Plantar Warts Specialist

Foot & Ankle of the Carolinas

Foot and Ankle Surgeons & Podiatrists located in Matthews, NC & Monroe, NC

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 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.

Plantar Warts Q & A

What are plantar warts?

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.

What symptoms develop due to plantar warts?

Plantar wart symptoms include:

Small, rough growth
Patch of thickened, hard skin
Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
Pain when squeezing the sides of the growth

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.

How are plantar warts treated?

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:

Trimming or shaving away the wart
Applying topical medications
Freezing the wart (cryotherapy)
Medications to stimulate your immune response

Your podiatrist also gives you self-care tips to help eliminate the wart and you may need to apply medication or patches every day.

When should I see a doctor for plantar warts?

You should seek professional treatment at 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: