Plantars Wart

The Plantars wart grows inward and can be tender and cause foot pain. The portion of the wart under the skin is at least twice the size as the part you can see. Many times you will see a small black pinpoint in the wart on the bottom of your foot. This is actually clotted blood vessels and not wart seeds that many people tend to believe.

Plantars wart is caused by the human papilloma virus and can be contagious. You can contract this virus by walking on contaminated surfaces such as public locker room floors, public showers and swimming pools.

There are many different over the counter treatments that you can utilize to treat plantars wart. One type of treatment is salicylic acid. Dr. Scholl's Clear Away Plantar for example is a 40 percent salicylic acid solution that is applied to the wart once or twice a day. This solution peels off the infected skin a little bit at a time. This can take up to 3 to 4 weeks. The key to this product working is the consistency in using it each and every day.

Crazy as it sounds duct tape is another treatment for plantars wart. With this treatment, the plantars wart is covered in duct tape for six days, then soaked in water and gently rubbed with an emery board. This may take up to two months for the wart to go away. Again, consistency in the use of this treatment is the key to its success. Duct tape for plantars wart can be a treatment alternative for children who may be frightened of other treatments.

One of the most common treatments for plantars wart is freezing (cryotherapy). With this treatment the doctor will apply liquid nitrogen with a spray canister or q-tip. The nitrogen causes a blister to form around the wart causing the dead skin to fall off within a week. This type of treatment may require trips to your doctor every two to four weeks and can cause slight to moderate pain.

If your plantars warts do not respond to these treatments, more aggressive measures such as minor surgery, laser treatments or immunotherapy many be taken.

To reduce your risk of plantars wart, do not go barefoot in public areas, keep feet clean and dry, avoid direct contact with wart and do not pick at wart.

Most plantars warts are not a serious health concern. However, they can be bothersome and painful and can impact your quality of life. If every step you take is painful, then that is a problem and should be treated. It is important to see your medical doctor who can accurately diagnose and appropriately treat plantars wart.