Plantar Warts
Warts on the soles of the feet that can be painful
Quick Facts
- Type: Viral skin growth
- Cause: Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Location: Soles of the feet
- Common spread: Damp shared floors, pools, showers
Overview
Plantar warts are warts that develop on the soles of the feet. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which enters through small cuts or breaks in the skin. Because they grow on a weight-bearing surface, plantar warts are often pushed inward by the pressure of standing and walking, forming a hard, flattened area that can be tender or painful.
Like other warts, plantar warts are harmless and not cancerous, and many clear on their own over time. However, they can be uncomfortable and tend to spread on damp surfaces such as swimming-pool decks and communal showers, so people often seek treatment to relieve pain and limit their spread.
Symptoms
Plantar warts have features that distinguish them from ordinary calluses:
- A small, rough, grainy growth on the sole of the foot
- A hardened, thickened area of skin where the wart has grown inward
- Tiny black dots, which are small clotted blood vessels
- Pain or tenderness when standing or walking, especially when pressure is applied
- An interruption of the normal skin lines and ridges across the wart's surface
Sometimes several warts cluster together, which is called a mosaic wart. Pinching the wart from the sides often hurts more than pressing directly on a callus, which helps tell them apart.
Causes
Plantar warts are caused by HPV strains that thrive in warm, moist environments. The virus spreads when it contacts the skin of the foot through:
- Walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces: Such as pool decks, locker rooms, and communal showers.
- Breaks in the skin: Cuts, cracks, or softened skin that let the virus in.
- Direct contact: Touching a wart and then an unprotected area of skin.
The virus is not highly contagious to everyone, and people vary in their susceptibility. It can take weeks to months for a wart to appear after exposure.
Risk Factors
- Being a child, teenager, or young adult
- Walking barefoot in damp public areas such as pools and locker rooms
- Having cuts, cracks, or moist, softened skin on the feet
- A weakened immune system
- A previous history of warts
Diagnosis
A doctor can usually diagnose a plantar wart by examining the foot:
- Visual examination: Looking for the rough surface, tiny black dots, and disruption of the skin lines.
- Paring the surface: Gently scraping the top can reveal the small clotted blood vessels and help distinguish a wart from a callus.
- Biopsy: Rarely, a small sample is taken if the growth looks unusual or does not heal.
Treatment
Many plantar warts clear on their own, but treatment can relieve pain and speed healing. Because the skin on the sole is thick, plantar warts can be stubborn and may need repeated treatment.
- Salicylic acid: Over-the-counter products applied regularly, often after soaking and filing the wart, to gradually remove it.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the wart in a clinic, sometimes over several visits.
- Other in-office treatments: Minor procedures, prescription medicines, or laser therapy for persistent warts.
- Padding and cushioning: To reduce pressure and pain while the wart is treated.
Avoid cutting or digging at the wart yourself, which can cause infection. People with diabetes or poor circulation should have foot warts treated by a professional.
Prevention
- Wear sandals or flip-flops in public showers, locker rooms, and around pools
- Keep your feet clean and dry, and change socks regularly
- Do not share shoes, socks, or towels
- Avoid touching warts and wash your hands afterward
- Cover any cuts or cracks on your feet
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if a plantar wart:
- Is painful or interferes with walking
- Bleeds, changes appearance, or spreads
- Does not respond to over-the-counter treatment
- Develops in someone with diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system
People with diabetes should not self-treat foot warts, since foot injuries can become serious. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis and recommend safe treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell a plantar wart from a callus?
A plantar wart usually has a rough surface with tiny black dots and interrupts the normal skin lines, while a callus has smooth, continuous lines. Pinching a wart from the sides often hurts more than pressing directly on a callus, which helps distinguish them.
Why are plantar warts sometimes painful?
Because they grow on a weight-bearing surface, plantar warts get pushed inward by standing and walking, forming a hard area that presses on sensitive tissue. This pressure is what makes them tender, especially when you walk.
How do you catch plantar warts?
The virus that causes them spreads in warm, damp places such as pool decks, locker rooms, and communal showers, entering through small breaks in the skin of the foot. Wearing sandals in these areas and keeping feet dry lowers the risk.
Will plantar warts go away without treatment?
Many do clear on their own over months to a couple of years as the immune system fights the virus, but because they can be painful and stubborn, many people choose treatment with salicylic acid, freezing, or in-office procedures.
Should people with diabetes treat foot warts at home?
No. People with diabetes or poor circulation should see a doctor or podiatrist rather than self-treating, because injuries to the feet can become serious. A professional can confirm the diagnosis and treat the wart safely.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology. Warts: Overview.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Plantar warts.
- Mayo Clinic. Plantar warts — Symptoms and causes.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human Papillomavirus (HPV).