What are plantar warts?
A plantar wart is a hard, grainy growth that usually appears on bottom of the foot, in areas where the most pressure is absorbed. Plantar warts occur when the human papillomavirus (HPV) makes contact with the skin on the soles of feet. The virus is usually introduced into the body through small cuts or openings on the bottom of the foot.
Symptoms
While most cases of plantar warts can go away on their own with time, most people want faster relief. The goal of podiatric treatment for plantar warts is to completely remove the wart, not cover it up. Common warning signs of plantar warts include:
Small, fleshy and rough growths develop
Hard, thickened skin forms
Formation of small clotted blood vessels
Pain when walking or standing
Tenderness in the affected area
Treatment
If walking becomes painful or the warts are spreading, there are over-the-counter treatments available—though these often require multiple treatments and are still ineffective. When self-care and home remedies fail, visit your podiatrist. Your doctor may recommend these conservative, non-invasive treatments:
Prescription-strength wart medications
Cryotherapy (freezing the wart off)
Immune therapy
Minor surgery to cut away the wart
Laser treatment