You can ignore a plantar wart and let it go away on its own. But, you may wait a year or longer for the wart to disappear, and during that time, it continues to grow and cause pain. At InStride Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas, Eric Ward, DPM, and Blaise Woeste, DPM, recommend getting early treatment to prevent discomfort and to stop plantar warts from spreading. To schedule an appointment, call one of the offices in Matthews or Monroe, North Carolina, or use the online booking form.
A plantar wart is a wart that grows on the bottom of your foot, usually near a pressure point, such as your heel.
Plantar warts develop when certain viruses get under your skin through a small cut or sore. These viruses thrive in moist environments, so you’re most likely to come into contact with them when you go barefoot in a locker room or when you don’t wear socks and your shoes become damp.
Plantar wart symptoms include:
Plantar warts often resemble a callus, or you may see tiny black dots on the surface of the growth. The growth may not look large, but plantar warts tend to grow deep into the skin, creating the feeling that you have a rock in your shoe.
Plantar warts usually go away on their own, but that can take years, so most people prefer to get medical treatment. Your podiatrist may recommend one of several possible treatment options, such as:
Your podiatrist also gives you self-care tips to help eliminate the wart and you may need to apply medication or patches every day.
You should seek professional treatment at InStride Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas any time you notice a wart and want it removed or when the wart causes discomfort. It’s also important to let them treat your wart if you have diabetes or poor sensation in your feet.
But other skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma, can cause lesions that resemble warts. For this reason, it’s important to protect your health and have your podiatrist check out the wart when:
To schedule a thorough examination for plantar warts, call InStride Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas or book an appointment online.
