About this topic
Plantar warts grow on the bottom of your feet. They are caused by a virus. The warts may look and feel like a corn or callus. They are often flat and grow in small groups. Some plantar warts have small black dots on them. Walking puts pressure on the warts. This causes pain and makes the warts grow inward. ‚
There are many ways to treat a wart. Your doctor may give you drugs to take or to spread on the skin. Other times, the wart is treated with laser therapy or freezing. Sometimes, surgery is needed to remove the wart. Some warts go away without any treatment. Warts may spread to other areas of the skin. This may happen even after they have been removed. Getting rid of the wart does not get rid of the virus that caused it. You may get a wart in a new spot or back in the same spot. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may give you gel, liquid, or plaster to treat warts. Soak your foot in warm water and then use the drug.
- Wear socks and shoes with lots of room. Avoid wearing high heels. This may help get rid of the pain on your foot.
- Do not share towels or footwear with others to avoid spread of infection.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- If your wart was removed with surgery, be sure to change your dressings as directed. Ask your doctor about how to care for the cut site.
- If you get new warts, do not treat or remove them by yourself. This may irritate the warts and make them grow faster.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Get rid of the warts
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Walking and standing may be painful but can be tolerated. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Spread of warts
- Warts come back
- Small scarring if wart was removed
- Keloid formation after wart removal
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- The best way to avoid more warts is to treat them as soon as they appear.
- Do not walk barefoot.
- Wear slippers when showering in public bathrooms.
- Practice proper foot care. Change socks and shoes daily.
To prevent warts from spreading: ‚
- Wash your hands carefully after touching the warts.
- Do not pick or scratch the warts.
- Do not touch other peoples warts.
- Keep warts dry.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Too much bleeding that is not easily stopped by pressure. See your doctor right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal, pain on the warts, and any changes in color and appearance of your warts.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my feet.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Dermatology ‚
http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/for-kids/about-skin/warts/what-warts-look-like ‚
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons ‚
http://www.foothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/Plantar_Wart.htm ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