Plantar Wart Treatment: A Complete Guide to Managing Verrucae

Warts aren’t just something you’d expect to find on a cartoon witch’s nose, they can pop up on feet too. If you’ve ever noticed a small, rough patch on the sole of your foot that hurts when you walk, you might be dealing with a plantar wart.

Plantar warts, or verrucae, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and love to make themselves at home on the pressure points of your feet. While they’re generally harmless and can resolve on their own, they can also be persistent and painful, and for some people, feel impossible to get rid of without help.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to identify plantar warts, what causes them, the different stages of healing, treatment options (both at home and in clinic), and, perhaps most importantly, how to prevent them from coming back.

How to Spot a Plantar Wart

So what does a plantar wart actually look like?

They often show up as:

• A rough, grainy lesion on the sole of your foot, commonly on the heel or ball of the foot though they can also present on toes.

• Black dots within the wart (these are clotted blood vessels, not dirt).

• Pain when standing or walking, especially if the wart is under pressure.

• A disruption to your skin’s normal lines. This is one of the key ways to differentiate a wart from a corn or callus. While calluses follow the skin’s natural ridges, warts break them.

Still not sure? If it hurts to press from the sides more than directly down, that’s another tell-tale sign of a wart.

What Causes Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), a group of viruses that can enter the skin through tiny cuts or abrasions. Once inside, it sets up shop in the top layer of your skin, causing a wart to form.

But not everyone exposed to HPV will develop a wart. A few factors increase your risk:

• Walking barefoot in damp, warm communal areas like swimming pools, change rooms, or gym showers.

• Minor skin trauma—even small cracks or scrapes on your feet can be an entry point for the virus.

• A weakened immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight off HPV.

• Close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a wart.

It’s also worth noting that plantar warts can be contagious, so sharing towels, shoes, or socks isn’t advised.

Healing Stages of a Plantar Wart (During Treatment)

If you’ve started treating a wart, whether at home or with your podiatrist, it’s useful to know what the healing process might look like:

1. Presence and Diagnosis

The wart is visible and confirmed. It typically presents as a rough lesion with pinpoint black dots and pain under pressure. At this stage, it’s embedded in the skin and may have been there for weeks, months or longer.

2. Treatment Begins

Following your first treatments:

• The wart may initially macerate (soften and turn white) as the chemicals draw moisture up into the damaged tissue to destroy it and allow the viral build-up to be removed.

• It can sometimes look larger or become more tender as the virus becomes exposed and your body begins to respond.

This is a normal part of the healing phase and not a sign that things are getting worse.

3. Regression

Your healing time will depend on the size of the wart, how it responds to treatment and your immune system. Through this stage:

• The wart typically begins to shrink, darken, or dry out.

• Layers of affected tissue slough off (either on their own, with gentle care at home or your podiatrist will remove them).

• Pain often reduces, and you may notice improvement in walking comfort.

4. Resolution

Eventually, the viral tissue is cleared:

• The wart lifts away or flakes off completely.

• Healthy skin fills in the area.

• There’s no longer pain, thickening, or visible signs of infection.

It’s important to note that some warts respond quickly, while others, especially long-standing or deep lesions, may require multiple treatments and reviews.

Professional Wart Treatments

At My Family Podiatry, we offer an effective and podiatrist-led approach to managing plantar warts. Our in-clinic treatment involves:

• Gentle debridement of the wart to remove dead skin and expose the viral tissue underneath.

• Application of phenol in-clinic to target the wart directly.

• A pad containing a strong salicylic acid is applied and left on the area to continue working for up to 5 days after you leave the clinic.

• You’ll be given clear instructions for at-home care and will return for a review in 1–2 weeks to monitor your progress and determine if further treatment is needed.

This approach is ideal for warts that are painful, stubborn, or haven’t responded to over-the-counter options. It’s a safe and effective way to target the virus directly and kickstart your recovery.

At-Home Wart Remedies

While not always effective for everyone, some people do find success with these options:

1. Salicylic Acid

This is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter treatments. It is a lower concentration than what we will use in clinic but in some cases it can be effective. It works by softening and gradually peeling away the wart.

• Available as liquids, gels, or patches.

• Needs to be applied daily.

• Works best when used consistently over several weeks.

2. Duct Tape Occlusion Therapy

This method involves covering the wart with duct tape continuously for several days, removing it, filing the area down, and repeating the cycle.

• The idea is that it creates irritation to stimulate your body’s immune system to respond.

• Evidence is mixed, but it can be worth trying for smaller warts

When to See a Podiatrist

You don’t always need to rush in at the first sign of a wart, but professional help can often save you time, pain, and frustration. We recommend booking an appointment if:

• The wart is painful or interfering with daily activities.

• It’s growing or spreading.

• You’ve tried home remedies for 4+ weeks with no improvement.

• You’re unsure whether it’s a wart or something else.

• You have diabetes, poor circulation, or a suppressed immune system.

At My Family Podiatry, we’ll assess the lesion and guide you through the most effective, evidence-based treatment plan suited to your needs and lifestyle.

Wart Prevention Tips

The best wart treatment? Not getting one in the first place. A few easy habits can help reduce your risk:

• Wear thongs or sandals in communal showers and pool areas.

• Don’t share shoes, socks, towels, or nail clippers.

• Keep feet clean and dry, particularly between the toes.

• Avoid picking at warts, which can spread the virus to other areas of your body, or someone else’s.

• Maintain a healthy immune system with sleep, hydration, and good nutrition.

Final Thoughts

Plantar warts can be frustrating, painful, and stubborn, but they’re also treatable. Whether you’ve got one wart or several, the team at My Family Podiatry is here to help.

From expert diagnosis to our in-clinic medicated treatments, we’re with you every step of the way. Let us help you get back to walking comfortably and confidently.

Book your appointment today with our Albany Creek podiatrists. Your feet will thank you.

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