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Condition · Skin and Nails
Plantar Warts
Warts are common skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). On the feet, they can develop on the toes, around the nails, or on the bottom of the foot, where they are known as plantar warts. Plantar warts can become painful when standing or walking because of pressure placed directly on the lesion.
At Timonium Foot and Ankle Center, our doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating plantar warts and other skin lesions of the foot. Because corns, calluses, and other skin conditions can sometimes resemble a wart, treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.
Warts can be persistent and may require multiple treatments before they completely resolve. Treatment depends on the size, location, number of warts, previous treatments, and how the lesion responds to therapy.
If you have a painful, persistent, or spreading skin lesion on your foot, call our office or request an appointment online. We’ll determine what’s causing the problem and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
At Timonium Foot and Ankle Center, our doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating plantar warts and other skin lesions of the foot. Because corns, calluses, and other skin conditions can sometimes resemble a wart, treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.
Warts can be persistent and may require multiple treatments before they completely resolve. Treatment depends on the size, location, number of warts, previous treatments, and how the lesion responds to therapy.
If you have a painful, persistent, or spreading skin lesion on your foot, call our office or request an appointment online. We’ll determine what’s causing the problem and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
What is a plantar wart?
A wart is a benign skin growth caused by infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). When a wart develops on the bottom, or plantar surface, of the foot, it is called a plantar wart.
The virus enters the outer layers of the skin, often through small breaks in the skin. Because plantar warts are exposed to pressure from standing and walking, they may grow inward beneath an overlying layer of thickened skin or callus and can become painful.
Warts are contagious and can spread to other areas of the foot or to other people. Some warts eventually resolve without treatment, while others persist, enlarge, multiply, or become increasingly painful.
What are the symptoms of a plantar wart?
- Loss of normal skin lines: The normal lines of the skin are typically interrupted as they cross the wart.
- Pinpoint black dots: Small blood vessels within the wart may appear as tiny black or dark-red dots.
- Thickened or callused skin: Plantar warts may develop beneath an area of thickened skin or callus.
- Pain: Warts on weight-bearing areas can become painful with standing, walking, or direct pressure.
- Flat or flesh-colored lesions: Some warts appear relatively flat and pale or similar in color to the surrounding skin.
- Rough or elevated growths: Other warts may have a rough surface or develop finger-like projections above the skin.
- Multiple or spreading lesions: Additional warts may develop near the original lesion or elsewhere on the foot.
How are plantar warts diagnosed?
Plantar warts are usually diagnosed through a comprehensive examination of the skin. Our doctors evaluate the appearance and location of the lesion, interruption of normal skin lines, presence of pinpoint blood vessels, overlying callus, and other characteristics that help distinguish a wart from a corn, callus, or other skin condition.
When the diagnosis is uncertain or a lesion has unusual features, additional evaluation or biopsy may be recommended to rule out another type of skin lesion.
What types of warts occur on the feet?
- Plantar warts: Plantar warts develop on the bottom of the foot. Because they occur on weight-bearing surfaces, pressure can cause them to become painful and develop an overlying callus.
- Mosaic warts: Mosaic warts occur when multiple plantar warts grow together in a cluster. They can cover a larger area and may be particularly difficult to treat.
- Common warts (verruca vulgaris): Common warts may occur on the toes, top of the foot, or other non-weight-bearing areas. They are often raised, well-defined growths with a rough surface.
How can plantar warts be prevented?
Warts are caused by a contagious virus and can spread through direct contact or contaminated surfaces.
- Avoid picking at warts: Picking, scratching, or cutting a wart can spread the virus to other areas.
- Avoid barefoot walking in communal areas: Wearing appropriate footwear in locker rooms, public showers, pool areas, and similar environments may reduce exposure to HPV.
- Avoid sharing personal items: Shoes, socks, nail instruments, and other items that contact an affected area should not be shared.
