It’s fun to walk barefoot and many of us do it at home and in public places. But walking without protection on your feet can make you susceptible to picking up contagious foot problems.
One of these is plantar warts. These growths are caused by a virus that thrives in public gyms, showers and pools. The warts appear on the sole of your foot. Because you place so much pressure on the heel or ball of the foot, the warts grow into the foot instead of outward. In appearance a plantar wart looks like a small growth with a rough surface and it can cause a sharp, burning pain when you stand on it.
Teenagers and children are often prone to plantar warts. Anyone with a weakened immune system may also be at risk.
How To Avoid Plantar Warts
You can reduce your risk of getting a plantar wart with these simple foot care steps:
- Always wear shoes or flip flops in public places. Never go barefoot unless at a sandy beach.
- Wash and dry your feet daily and change your socks and shoes every day.
- If you have warts, don’t touch them. Don’t use the same implements like a toenail clipper or emery board on your healthy foot.
- Keep an eye on your children’s feet for anything that appears to be a wart.
We Can Successfully Treat Plantar Warts
Plantar warts can disappear on their own but it can take a lot of time, even a couple of years. Over-the-counter solutions can help temporarily but the wart often returns.
To permanently eliminate a painful wart, contact Clark Podiatry Center. After diagnosing your problem, we’ll treat you for your individual condition including:
- Cryotherapy – this technique freezes the wart with liquid nitrogen. First we numb the general area of the wart so you won’t feel any pain, and then apply the nitrogen directly to the growth. It may be necessary to repeat this treatment. The dead tissue will slough off within a couple of weeks.
- Salicylic acid available with prescription that will gradually peel the tissue away.
- Laser treatment forces the wart tissue to die when the blood vessels are closed.
- Surgical removal of the wart.
In some patients, we find that combining treatments is the best solution, such as first freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen and then periodically applying salicylic acid.
Get Help for Painful Plantar Warts
Don’t waste time with over-the-counter treatments for plantar warts that bring only temporary relief. Dr. Brandon Macy, board certified podiatrist has successfully treated plantar warts in many patients, including children and teens. Call us for an appointment in our Clark office at 732-382-3470 or use the contact information at the website. You can find long-lasting relief for painful plantar warts!