Plantar Warts Specialist

Where do plantar warts come from?

Plantar warts come from a virus, the same as any other type of wart. This virus is incredibly common and can be passed from one person to the next by skin-to-skin contact or when a person touches an object that an individual with the virus has recently touched. What makes plantar warts unique is the fact that they occur on the bottom of the foot. It is believed that most people will experience a wart at one point or another during their lives. Plantar warts, however, can be painful, due to the fact that the body’s weight is bearing down on the affected area during standing or walking.

What do plantar warts look like?

The appearance of plantar warts can vary. They are generally small in size and are flatter than other types of warts, likely because they occur on the base of the feet where they are compressed by walking. They can be singular or can occur in small clusters. Some plantar warts have tiny dark dots in them, which leads people to refer to them as “seed” warts. These dots are not seeds; instead, they are simply areas where tiny blood vessels have developed inside the wart. It is unusual for plantar warts to exceed the size of a pencil eraser.

What are the treatment options for plantar warts?

In some cases, plantar warts will disappear on their own over a period of time. For patients who want to have the warts removed, a number of treatment options are available. Dr. Amar can make use of laser technology to remove the wart. Another approach involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart off of the surface of the foot. In some cases, medication is prescribed that can boost the body’s immune system to allow for the elimination of the virus that causes plantar warts. This medication can be applied topically or injected.