood vessels

Treatment Options for Plantar Warts

Most treatments for plantar warts take several weeks. The most important thing to remember when treating a wart is consistency.

Treatment options may include:

• Using salicylic acid to help burn off the wart
• Freezing the wart off with liquid nitrogen or cryotreatment
• Killing the blood supply to the wart with a laser light
• Burning the wart off with an electric current
• Surgically removing the wart and its roots with a scalpel
• Applying or injecting medicines to strengthen the immune system so it can clear your body of the virus

Plantar warts are common and treatable. There’s no single treatment that’s always effective. You may be able to treat them at home, but more serious cases may require treatment at your doctor’s office.