Plantar warts are so named because they grow in the plantar fascia, which is the wide band of fibrous tissue that covers the bottom of the foot. The warts tend to grow where the pressure is the greatest, which generally occurs under the ball and heel areas. Pressure from walking on your foot often causes the warts to grow underneath the skin where the only sign is a small bump and of course, all the pain felt when you walk.

Plantar warts can be confused with other skin problems including cancerous lesions, so you should have any growths looked at by your podiatrist to be sure.

3 treatment methods for plantar warts include the following:

• Freezing—Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the skin so the wart breaks off in larger chunks. This treatment is often combined with acid peeling (see below) to completely remove the wart.
• Antiviral medicine—The cause of all warts is the human papillomavirus, so eradicating the virus with oral medication is a good way to prevent warts.
• Acid peel—A prescription strength acid solution is used to gradually peel away layers of skin and the wart.

To help prevent getting plantar warts, keep your feet clean and dry and always wear shower shoes or sandals in public areas like showers and pool areas to help decrease your contact with the virus that causes warts.

If you are experiencing complications with plantar warts, see your podiatrist for the best solution.

At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, Woodlyn, and Downingtown. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.