Plantar warts
Plantar warts are warts on the sole of the foot, caused by a virus, and they are often confused with corns. Careful removal of the overlying dead skin and callus can help, and Fiona Shepes assesses warts in an initial consultation from $100.
What a plantar wart is
A plantar wart is a wart that grows on the plantar surface, the bottom of the foot. It is caused by a viral infection, not by pressure on the foot. A layer of callus and dry skin forms on top of the wart, which is why plantar warts look different from warts elsewhere. This callused cover can make them hard to tell apart from corns. Warts are contagious and can spread to other people and to other parts of your own foot.
Symptoms
A plantar wart can cause pain when you stand or walk on it. You may notice these signs:
- A small rough lump on the sole of the foot
- Callus and dry skin over the lump
- Pain or tenderness when pressed, especially on a weight-bearing spot
- Several warts appearing close together over time
Causes and risk factors
Plantar warts come from a viral infection in the skin of the sole. The virus enters through small breaks in the skin. You can pick it up in swimming pools, showers and other public places where the floor is shared and damp. Warts may spread easily to family members through close contact. People who walk barefoot in shared areas have a higher chance of catching the virus. Warts are also known to multiply, so one wart can become several.
Treatment at the clinic
Treatment at the clinic starts with an assessment, because a wart and a corn can look similar and are treated differently. Fiona carefully removes the overlying dead skin and callus so the wart itself can be seen and managed. She may keep the area dressed with strapping or sports tape between visits to reduce the spread of the wart to other parts of your foot and to other people. Treatment is usually repeated, with appointments spaced one to two weeks apart, and multiple warts can take longer to manage. Fiona can refer you back to your GP when a wart needs care beyond podiatry.
A standard consultation costs from $90.
Looking after it at home
Keep the affected area covered with a dressing or sports tape while it is being treated. This helps limit the wart spreading to other parts of your foot and to people in close contact with you. Over-the-counter wart preparations can be hard to use on plantar warts because of the callus that covers them. Avoid walking barefoot in shared wet areas such as pools and public showers while you have a wart.
When to see a podiatrist
See a podiatrist when a spot on your sole is painful, is growing, has multiplied, or you are unsure whether it is a wart or a corn. Fiona sees adults and children from 4 years old at both the Narre Warren and Cranbourne North clinics. See your GP instead when a wart changes colour or bleeds, when you have diabetes or poor circulation, or when home treatment has not settled the wart. A doctor manages any prescription medicines your GP recommends.
Questions
Is a plantar wart the same as a corn?
No, they are different problems. A corn comes from abnormal pressure, often from foot posture or poor footwear, while a wart is caused by a virus. The two can look similar, so an assessment is the reliable way to tell them apart.
Are plantar warts contagious?
Yes. The virus spreads through close contact and can be picked up in swimming pools, showers and public places. A wart on your own foot can spread to other parts of your foot as well.
Can I treat a plantar wart myself?
Over-the-counter wart medications can be difficult to use on plantar warts because callus and dry skin cover them. Fiona removes the overlying dead skin in the clinic and dresses the area to reduce spread. Home care, keeping the area covered, supports treatment between visits.