ConditionSkin, hair & nails
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are small, rough growths on the soles of the feet caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) entering through tiny cuts in the skin. Pressure from walking pushes them inward, so they can feel like a stone in your shoe. Tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels) and interrupted skin lines help tell them from corns and calluses. Many go away on their own within 1 to 2 years, but salicylic acid, freezing and other treatments can speed this up.
Also called: Verruca plantaris, verrucas, foot warts, mosaic warts (clusters)
At a glance
- What they are
- Benign skin growths on the soles caused by HPV.
- Spread
- Direct contact and walking barefoot on damp surfaces such as pool decks and locker rooms.
- Clues
- Rough, thick spot with tiny black dots; skin lines go around rather than through it; painful to squeeze from the sides.
- Course
- Many clear on their own in 1 to 2 years; adults' warts often last longer.
- Treatment
- Salicylic acid, cryotherapy, cantharidin, immunotherapy, laser or surgery for stubborn warts.
When to get help
See a doctor within a day or two
- A foot wart or sore in someone with diabetes, poor circulation or numb feet (avoid home treatment; see a doctor)
- Redness, swelling, pus or spreading pain after treatment
Book a routine appointment
- A growth that bleeds, changes color, has irregular edges, or grows quickly (to rule out melanoma or other skin cancer)
- Warts that are painful, spreading or not improving after 12 weeks of home treatment
- Many warts, or warts in someone with a weakened immune system
Usually safe to manage at home
- A single small, painless or mildly tender wart in a healthy person, treated at home with salicylic acid
What plantar warts look like
- a small, rough, grainy spot, often on the heel or ball of the foot
- flattened and pushed inward by pressure, often with a callus on top
- tiny black dots ("wart seeds"), which are clotted capillaries
- skin lines that go around the wart rather than through it
- pain when walking or standing, and more pain when squeezed from the sides
- sometimes clustered into a patch (mosaic warts)
Plantar wart vs corn vs callus
| Plantar wart | Corn | Callus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | HPV infection | Pressure or friction | Pressure or friction |
| Location | Anywhere on the sole, including non-weight-bearing areas | Over bony points, toes | Broad pressure areas |
| Black dots | Often present | No | No |
| Skin lines | Interrupted, go around | Continue through | Continue through |
| Pain | Worse squeezing from sides | Worse pressing directly | Usually painless |
See calluses and corns.
Causes and spread
Plantar warts are caused by certain types of HPV, the same family that causes common warts and flat warts (different from those causing genital warts or cervical cancer). The virus enters through small breaks in the skin on the soles. It spreads:
- by walking barefoot in communal showers, pools and locker rooms
- through direct contact with warts or shared towels and shoes
- from one part of the body to another by picking or scratching
Risk is higher in children and teenagers, people with weakened immune systems, and people with a history of warts.
Treatment
Treatment is optional if a wart is painless. Many disappear without treatment, especially in children.
Home treatment
- Salicylic acid (17 to 40 percent liquids, gels or plasters): 1. soak the foot in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes 2. file off dead skin with a pumice stone or emery board (use it only for the wart) 3. apply the acid to the wart, avoiding normal skin 4. cover with tape or a bandage 5. repeat daily for up to 12 weeks
- Over-the-counter freezing kits are less effective than in-office cryotherapy.
- Duct tape occlusion has mixed evidence.
People with diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation should not use home treatments because of the risk of ulcers.
In-office treatments
- Cryotherapy: freezing with liquid nitrogen every 2 to 3 weeks; can cause blistering and is uncomfortable
- Cantharidin: a blistering agent applied in the office
- Stronger acids and paring by a podiatrist or dermatologist
- Immunotherapy: injecting candida antigen or applying chemicals to trigger an immune response against the wart
- Bleomycin injections, laser treatment or surgical removal for resistant warts; surgery can leave a painful scar on the sole. A dark, changing growth on the sole that does not behave like a wart should be checked for melanoma
Combining treatments often works better. Warts can recur.
Prevention
- wear flip-flops or shower shoes in communal areas
- keep feet clean and dry; change socks daily
- do not share shoes, socks or towels
- cover existing warts and avoid picking them
- treat warts early to limit spread
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a plantar wart?
Plantar warts are rough, thickened spots on the sole with tiny black dots and skin lines that go around them. They hurt when squeezed from the sides. A doctor or podiatrist can confirm it if you are unsure.
How do you get rid of plantar warts?
Start with daily salicylic acid after soaking and filing the wart, for up to 12 weeks. If that fails, a doctor can freeze it, apply cantharidin, use immunotherapy or, rarely, remove it surgically. Many warts also go away on their own.
Are plantar warts contagious?
Yes. The virus spreads through direct contact and from damp surfaces like pool decks and locker rooms. Wearing shower shoes, not sharing footwear, and covering warts reduces spread.
Why do plantar warts have black dots?
The black dots are tiny blood vessels that have clotted inside the wart. They are a useful clue that the growth is a wart rather than a corn or callus.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Academy of Dermatology: Warts, diagnosis and treatment
- American Podiatric Medical Association: Plantar Warts
- MedlinePlus: Warts
- NHS: Warts and verrucas
- Cochrane Review: Topical treatments for cutaneous warts (2012)