When you find a wart on your foot, it can be hard to tell whether the wart is harmful or harmless. Not to mention they are usually looked at as a cosmetic issue. Although they can be a pain, they are treatable by a podiatrist. Here is all you need to know about warts and their treatment.

In general, most warts are harmless. However, they can be painful. Many times, they are mistaken for a callus or a corn. Calluses and corns are caused by dead skin that is built up to protect an area that is being continuously aggravated, while a wart is caused by a viral infection.

Sometimes it is possible for more serious lesions to appear on the foot. These serious lesions also include cancerous warts. Carcinomas and melanomas commonly take on the appearance of a wart at their beginning. Sometimes, because of their similar appearance, they are mistakenly identified as a wart. If you are diagnosed with a wart on your foot, it is wise to consult a podiatrist who can perform proper tests on the wart to determine whether it is a wart or something more severe.

Texture

Plantar warts are usually hard and flat with rough surfaces and well-defined boundaries. When they first appear on the foot or the toes, they tend to be raised and fleshy.

Color

Plantar warts are often grey or brown. The color can vary depending on the wart and virus causing the wart. The center of the wart may have one or many pinpoints that are black in color.

In general, warts tend to be difficult to treat. This is because they have a high tendency to recur and are often resistant to treatment.

Plantar warts are often caught by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces where the virus lives. It especially thrives in warm and moist environments such as pools, locker rooms, and dance studios.

Preventing Warts

• Avoid walking barefoot
• Change shoes and socks every day
• Keep your feet dry and clean
• Check children’s feet regularly
• Avoid direct contact with warts (touching other people’s warts)
• When you see a growth on the skin, have it checked immediately
• Visit a podiatrist as part of your annual physical.

If you have warts on your feet, you can have them cured. All it takes is a visit to our office and a specialized treatment plan. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in East Syracuse, New York. Our foot doctor Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico and his highly trained team can help you treat those pesky warts. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.