Plantar Warts: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Plantar warts (verruca plantaris) are benign (non-cancerous) rough bumps that grow on the soles of the feet. They form when the human papillomavirus (HPV) infects cuts or breaks in the skin.
Plantar warts are common: about 10% of people develop them, including 10–20% of children and teens. These warts can persist for months or years.
They can form on different parts of the skin, but only those that develop on the sole of the foot are correctly known as plantar warts. Often, the immune system eventually clears the virus after one to two years, but because plantar warts can spread or cause pain, many people choose to have them removed sooner.
What Are the Symptoms of Plantar Warts?
Plantar wart symptoms often include:
- A firm, rough bump on the sole of the foot (often like a callus).
- Tiny black dots present on the surface of the wart (these are clotted blood vessels).
- A rough, crusty surface or a cauliflower-like appearance.
- Tenderness or pain, especially when standing or walking.
- Discomfort, itching, or bleeding at the site of the wart.
- Mosaic warts: Sometimes multiple plantar warts cluster together in a large patch called a mosaic wart.
Plantar warts often form where pressure is applied on the foot, such as on the balls or heels of the feet. They may also appear around or between the toes.
What Causes Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts develop when the human papillomavirus (HPV) infects the skin. The virus gets in through small cracks or tiny openings on the bottom of the foot.
After exposure, it often takes several months (2–6 months) for warts to appear. HPV thrives in warm, moist environments (like gym showers or pool decks) and is contagious, spreading by contact with contaminated surfaces or skin-to-skin contact..
How Are Plantar Warts Diagnosed?
A podiatrist (foot doctor) usually diagnoses plantar warts by examining the affected foot. The doctor looks for the telltale signs: a thickened bump often with tiny black dots inside.
Often, the doctor will trim or shave off the top layer of the wart to see the clotted blood vessels (the black dots). In most cases, this visual exam is enough to confirm the diagnosis. In rare cases, a small sample of the tissue may be sent to a lab for HPV testing.
How Are Plantar Warts Treated?
Treatment depends on how bothersome the wart is. Many plantar warts eventually go away on their own, but treatment can relieve pain and remove stubborn warts sooner. Common treatment options include:
- Cryotherapy: Applying liquid nitrogen to the wart destroys the infected tissue by freezing it. This is done in a doctor’s office and may require multiple treatments.
- Salicylic acid: A peel-away medicine (available over-the-counter or by prescription) that softens and removes layers of wart tissue. Regular applications over several weeks can clear the wart.
- Cantharidin (blistering agent): A doctor applies this topical chemical to the wart to cause a blister, lifting the wart off the skin. The dead tissue is removed after about a week.
- Electrocautery: An electric needle burns the wart away under local anesthesia.
- Laser therapy: A laser beam heats and destroys the tiny blood vessels feeding the wart, which causes it to die and fall off.
- Surgical removal: A doctor numbs the area and cuts out the wart with a scalpel. This is usually done only for large or persistent warts.
- Immunotherapy: Special topical or injected treatments stimulate the immune system to attack the wart.
If you are dealing with painful or stubborn warts, do not try to manage them on your own. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tatiana A. Wellens, DPM, PhD, FACFAS, or Dr. Maria T. Jaramillo-Dolan, DPM, FACFAS at Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center.
We provide safe, effective wart treatment and same-day care across our Central Florida locations. Call today to get relief and protect your skin.
FAQs
See our FAQs for quick answers.
Plantar warts can be painful when you walk or stand. People often change their gait (how they walk) to avoid pressure on the wart, which can strain foot and leg muscles or joints. Warts on the feet may also make someone feel self-conscious, leading them to avoid going barefoot or certain shoes.
A plantar wart is a viral skin growth on the foot (caused by HPV) and is contagious; it usually has small black dots inside. A corn is simply a thick patch of hard skin caused by friction or pressure, and it is not contagious.
Common warts typically grow on the hands and fingers. Plantar warts appear on the soles (bottoms) of the feet. Both are caused by HPV, but common warts form on the hands, whereas plantar warts form on the feet.
Yes. Plantar warts can spread when the skin comes into contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This can happen by touching a wart on your foot or someone else’s, or by walking barefoot in public wet areas (locker rooms, pools, etc.) where HPV is present. Sharing shoes, socks, or towels can also spread the virus.