How To Treat Foot Warts

There are small, rough growths on the soles of your feet called plantar warts. These appear most often at the balls and heels, where pressure is greatest. Constrictive pressure can cause plantar warts to grow inward beneath an outer layer of thick, hard skin called callus.

There is a virus on the bottom of the feet, HPV, that causes plantar warts. The virus infects the feet through tiny cuts or breaks.

There's no need to worry about plantar warts; many go away without treatment, especially in children under 12. To get rid of them sooner, try self-care treatments or seek medical attention.

Indications

There are several signs and symptoms associated with plantar warts, including:

Typically appears near the toes, ball, or heel of the foot as a small, rough growth
Darker skin may have a lighter growth than dark skin without symptoms
Wart that has grown inward, resulting in hardened, thickened skin (callus)
A wart seed is a clump of clotted blood that resembles a black pinpoint
Mosaic warts occur on the soles of the feet.
The skin of your foot has lines and ridges that are disrupted by this growth
When walking or standing, there is pain or tenderness

Doctor's appointments

Symptoms of a foot growth include:

In addition to bleeding or being painful, there may be changes in the shape or color of the growth
There have been attempts to treat the wart, but it persists, multiplies, or comes back after being cleared for a period of time (recurs).
You are hindered by your pain
Your feet may also be weak or you have diabetes
As a result of immunosuppressive drugs, HIV/AIDS, or other disorders of the immune system, you may also have a weak immune system
A wart may be growing on your skin, but you're not sure

Factors that cause

When the virus enters the soles of the feet through small cuts, breaks, or weak spots, plantar warts develop. The warts are caused by an infection with HPV that occurs in the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. Warts can last up to 2 years in children and several years in adults if left untreated.

Approximately 100 different types of HPV exist, but only a few of them are known to cause foot warts. Other HPV types cause warts on other parts of the skin, including mucous membranes.

The virus is transmitted

Viruses react differently against different people's immune systems. Not everyone gets warts from HPV. Even members of the same family have different reactions to it.

It is unlikely that plantar warts can be spread directly from one person to another because the HPV strains causing them are not highly contagious. The virus thrives in warm, moist environments, so you can get it by walking barefoot around pools or locker rooms. If the virus spreads from the first site, more warts could develop.

Contributing factors to risk

Plantar warts can affect anyone, but they are more likely to affect:

A child or a teenager
Immune system-deficient individuals
Previous plantar wart sufferers
Swimming pools and locker rooms are common areas where wart-causing viruses can be spread barefoot

Problems

Plantar warts may affect your posture or gait, causing changes in the way you stand, walk, or run that eventually result in pain in the muscles and joints.

Taking preventative measures

Plantar warts can be prevented by following these steps:

If you touch a wart directly, wash your hands carefully afterward. This includes your own warts.
Dry and clean your feet.
Whenever you are near a swimming pool, locker room, or gym shower, wear shoes that protect your feet.
Warts should not be picked or scratched.
It is best to use emery boards, pumice stones or nail clippers that you avoid using on your healthy skin and nails when dealing with warts.

You can contact our office at 949-588-8833, or visit our website at https://www.ocfootdoctor.com. Our offices are in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa.

📲 949-588-8833

🏢 24331 El Toro Rd, Suite 370 Laguna Woods CA 92637

🏢Irvine Medical Arts Building 113 Waterworks Way, Suite 250 Irvine, CA 92618

🌐 https://www.ocfootdoctor.com/

The information contained above is intended for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professionals before starting any new treatment. Health information on this website MUST NOT be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of your doctor.