How to Treat Warts on Your Feet
Finding an abnormal growth on your feet can sometimes be a disturbing experience. Many skin conditions can look alike, which is why it’s important to see your foot care professional if you have any doubt. For example, warts can be mistaken for corns, and vise versa. A precancerous skin lesion can also look like a wart, and malignant melanoma can quickly become a fatal condition since the cancer grows inward and is hard to detect.
Regular warts have the usual rough, scaly appearance, and can actually grow up to an inch in diameter but are usually much smaller. Plantar warts grow on the bottom of your feet and can be hidden by a callus making them hard to detect.
Many over the counter treatments using acids are available for wart removal, but they are rarely completely effective. Warts are caused by a virus, and unless they are completely eradicated, they will grow back. Wart removal can be tricky, especially for ingrown plantar warts, so it is best to leave foot wart removal to your podiatrist.
Depending upon the size and location of the warts, the following methods may be employed:
●Freezing—This method uses liquid nitrogen to solidify the wart and break it off in chunks.
●Laser removal—The area where the warts are located is numbed with an anesthetic prior to removing them with laser light.
●Surgical removal—Your podiatrist can use a special tool known as a curette to excise the warts.
To determine which method is best for your wart problems, consult with an experienced podiatrist. At Fit Feet for Life, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including heel pain, sports injuries, toe deformities, nail fungus, and plantar warts. Bonnie Sanchez, DPM, and Gregory Cook, DPM, provide high quality foot and ankle care to patients in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area at our five offices conveniently located in Sun City Center, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and our two Tampa locations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.