Warts are often thought of as embarrassing and unsightly. You can develop warts on virtually any part of your body. There are many types of warts that occur on the body, and the types of warts that form on the underside of the foot are called plantar warts. Because of the inconvenient placement, warts on the feet can cause pain and discomfort while walking or standing.
Plantar warts are painful lesions located on the feet. They are caused by a viral infection, causing them to spread quickly to other parts of your feet or even other people. They can be treated at home, but the most effective treatment is offered by foot and ankle specialists or dermatologists.
Fortunately, wart treatment is one of the many services provided by Dr. Dailey and the team at Freeland Foot and Ankle Clinic.
![Freeland MI Plantar Wart Removal]()
How Do I Know if I Have One?
How Do I Know if I Have One? The first and most noticeable symptom is the lesion itself, usually presenting as a rough, fleshy growth on the bottom of your foot. If you can get up close and personal with the bump, you may notice a small black spot in the center. Most people have been taught that this is the "seed" of the wart; however, the small dots mark the ends of tiny clotted blood vessels.
How Warts Develop
Warts develop due to human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is prevalent and tends to thrive in damp and warm areas. Swimming pools, locker rooms, and communal showers are just a few examples of the virus' preferred environment. If you often walk barefoot, you may also be at a higher risk.
Everyone reacts uniquely to each of the 100 different strains of HPV. A strain that causes a wart in one patient may not affect another patient in the same way. In most cases, the virus is not transmitted by direct contact with another person. While contraction through personal contact is possible, it is more likely that a tiny cut, weak spot, or a small break in the top layer of the skin is what allowed the virus to infiltrate.
Children, especially young athletes, are often more likely to develop plantar warts because they lack the strong immune system and antibodies needed to fight off the virus and may not know the proper preventative measures necessary to avoid them. These lesions can be embarrassing for children, and prompt treatment is highly recommended. Dr. Dailey treats patients of all ages, including pediatric patients!
Learn More: How to Help Your Child Deal with Fear and Anxiety at the Doctor's Office
Wart Removal
Because warts are derived from a viral infection, you must have them treated professionally. Home "surgery" (picking or cutting the wart with a sharp instrument) increases the risk of recurrence, spreading, and even dangerous infections.
Of course, there are over-the-counter wart treatment kits available for purchase at most pharmacies and drug stores, including freezing sprays and at-home wart removal kits. Unfortunately, these kits are often ineffective in addressing the issue. They can increase the risk of damage to the healthy skin surrounding the wart. Duct tape is also a popular home remedy for plantar warts, but there is very little science to back up its effectiveness.
Instead of tackling the problem yourself, let Dr. Dailey handle the issue for you! Our office is ready to customize a treatment plan that fits your specific needs. Typically, we use a chemical agent that destroys the wart tissue and hinders the virus's spread. These treatments can show improvement after only a few visits!
Learn More: Warts Should Stick to Witches
Some providers use liquid nitrogen, referred to as cryotherapy, to freeze the wart. Others opt for salicylic acid to treat warts. We opt for a different chemical agent to destroy the lesion, get rid of the virus, and get you the best results faster.
![Swift wart treatment machine]()
Advanced Treatment For Plantar Warts
Advanced Treatment For Plantar WartsWe've recently added a new advanced treatment to our growing arsenal of state-of-the-art foot care treatments. Swift is a newly developed technology that uses microwave energy to treat the affected tissue. This system works in only a few treatments and is safe for most patients. Swift wart treatment is a safe, effective, advanced option when dealing with plantar warts. You can view our before and after pictures of real patients who have benefited from this treatment.
Give us a call to speak with a knowledgeable member of our team and learn more about this exciting new offer!
How to Prevent Them In The First Place
To avoid pain, discomfort, frustration, and possibly a lengthy treatment, do your best to prevent warts at the source.
- Do not pick existing warts. Always have persistent lesions treated by a professional.
- Keep your feet dry and clean.
- Change your socks daily.
- Always wear shower shoes when using locker rooms or communal showers and when walking on a pool deck or other wet, public areas.
Now that you have the facts about plantar warts, come and see us at Freeland Foot and Ankle Clinic to ensure you receive the best possible care. Dr. Dailey can get your feet looking and feeling better in no time. Give us a call at (989) 695-6788, or contact us online to schedule your appointment today!