Warts aren’t just unsightly. If they’re located on the weight-bearing areas of your feet, they’re also uncomfortable. If you’ve tried various over-the-counter treatments to eradicate your warts without any luck, it’s time to seek professional help. At Yeager Foot and Ankle Center in Redding, California, Susan Yeager, DPM, regularly diagnoses and treats warts using safe, effective means. To request your wart treatment consultation, call the office or request an appointment online today.
Warts are small, fleshy growths that occur on the bottom of the feet and toes and are caused by a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). If you have cuts or breaks in the skin on your feet, the virus can infiltrate your bloodstream and begin to spread.
You’re particularly susceptible to warts if you regularly walk around barefoot in warm, moist places such as locker rooms or public swimming pools. You might also develop warts if you share socks, shoes, or a towel with someone who has them. This is because they’re spread by direct contact.
The most obvious symptom of a wart is a round and hardened bump that appears on a weight-bearing area of your foot, such as the heel or ball. Other telltale signs of warts include:
Most warts also have a black spot in the center called the seed. This is actually a group of small clotted blood vessels that feed the wart.
Anyone can get a wart, but certain factors increase your risk, including:
You’re also more likely to get warts if you walk around barefoot in high-traffic areas.
To diagnose a wart, Dr. Yeager will likely examine the lesion, trim the lesion with a scalpel, and send a small sample to a laboratory for testing. Your provider also asks about your symptoms and reviews your medical history.
Most plantar warts resolve on their own and require no treatment. If your wart doesn’t respond to rest and over-the-counter measures, Dr. Yeager might recommend using salicylic acid or cryotherapy to remove it.
If your wart returns after these treatments, more invasive surgical methods might be necessary. Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Yeager might recommend laser treatment, immunotherapy, or minor surgery to remove the wart.
To learn more about your treatment options for warts, make an appointment at Yeager Foot and Ankle Center by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.