Plantar Warts

What do plantar warts look like?

Plantar warts can pop up as a single wart or a cluster of warts (known as “mosaic” warts). They can surface anywhere on your feet, especially on the balls or heels. In either case, you’re probably going to notice a lesion that is:

• Rough and grainy
• Hard or thickened
• Interrupting the normal lines and ridges of your feet

Foot warts tend to have black pinpoint centers, which indicate clotted blood vessels. Usually that pinpoint — known as a “wart seed” — is a clear indicator of a wart outbreak that often stems from human papillomavirus (HPV) exposure. 

Do plantar warts cause symptoms?

They certainly can. When you’re exposed to wart-causing HPV, like when you walk barefoot through a public locker room or sauna, the viral invader quickly starts taking over healthy skin tissue. As warts develop, you may experience:

• Burning or stabbing pains
• Poor sensation in your feet
• Pain that interferes with your regular activities

Without proper medical treatment, plantar warts can become so severe and uncomfortable, they can lead to a change in your gait or posture. This can cause ankle, leg, or even lower back pain. Before your warts worsen or spread to other areas of your body, see how the team at Foot + Ankle Specialty Centers can help. 

How are plantar warts treated?

When you come to Foot + Ankle Specialty Centers for your plantar wart evaluation, your dedicated podiatrist examines your feet and talks with you about your symptoms. Depending on the severity of your plantar wart outbreak, your treatment plan may include:

• Removing warts with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)
• Applying prescription-strength topical salicylic acid medication
• Destroying and removing warts with an electric needle (electrodesiccation and curettage)

The top-rated podiatrists at Foot + Ankle Specialty Centers specialize in the latest plantar wart treatments, so you can expect effective relief, no matter how minor or how severe your foot wart outbreak may be. 

Schedule your plantar warts evaluation at Foot + Ankle Specialty Centers by clicking on the online booking feature or by calling any clinic to speak with a team member.