- Keep feet clean and dry: Good foot hygiene may help reduce conditions that allow the virus to enter damaged or irritated skin.
How are plantar warts treated?
Plantar warts can be challenging to eliminate and frequently require multiple treatments. The appropriate treatment depends on the size, number, location, depth, duration of the warts, previous treatment, and individual patient factors.
Consistency is important. Office treatment may be combined with treatment at home, and multiple treatment sessions may be necessary before the wart completely resolves.
Treatment options for plantar warts
- Debridement and topical acid treatment: Thickened skin overlying the wart may be carefully removed before application of a prescription-strength acid treatment.
- Prescription topical medication: Prescription-strength salicylic acid or other topical medications may be used at home between office treatments.
- Laser treatment: Laser therapy may be used to treat persistent plantar warts, particularly when other treatments have been unsuccessful.
- Combination therapy: Because warts can be resistant to treatment, different office and home therapies may be combined or changed depending on the response.
- Surgical excision: Surgical removal may be considered for selected persistent warts that have failed other treatments. Because excision can result in scarring and does not guarantee that the wart will not recur, it is generally reserved for appropriate cases.
Patient stories
"I took my 11 year old son to see Dr. Stewart because he had several warts on the bottom of his foot. Dr. Stewart let us know that the process to remove warts is a long one, and could last up to one year or more! We began treatment and went to see him every two weeks for check ups, medicine application and also for Dr. Stewart to remove what he could from each wart. We were very lucky and only needed about three and a half months of treatment. Each time we went to the office, the staff greeted us and were very friendly. They helped us book appointments that worked around our work, school, and sports schedule. Dr. Stewart made my son feel very comfortable and explained what he would be doing each time. I’m grateful that he took such good care of my son and I’m happy to report that all foot warts are gone!!"
"I started coming to Dr. Stewart back in March to get a decade old plantar wart removed on my foot and I couldn’t be happier with the results. He communicated with me from the start how long it was gonna take, what to expect with the treatment, and he means it when he says consistency is key. The appointments were super quick and I was always in and out within 15 minutes.The front desk staff is absolutely lovely, I really could not recommend this place more."
Warts, answered
Is it a wart or a callus?
It can be difficult to tell without an examination. Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and often interrupt the normal skin lines and contain tiny blood vessels that may appear as black dots. Calluses develop from pressure or friction and typically maintain the normal skin lines. Because treatment is very different, an accurate diagnosis is the first step.
What causes plantar warts?
Plantar warts are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can enter the skin through tiny cuts, abrasions, or other breaks in the skin. Exposure can occur in communal environments such as locker rooms, public showers, and pool areas. Not everyone exposed to HPV develops a wart because the body's immune response to the virus varies from person to person.
How are plantar warts treated?
Treatment depends on the size, location, number, and duration of the warts, as well as previous treatments. At Timonium Foot and Ankle Center, plantar warts are commonly treated with periodic in-office debridement and acid applications combined with prescription topical medication used at home between visits. Multiple treatments over several weeks or months may be necessary. For persistent or difficult-to-treat plantar warts, laser treatment or other procedures may be considered.
Can I treat a plantar wart at home?
Over-the-counter wart treatments are available, but plantar warts can be difficult to treat successfully at home. Improper application can damage the surrounding healthy skin, and corns, calluses, and other skin lesions can sometimes resemble plantar warts. A comprehensive evaluation can confirm the diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment, particularly for painful, persistent, or spreading lesions.
Why won't my plantar wart go away?
Plantar warts can be stubborn because the virus lives within the skin, and the body's immune response varies from person to person. Even with appropriate treatment, multiple treatments over several weeks or months are often necessary before the wart completely resolves.
Will my plantar wart come back?
It can. Even after successful treatment, plantar warts can recur, and new warts can develop after re-exposure to the wart virus. Following the recommended treatment plan, avoiding picking at the area, and taking precautions to reduce future exposure may help decrease the risk of recurrence.
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