Frequently Asked Questions About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are incredibly common. More than 3 million people suffer from them every year in the United States. Since they spread easily, it is a condition that many people will face at some point in their lifetime and once warts first pop up, they can spread on the body, making it far more difficult to eliminate them. This makes it important to seek professional help instead of waiting and hoping that they would go away.

WHAT CAUSES PLANTAR WARTS?

Plantar warts are typically a result of the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. Since they are highly contagious, many people will suffer from warts after walking barefoot in places like a public restroom, locker room or at the swimming pool.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

These warts are typically round in shape, hard, can be a variety of colors and are grainy. They can range from being small in size to rather large.

WHERE DO THEY POP UP?

These warts are typically going to be found on a person’s heels or the balls of their feet, though some people will also get them on their hands.

WHO GETS WARTS?

Virtually anyone can get a wart. However, warts are most common in people between the ages of 6 and 40.

WHAT DO WARTS DO TO THE FOOT?

Below the surface of the skin, the virus will infect the skin cells, leading to the creation of a wart at the surface. This is why when one removes or pulls a wart out, it typically leaves a large hole in the skin. They can be rather deep depending on how severe the skin infection is.

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF PLANTAR WARTS?

There are several treatments that patients can try. At home, many people will try to cut them away but this can be dangerous and lead to the infection spreading. Also, trying to cut warts away without help can cause a lot of bleeding, which can also be dangerous. We advise against this method.

Anyone looking to treat a wart at home should try over-the-counter medication instead. These may include placing a medicated bandage on top of the wart. Sometimes, this can cause the wart to go away, though it is not effective for everyone.

One of the best methods for removing a wart is to visit our office so that we can use dry ice to freeze it. Typically, this will lead to the elimination of the wart and it will not grow back. However, in some cases, surgery may be necessary for removing the wart completely. Typically, this is only the case if the wart has spread and grown incredibly large.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SEEK TREATMENT?

Immediately. It is critical that anyone who is suffering from warts get help right away. These are highly infectious and will spread. The best way to prevent this is to visit our office immediately so that we can eliminate the wart before it leads to severe discomfort. The treatment is affordable and fast so there is truly no reason to delay seeking help.