Since warts on your feet can be mistaken for other skin conditions including corns and cancer, always have any skin abnormalities inspected by a foot doctor to avoid surprises down the road. Skin lesions that change in color or appearance should be checked out right away.

Most visible warts on your feet will have a rough, grainy appearance and won’t be much bigger than a pea. Plantar warts are often not visible and can grow underneath thickened skin in the high-stress areas of the sole including the ball and heel areas. Treating a hidden wart can be difficult and cause bleeding, so it’s best to have your foot doctor deal with any plantar warts to avoid the possibility of infection.

Over the counter treatments using a low strength acid are available for wart removal, but they are not always completely effective and warts will return if the virus isn’t completely eradicated.

The size and location of warts will indicate the best method of treatment:

• Freezing—Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart so that it can be removed in chunks. Don’t try this at home!
• Laser removal—After numbing the area with an anesthetic, your foot care specialist will remove warts with a laser.
• Acid treatments—Different strengths of acid may be used in conjunction with the other therapies so that the wart is gradually melted and shaved away.
• Vaccination—HPV vaccine is injected to treat warts from within.

If you are experiencing painful warts on your feet, consult with an experienced podiatrist for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Call Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse, New York. Foot doctors Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico and Dr. Payel Ghosh will help diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 for more information or make an appointment online today.