Plantar Wart

Plantar warts are harmless but can cause foot pain if they grow into a nerve in the fleshy part on the bottom of your foot. Podiatrist John Murphy, DPM, at Maryland Podiatry Center in Ellicott City, Maryland, can provide expert care for your plantar wart, removing the growth and relieving any problems it might cause. If you need expert help with your plantar wart, Dr. Murphy can help. Call today or click the online booking button to make an appointment.

I have a callus under my toes. Could I have a plantar wart?

A plantar wart is a growth that develops on the sole of the foot, most often on the fleshy part at the ball of the foot under the toes or the heel. A plantar wart causes the skin to thicken and can look like a callus.

Depending on where the growth is, you might also have foot pain when you walk or squeeze the sides of the wart. Plantar warts can grow individually or in a cluster.

Plantar warts are widespread and affect people of all ages.

What causes plantar warts?

Strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cause plantar warts. You develop the growths when your skin comes in contact with the virus, like when walking barefoot in a public area or sharing shoes with someone with a wart.

HPV is the same virus that causes the warts that form on other areas of the body. The warts on the feet are called plantar warts because they grow inward instead of out. This happens because of the pressure on the growth when you walk or stand.

When should I get medical care for a plantar wart?

Plantar warts aren’t a serious health concern and might go away on their own or after using over-the-counter (OTC) wart medication. However, Dr. Murphy recommends you come in for an evaluation if your plantar wart causes pain or at-home care isn’t working.

Dr. Murphy reviews your symptoms and medical history and examines your foot.

What are the treatments for a plantar wart?

Dr. Murphy will discuss your plantar wart and the available treatments. Like you, his goal is to get rid of the wart as quickly as possible to reduce or eliminate the discomfort it causes.

Wart treatment includes topical agents or acid treatments to remove the growth. This treatment will take time.

If the wart is large and causing pain, Dr. Murphy could recommend surgery to remove it. Wart removal surgery is quick but can require downtime or a change in your activity level.

Call Maryland Podiatry Center today or book an appointment online for help with your plantar wart from an experienced podiatrist who puts your needs first.