Plantar Wart Treatment Milwaukee

What are plantar warts?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus responsible for plantar warts. HPV has over 100 different strains and the majority of them do not actually lead to warts on your feet. Even when the outer layer of your skin is infected by one that does, you may or may not end up with a wart. Everyone’s immune system reacts differently to HPV, so one person will develop a lesion from exposure to a particular strain, whereas the next person might not.

How did I get a plantar wart?

The transmission of the responsible virus does not have to be direct for an individual to be infected. For this reason, a common path for viral infection comes from walking barefoot in an environment where HPV virus thrives. That said, another means of transmission is skin coming into contact with foot warts. This can happen when you touch a wart and then a different part of your body or when a parent is attending to a child’s plantar wart.

What problems do plantar warts cause?

Whereas a plantar wart is typically a benign (harmless) skin growth, a common symptom is pain when you walk or stand. This form of foot pain is usually caused by a hard layer of callused skin that forms over the flat wart. If the pain or discomfort is substantial, it may cause you to alter your gait and such changes can potentially lead to joint or muscle issues.

If you have diabetes, you should already be using a daily foot check as part of your diabetic foot care plan. When inspecting your feet, take note of the development of any warts and schedule an appointment with our podiatrist when you find one. You do not want to risk this leading to a serious medical complication.

Plantar wart treatment options

If you want to “wait out” a plantar wart, you can certainly do so. These growths actually go away on their own, without wart removal treatment. The catch, though, is that this can take up to a couple of years and spread to others. There are a variety of reasons for wanting to remove them-they are causing pain, you have diabetes, warts make you self-conscious-and, fortunately, we can help.

Our doctor will work with you to ensure that your plantar warts are effectively and safely removed. Treatment and wart removal options include:

• • Prescription-strength medications
  • Ointments such as salicylic acid
  • Liquid nitrogen
  • Laser cautery or surgery for wart removal

You may be tempted to try home remedies as retail stores and pharmacies have over-the-counter kits for sale. But these usually work less than half the time and provide the risk of damaging healthy skin around the wart. Plantar wart removal is especially important not to try it on your own if you live with diabetes or a weakened immune system. To avoid damage to the skin and tissue, it’s best to follow the medical treatment of a foot doctor.

Tips for preventing plantar warts

Plantar warts are quite common and most people will develop at least one during the course of their lives, but there are still measures you can take to decrease the risk. These include:

• Do not walk barefoot in places where the wart-causing virus is commonly found. Since HPV can thrive in the warm, damp environments provided by pool decks and gym locker rooms, be sure to wear sandals or shower shoes in such areas.
• Avoid making direct contact with warts, including your own. If you do come into contact with one, carefully and thoroughly wash the affected site and your hands. Additionally, do not pick at a wart, as doing so may spread the virus.
• Steps like changing your socks and shoes daily and keeping your feet clean and dry go a long way toward keeping your feet wart-free.

If plantar warts are causing you pain and discomfort, or you would rather not wait a couple of years for them to go away, contact Wisconsin Foot Center. We provide treatment for a wide range of foot and ankle conditions. Contact our southeastern Wisconsin office by calling (414) 425-8400 or using our online form to request an appointment today.