Plantar warts are a common foot condition caused by a viral skin infection. Though they’re benign, they can become painful and disrupt your day-to-day life, especially when located on pressure points like the heels and balls of the feet. Understanding the causes and treatment options can help you take the right steps toward relief. Here’s what you need to know about plantar warts:

What are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are warts on the feet that form due to a skin infection from HPV. They’re rough, callus-like growths that are often discolored and have small brown or black specks. They usually form on the soles of the feet, including on or between the toes, on the heels, or on the balls of the feet. Unfortunately, plantar warts are fairly common, though certain demographics are more likely to develop them. These demographics include children and teenagers, those with a weakened immune system or autoimmune disease, and people over the age of 65. While plantar warts themselves are benign and don’t pose health risks, they still come with uncomfortable symptoms.

Causes

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of plantar warts. When there’s a cut or break in the skin on the foot, the virus enters, leading to a skin infection. This skin infection leads to the growth of plantar warts, which appear to be surface-level, but they actually go deep down into the skin. Plantar warts are highly contagious, spreading from direct contact with another person or a surface that has been exposed to HPV. 

Symptoms

Along with pain and discomfort, plantar warts can bleed and lead to a host of other issues. Plantar warts cause a sharp, burning pain when bearing weight. To avoid some of this pain, people often adjust the way they stand, walk or run. When you change your body’s natural mechanics, it can cause misalignment and result in stress on the feet and ankles. This increased stress on the muscles, tissues and joints can result in other foot and ankle problems over time.

Prevention

Protecting your health often means prioritizing prevention. Since plantar warts are spread by direct contact, preventing them can be fairly simple. Practice regular foot care, keep your feet clean and dry, and avoid sharing shoes, socks or towels with other people. HPV thrives in warm, damp environments. Public places with a lot of moisture, like gyms, pools, saunas and steam rooms, can be a breeding ground for HPV. When spending time in these places, avoid walking around barefoot. Wearing a pair of shoes or sandals can protect you from coming into contact with HPV in public places and, therefore, reduce your risk of developing plantar warts.

Treatment and Removal

Plantar warts can go away on their own, but this doesn’t happen often—and when it does, it can take longer than a year. If plantar warts are causing intense pain or discomfort, waiting can be unrealistic. For some, plantar warts even go away and come back. Most treatments involve topical medicines and other conservative options. In some cases, when other treatments fail to help, a foot and ankle specialist may recommend immunotherapy or laser cautery treatment.

If you’ve been dealing with plantar warts and nothing seems to be helping, it’s time to reach out to a medical professional. The Irving foot and ankle specialists at North Texas Foot & Ankle will work with you to develop the most effective treatment plan to get you back on your feet. Call our office (214) 574-9255 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.