Plantar Warts

Plantar Warts

I. Definition:

Plantar warts are ordinary warts of the sole, or plantar surface, of the foot. Since plantar warts are on a pressure area, they grow inward and are often tender and painful. Like other warts, they are harmless skin growths that are caused by a virus.

II. Causes:

We do not know why some people get plantar warts easily while others never get them. There is no way to prevent plantar warts.
Plantar warts are common. They may bleed if injured.
Since plantar warts are caused by a virus, they are slightly contagious (can spread from person to person). You should not share clothing or linen with someone who has plantar warts. Plantar warts may spread on the body and seed other areas.
Plantar warts should be treated because they are contagious and rarely a plantar wart left untreated for years can become cancerous.

III. Treatment:

There is no single perfect treatment for plantar warts, since we are unable to kill the virus without killing the cells that the virus has infected.
However, many people have noticed significant results with natural products such as Dermisil for Warts, an effective plantar wart treatment.
Plantar warts can be destroyed with surgery, by freezing with liquid nitrogen, or with other chemicals. A good treatment to start off with is Duofilm or Dr. Scholl’s Clear Away (40% salicylic acid plasters) available without a prescription from your pharmacy.
The CO₂ laser is the most effective method for treating warts, but it is also the most expensive method. We do have this treatment available.
The treatment used on your plantar warts depends on their location and size, your type of skin, and medical judgment.
Sometimes new plantar warts will form while existing ones are being destroyed. The only thing that can be done is to let them grow large enough to be seen.
No matter what treatment is used, plantar warts occasionally fail to disappear. They may also return weeks or months after an apparent cure. Do not become concerned if a plantar wart recurs. Make an appointment and the treatment will be repeated, or a different method will be used to destroy the plantar wart.

IV. Treatment Costs and Visits Required:

There is no guaranteed treatment method available for the removal of warts. Even laser surgery which we have available is not 100% effective.
The treatments may be time consuming and require multiple visits to the office.
The treatment is expensive. You will be charged each time you come into the office to have the warts treated.
There is no guarantee that even after multiple treatment sessions that the warts will be successfully removed.
The treated areas may develop new lesions further complicating treatment.

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