Plantar Warts: A Tender Spot Under the Foot
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All warts, including plantar warts, are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Plantar warts are small non-cancerous growths on the soles of the feet, usually occurring on the heel or ball of the foot. If they grow deeper into the skin layer, they can cause pain from the pressure of walking. Teens and children seem to be the most susceptible to developing plantar warts as well as those with weakened immune systems.
At first, plantar warts can be mistaken for calluses because they appear hardened and flat. The clue is that there is tenderness felt with walking and that the center of a plantar wart typically has a one or more blackened pinpoint spots, which are from clotted blood inside the wart. Sometimes multiple plantar warts can form and grow together called mosaic warts.
How to treat:
Before treating a plantar wart, a dermatologist should evaluate the area to confirm that the tender spots are in fact plantar warts. The dermatologist will determine if the area is suspicious for skin cancer in which case a scraping would be sent and examined under a microscope. Additionally, if you have circulatory problems or diabetes, a doctor should monitor the treatment of any lesions to the foot to avoid developing a more serious infection.
Your doctor may suggest you try a home therapy first, especially if the person being treated is a child as these treatments will be the least invasive or painful. Over-the-counter products that contain salicylic acid are worth a try before moving on to more involved treatments below.
• Freezing: a doctor uses liquid nitrogen from a spray or cotton tip applicator to “freeze” the wart. This treatment is a bit painful so may not be appropriate for young children and often needs to be repeated.
• Acids: salicylic acid may be used alone or combined with cantharidin, a special solution derived from the blister beetle. Upton's paste is another acid mixture that is applied to the wart and then covered with tape. The doctor will remove the dead skin around the wart about a week later.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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