← What we treat

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are small growths on the bottom of the foot caused by a common virus that enters through tiny breaks in the skin. They often look like a callus with small dark dots in the center, and they can make standing or walking feel like there is a pebble in your shoe.

They are especially common in children and teenagers, and in anyone who spends time barefoot around pools, locker rooms, and showers. Some go away on their own, but many linger for months or spread into clusters, and over-the-counter treatments often do not get deep enough to clear them.

Wart, corn, or callus?

Warts, corns, and calluses can look very similar, and they are treated differently. A wart is often painful when it is squeezed from the sides, while a corn or callus is usually more painful with direct pressure. Getting the diagnosis right comes first, because treating a callus like a wart, or the other way around, wastes time and can irritate the skin.

What your visit looks like

Your visit starts with an exam to confirm what the spot on your foot actually is. Treatment often begins the same day. The thickened skin over the wart is carefully trimmed down, and treatment is applied directly to the wart. Depending on its size, location, and how long it has been there, options range from prescription-strength topical treatment to in-office procedures.

Warts can be stubborn, and most need more than one visit to clear. We will tell you what to expect and how often you will need to come back, so you are not left guessing.

When to come in

Warts that are painful, spreading, or have not responded to treatment at home are worth having looked at. Children with warts are seen regularly, and treatment can be adjusted to keep their visits comfortable.

If you are diabetic or have poor circulation or neuropathy, avoid over-the-counter wart treatments and have any growth on your foot checked instead. Those products can injure the healthy skin around the wart.