Treating Plantar Warts

Answer 1

Planter warts are unsightly, uncomfortable warts that grow on the soles of your feet. Planter warts can only grow on the bottoms of your feet; if your wart is anywhere else, it is not a plantar wart. Depending on their location, plantar warts can create pain each time you step. They are caused by a very common virus, the human papillomavirus. If this virus comes into contact with a cut on the bottom of your foot, a wart may develop there. Plantar warts can last for many years. Though they occasionally disappear on their own, usually they must be treated.

The most common medical treatment for plantar warts is simply to have them burned off with acid or a laser. Unfortunately, this treatment is frequently only temporarily effective. Eventually the plantar warts will return in the same spot. There are a few home remedies for plantar warts that have gained medical recognition in recent years.

A simple and inexpensive removal method is the application of Duct Tape. If you affix duct tape to the wart day and night for six months and debride the wart with a loofah once per week, the wart will disappear. Apple cider vinegar has also reportedly been effective, though it is sometimes uncomfortable to use.

Another home treatment option is a plantar wart removal kit. These kits are sold in drugstores. These usually contain a patch of salicylic acid and a cushioned bandage. Salicylic acid and apple cider vinegar both work the same way. The acid kills the HPV that is within the wart. Debriding the wart will speed its disappearance, no matter which removal method you use.

To debride a plantar wart properly, first soak your foot in warm or hot water. You may use Epsom salts in the water if you like, but it is not necessary. After your foot has soaked for 30 minutes, rub it vigorously with a loofah or grater-style callous remover. Get as much of the wart off as you can, but stop if you feel any pain or discomfort. After debriding, carefully dry your foot and apply the treatment method that you have chosen.

Answer 2

Finding a wart on the sole of your foot can be annoying and painful. Plantar warts are warts that grow on the plantar surface of the foot and, like all warts, they are caused by the human papillomavirus. All types of warts eventually subside, even without treatment. But if they are slow to leave, certain treatments can speed up the process.

Symptoms

Plantar warts may arise quite suddenly and appear as calloused bumps on the foot. They are often painful, scaly and rough. If you look closely, you may be able to see small dark pinpoints, which are tiny blood clots that occur as a result of the infection. Warts can appear anywhere on the human skin, but pressure seems to encourage them and make them especially tender.

Home Treatment

Warts generally resolve with time, but treating them may be desired when the wart is painful or makes it difficult to walk. Certain steps can be taken to resolve the pain or kill the infection. Applying ring-shaped moleskin provides temporary relief. You can also remove much of the thick build-up of skin to eliminate some pain. To accomplish this, soak the foot in warm water and rub the callus away with a pumice stone. Over-the-counter wart removal products contain salicylic acid which, when applied, can dissolve away the wart. Such products must be used carefully.

Medical Treatment

If home treatments fail to get rid of a plantar wart on a timely basis, more intensive medical procedures can be sought. Physicians may apply an acid to burn away the wart. Alternatively, they may apply liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the wart within a few days. Some doctors may choose to kill the growth with an electrical or ultrasonic device, then cut it away to remove it. Advancements in medical technology allow the possibility of laser removal, though this may cause scarring. Always discuss your options carefully with your doctor before making a decision on treatment.