Plantar Warts Specialist

What is a plantar wart?

A wart is a small bump that grows on your skin. Warts can develop on any part of your body, but a plantar wart (verruca plantaris) is one that grows on your foot. They’re called plantar warts because they most often appear on the bottom (plantar side) of your foot.

Plantar warts typically have a rough and grainy texture. They may contain black pinpoints that look like little seeds. These are actually clotted blood vessels. Warts that grow inward may develop a thickened callus over them.

Warts are extremely common and typically harmless. However, a plantar wart on weight-bearing parts of your foot, like the heel or forefoot, can cause pain while you’re walking or standing.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to seek professional care at Foot and Ankle Excellence rather than try to treat the wart yourself.

What causes plantar warts?

Warts are a result of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, many of which cause warts to grow on various parts of your body. Only a few types of HPV cause plantar warts. If one of these viruses enters your foot through a crack in the skin, you may develop plantar warts.

Plantar warts can spread from direct contact with another wart. However, the HPV strains that cause plantar warts aren’t highly contagious. Because everyone’s immune system reacts differently, you might not develop a wart after coming into contact with one.

How are plantar warts diagnosed and treated?

Dr. Leka diagnoses a plantar wart by visually inspecting your foot and listening to you describe your symptoms and medical history. If she thinks the growth may be something other than a wart, she may remove a small tissue sample (biopsy) to send to a lab for testing.

Then, she recommends the best course of treatment for you. This may include:

• Prescription wart medicine
• Freezing (cryotherapy)
• Laser treatment
• Removal with minor surgery

Warts are notoriously difficult to treat, so you may need to try a few methods before finding one that works.

If you have a painful or bothersome plantar wart, call Foot and Ankle Excellence or book an appointment online today.