How to Finally Get Rid of Your Foot Warts
What Are Warts?
Warts are small, viral growths caused by an infection of the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV. They are especially common on hands, feet, and toes.
The warts themselves tend to be relatively small, appear fleshy, and disrupt the natural “lines” of your skin. If they aren’t located in a weight-bearing area, such as the base of the toes, they tend to stick out a bit above the surrounding skin.
Often you can see a little black “pinpoint” at the center of the wart. These are sometimes known as “wart seeds,” but in reality they are small, clotted blood vessels.
How Did I Get Them?
Warts, as we said, are caused by certain strains of HPV. (Despite the rumors you may have heard during your childhood years, touching frogs has nothing to do with it.)
HPV is a virus that is commonly found in warm and moist environments, so walking barefoot in certain public areas (such as locker rooms or pool decks) or wearing damp socks and shoes can increase your risk of contracting it.
Anyone can get warts, although they are especially common in children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Are Warts Dangerous?
Usually, warts are not dangerous on their own. They are not cancerous or malignant, and they only infect the top layers of the skin.
However, they are unsightly and can affect your self-confidence. And furthermore, warts that are positioned in weight-bearing areas may cause pain and discomfort when you stand on them.
Are There Any Home Remedies for Warts?
There are a few “home remedies” you may find when researching warts on the internet, and some pharmacies do sell over-the-counter “wart removal kits.”
However, we do not recommend these. Most of the time, they will have no noticeable effect on your warts. And home kits containing acidic compounds or other burning or peeling medications can damage healthy skin if improperly applied.
Will They Go Away On Their Own?
In time, a wart may go away on its own. However, this process can often take months, or even years. That’s a long time to deal with the embarrassment, and if you have warts that are located in places that make walking difficult or painful, far too long to wait.
Additionally, warts may spread through contact (direct or indirect) to other parts of your body, and even other people—such as members of your family.
For all these reasons, it’s highly recommended that you get your warts treated by a professional as soon as possible.
How Can Trinity Foot Center Help?
The first thing we usually recommend is a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. Warts are often confused with other conditions that are visually similar, but unrelated and not caused by HPV. This means they will require different treatment approaches.
Once a wart diagnosis is confirmed, we’ll recommend a treatment course.
The most common treatment is a form of cryotherapy, where we essentially “freeze” the wart off with a super-cooled liquid over the course of a few appointments. It typically takes about 90 days on average after the start of the first treatment for the wart to be fully removed and the skin returned to normal, although it could be shorter or longer depending on how many warts you have, how severe they are, and how long you’ve had them.
Another, more aggressive option is to simply excise the wart surgically. This has the advantage of working faster than cryotherapy, but also can be more painful and have a higher risk of complications.
We’ll be sure to talk with you through all your options and address any concerns you might have so that you can make an informed decision regarding your care.
Don’t wait months or even years to deal with your unsightly plantar warts! We can help you get on the fast track to getting rid of these viral growths. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Brandy and the team at Trinity Foot Center, please call (972) 293-9650 today. You can also use our contact form online to have a member of our staff reach out to you.
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| Tuesday | 8:00am - 4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 8:00am - 4:30pm |
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p. (972) 293-9650
f. (972) 291-2533
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1801 N. Hampton Road
Suite 340
DeSoto, TX 75115
Inside the Inwood National Bank Building on the 3rd Floor
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