Plantar Wart Treatment

Plantar warts are small skin growths that develop on the soles of your feet. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and University of California San Diego (UCSD), plantar warts are caused by an infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).

A wart on the bottom of your foot is usually a plantar wart according to the UCSD. The UCSD says these types of warts are usually spread by coming into close physical contact with someone infected with HPV, or by walking barefoot on a moist surface contaminated with HPV. For example, you may get a plantar wart by walking barefoot on a contaminated area in a locker room or community pool.

The UCSD adds that you can prevent plantar warts by wearing shoes or protective footwear in places that could potentially expose you to HPV. Plantar wart treatment may involve freezing, salicylic acid, duct tape, and prescription medications, adds Harvard Medical School.

Effective ways to prevent a plantar wart, according to Harvard Medical School and the University of Michigan, include avoiding contact with HPV-infected people if you have breaks in your skin, wearing footwear in public places, and using condoms during sexual intercourse.

Most plantar warts go away on their own over time without treatment, says the UCSD. However, treatment may be necessary if your plantar wart is causing pain or isn’t going away.

If you have a wart on your foot that won’t go away, make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in dermatology. A dermatologist can evaluate your feet, diagnose a plantar wart, and discuss your available treatment options.

A plantar wart grows only on the bottom of your foot or toe. The University of Michigan states that most plantar warts are flat due to being pressed into the foot by walking, while the UCSD says that plantar warts may also be thick and raised.

Plantar warts may have tiny black dots on them, which are spots of dried blood. Other plantar wart symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain or discomfort that occurs in the foot while walking, adds the NIH.

A plantar wart can be treated with freezing or topical agents, including duct tape or salicylic acid, according to Harvard Medical School. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to remove the wart.

During freezing, also known as cryotherapy, your doctor will typically apply liquid nitrogen to the wart that burns it away. Freezing may require three to four treatments and produces side effects including a burning sensation, pain, redness, and blistering, says Harvard Medical School.

Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter plantar wart treatment that comes in the form of a liquid, ointment, or patch. These products are placed directly on the wart for up to 15 minutes a day for 12 weeks, adds Harvard Medical School.

Duct tape can be placed directly over the wart for six days at a time. On the seventh day, you can remove the duct tape to soak and file your wart before starting another six-day treatment with the duct tape. According to Harvard Medical School, this treatment is thought to work by depriving the wart of oxygen and promoting the removal of dead skin and viral particles that make up the wart.

Imiquimod and fluorouracil are prescription medications your doctor may use to treat and remove a plantar wart according to Harvard Medical School. Your doctor or dermatologist can talk to you in greater detail about medications for plantar warts during your appointment.

A plantar wart can be diagnosed by your primary care doctor or a dermatologist. According to the NIH, these healthcare professionals can usually diagnose a plantar wart during a physical examination of your toe or foot.

Harvard Medical School reports that most warts go away on their own within one year and that two-thirds of warts go away within two years. It adds that some experts recommend having a plantar wart treated right away to reduce the risk of recurrence.

The recovery time for a plantar wart will depend on the treatment method you use. Your doctor or dermatologist can give you a more realistic expectation regarding the recovery time from a plantar wart based on the type of treatment.

Plantar warts can typically be prevented by avoiding contact with people or surfaces infected with HPV, states the NIH.

According to the NIH and Harvard Medical School, effective prevention methods for plantar warts include:

• Wearing shoes, sandals, or other proper footwear in public places like swimming pools, locker rooms, and changing rooms.
• Using condoms when engaging in sexual intercourse.
• Using a waterproof plaster to cover a wart on your toe when swimming.
• Not sharing personal items with others such as towels, shoes, and socks.
• Wearing clean socks and shoes.
• Keeping your feet dry at all times.
• Removing warts that are present.
• Not touching your warts.