Warts on your feet, also known as plantar warts, aren’t always as obvious as other types of warts. While many people think of warts as round, raised bumps atop the skin, warts on the feet grow inward because of the pressure placed on them when you walk. As a result, it’s easy to mistake them for a callus. Plantar warts also have tiny black dots in the middle.
Once you notice these symptoms, you’ll probably want to do away with them quickly. Because foot warts tend to be not only painful but stubborn to treat, working with a qualified professional can go far.
At Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic in Lodi, New Jersey, top-rated podiatrist Dr. Sean Rosenblum provides the latest available wart treatments to bring you needed relief. Read on to learn more about plantar warts, including what causes them.
Plantar warts form when a common virus known as the human papillomavirus, or HPV, enters your skin, typically through a cut, wound, or weak spot. HPV tends to lurk in public areas and stick to surfaces, such as gym floors, locker room floors, playgrounds, and door knobs. Only a tiny amount needs to enter your skin to start multiplying and forming into one wart and then a cluster of warts.
Anyone can develop warts on the feet, given wart-conducive circumstances, but certain factors increase your risk. You may be more prone to plantar warts if you:
Warts are harmless and usually diminish on their own, so you may choose not to get rid of them. That said, warts may linger for quite some time. And in some cases, foot warts become increasingly tender and continue to spread, making daily activities difficult. For these reasons, we recommend seeking professional care early on.
If one or more plantar warts are bothering you physically or emotionally, Dr. Rosenblum can help. After an exam that includes discussion of your medical history, he may recommend a range of treatment options, such as:
Dr. Rosenblum will also counsel you on preventative measures to help guard against recurrent foot warts.
To learn more about warts on the feet or get started with effective treatment, call Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic or book an appointment through our website.
