Painful plantar warts are the larger warts that grow in the fibrous tissue (the plantar fascia) on the bottom of your foot. They most often occur in places that are under the most pressure, which is in the heel or ball areas. The added pressure forces the wart to grow inward, often hidden under a thick layer of skin, which makes them hard to identify and to treat.
Some excellent treatments for plantar warts include the following:
- Cryotherapy—Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart so it can be broken off in larger pieces.
- Acid melting—Extra strength salicylic acid is applied to the wart to gradually remove it a little at a time.
- Surgery may be needed—In the more severe cases of warts that are totally embedded, a surgical removal may be required to completely eliminate the wart.
- Laser removal—This is a practically painless procedure that will burn off the wart and cauterize the capillaries that supply blood flow to the wart. This will deprive the virus of the nutrients it needs to continue growing the wart.
How to prevent plantar warts:
Because warts are caused by the very common human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the best ways to avoid contracting any warts is to avoid contamination with the virus. HPV is spread by contact, so be protecting your feet when you are in public areas like showers and locker rooms you will help avoid this contact. Keeping your feet clean, dry, and treating them with antimicrobial topicals will also help avoid the spread of disease.
If you are having problems with painful plantar warts, seeing your podiatrist is the best way to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in East Syracuse, New York. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Kathleen Pyatak-Hugar and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.