Close-up image showing painful plantar warts on the sole of the foot, highlighting their rough texture and clustered appearance.
Plantar warts are a bothersome, uncomfortable condition affecting the feet that can happen at any age. Plantar warts can create a sense of frustration and unease for children, teenagers, and adults alike. At Deniel Foot and Ankle Center, we understand how distressing plantar warts can be, which is why we offer a number of fast, safe, and effective plantar warts removal options customized to your unique needs.
In this blog we are going to be covering what plantar warts are, how plantar warts can happen, treatment options, and how seeking medical attention can provide safe and lasting relief from plantar warts once and for all.
What Are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are small, rough growths that form on the soles of your feet. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is able to enter the skin through tiny cuts and weak spots. Plantar warts tend to be more uncomfortable than the common warts that may grow on your fingers or hands because they are affected by all of the pressure your body puts on your feet when standing or walking.
If you have a plantar wart, you may notice:
Small, grainy skin growth on the bottom of your foot
Pain or tenderness when standing or walking
Black pinpoint dots (often called “wart seeds”) in the center of the lesion
Well-defined area of thickened callous skin over the area
Plantar warts are not usually dangerous, but may be painful, contagious, and should generally not be dealt with at home without a healthcare professional’s assistance.
Why Do Plantar Warts Occur?
Plantar warts occur when HPV infects the skin’s outer layer, and the virus likes to live in warm, moist areas such as swimming pools, gyms, and locker rooms. Plantar warts are more common in children and teens, as well as people with compromised immune systems.
There are several factors that can increase your risk of getting plantar warts:
Walking barefoot in public places
Sharing shoes or socks with others
Having sweaty feet or wearing shoes that are tight
Having small scrapes or cuts on your feet
Understanding the cause can help us better approach plantar wart removal in several ways with targeted treatments, healing, and prevention.
Why Home Remedies Often Fail
Most people have tried home remedies such as using over-the-counter salicylic acid, duct tape, or herbal remedies to get rid of plantar warts. Some of them may provide temporary relief, but usually they are not consistent. Plantar warts grow deep, and they can return if not removed correctly.
Relying on only an at-home remedy, even when there is some benefit, could lead to procrastination and worsen the issue with viral spread (warts are contagious). When working with a foot and ankle specialist, you will know that you are getting effective and professional care.
Professional Plantar Warts Removal Options
At Deniel Foot and Ankle Center, we offer many safe and effective options for plantar warts removal. Our method of treatment will depend on the size and/or depth and/or number of warts. Additionally, we will consider the patient’s age and overall health.
Cryotherapy (Freezing the Wart) – Cryo liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart that will freeze the wart tissue, whereby the wart will gradually slough off. This process is fast and will typically require a few treatment sessions.
Laser Treatment – Laser therapy destroys warts by finding their blood supply and thermalizing it slowly over time. This treatment provides great choices for very challenging persistent warts and warts that wouldn’t respond to other treatments.
Prescription medications – Prescription topical treatments can be used that are designed to penetrate the thick skin on top of the wart that will eliminate the infection.
Minor surgical removal – The last option for very challenging warts would be performing a small procedure to excise the wart if it becomes very difficult to treat.
Immunotherapy – The treatment stimulates the body’s immune system to help fight the HPV virus directly, reducing the chances of recurrence.
How Deniel Foot and Ankle Center Makes a Difference
We blend advanced medical techniques with personalized care in our clinic. Each patient comes in for a complete evaluation to find the best possible plantar warts removal method. Unlike box remedies which can be applied at home and may or may not work, our plantar warts treatment, and topical agents, target the source, help prevent warts from coming back or spreading.
In addition to plantar warts care, we offer care for all kinds of common foot problems. If you are screening for toenail fungus treatment, our podiatrist specialists utilize the latest modalities to cure your fungal toenail and restore your healthy nail. The same can be said for bunions; if the recommendation is bunion surgery, you could also benefit from MIS bunion surgery. At the very least with minimally invasive surgery, you should be able to recover faster and with less pain.
By selecting Deniel Foot and Ankle Center, you have access to podiatric care that is offered by registered Medical Foot Specialists that offer personalized care.
Preventing Plantar Warts in the Future
While there are treatments for plantar warts, it is always better to avoid them altogether. Some other ways to avoid plantar warts include the following:
Whenever you go to a public shower, gym, or pool you should wear shoes or flip flops.
Remember to wash your feet regularly, and keep them dry to prevent any development of infections.
Never share socks, shoes, or towels with anyone else.
Regularly check your feet for any unusual growths or skin changes.
By following these precautions, you will reduce the odds of developing plantar warts once again.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay Treatment
If you ignore plantar warts, they can cause more pain, spread the virus, as well as pain in walking, and, eventually, result in changes to your gait which can result in knee or hip or back problems. Resultingly, a delay in seeing a foot and ankle specialist will allow the condition to worsen before you follow-up and receive treatment (which will already provide the chance of an effective resolution).
Call to Action
Do you or a family member suffer from plantar warts? Don’t let the discomfort live your life. At Deniel Foot and Ankle Center, we focus entirely on plantar wart removal through safe, advanced, and effective treatments for people of all ages. Take that first step to healthier feet today by scheduling an appointment with our professional team.
Whether you have persistent warts, seeking toenail fungus treatments or considering MIS bunion surgery, we are available to help.
