Patient – Plantar Wart

Summary

  • Plantar refers to the sole of your foot (nothing to do with gardening)
  • Wart on the sole of your foot or between your toes
  • May be painful due to a build-up of hard skin

How did I get this?

  • The wart is caused by a virus which thrives in warm moist environments
  • I may have been picked up via a microscopic skin tear
  • They are often contracted through communal barefoot areas such as changing rooms and swimming pools
  • Can also be passed on within families.

What can I do about it?

  • Avoid going barefoot
  • Remedies are available at your pharmacy
  • Use a pumice or foot file to reduce thick hard skin
  • Keep the wart covered with a waterproof dressing or tape
  • Make sure you are generally healthy with a strong immune system

What help can I get for this?

  • A Podiatrist will remove any thick hard skin and advise on treatment options
  • Treatment may involve acid, freezing, burning, or laser to kill the virus causing the wart

When will it get better?

  • Most warts will go away on their own after about 2 years
  • Depending on the type of treatment you should expect an improvement in 6-8 weeks