I Am Embarrassed By My Warts

Nearly everybody gets a wart at some point in their life. If you’re among the billions of people with warts, you know they aren’t just uncomfortable — they can be downright embarrassing.

Fortunately, the board-certified podiatrists at Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic in Holladay and West Jordan, Utah, specialize in diagnosing and treating plantar warts, which develop on your feet.

Our team also understands how embarrassing having warts can be, so we’ve put together this guide to help you better understand these bothersome bumps and how we can eliminate them.

What do I need to know about plantar warts?

The HPV virus (human papillomavirus) causes warts. When they develop on the soles of your feet, they’re called plantar warts. Plantar warts can vary in their appearance and symptoms, which include: 

• Calloused or hard skin over a bump
• A grainy, fleshy, or rough growth on the sole
• A growth that changes the appearance and texture of your skin on the sole
• Irritation, pain, or tenderness when walking or standing 

Plantar warts sometimes grow in clusters, called mosaic warts. They can also appear as a single wart, which might grow quite large. 

Since you put your weight on the soles of your feet when you stand or walk, some plantar warts can grow inward, under the thick layers of skin on the soles of your feet. 

Sometimes it can be challenging to know if the growth on the bottom of your foot is a plantar wart. In that case, be sure to contact our offices for an evaluation. 

How can I eliminate embarrassing warts?

Because warts are a virus, plantar warts actually resolve on their own if you wait for the virus to run its course. But waiting it out can take months — sometimes even years! And while you wait, you could accidentally spread the highly contagious virus to other people or other parts of your body. 

Some people try over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to eliminate plantar warts, but they take time and diligence to be effective. Most of these products use salicylic acid in gel, liquid, or patch form. You have to apply the acid regularly and wait weeks or months for it to work. 

If you don’t want to live with the embarrassment, pain, or discomfort of your plantar warts, our team at Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic can help. Our practice uses innovative and effective wart treatments to help you say goodbye to plantar warts for good.

Our team starts with an evaluation of your feet, talking with you about any symptoms you're experiencing. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, we review your treatment options, taking time to address any concerns and questions. 

Personalized treatments for plantar warts include:

• Prescription-strength salicylic acid ointments
• Liquid nitrogen freezing medicine (cryotherapy)
• Prescription medications, like immunotherapy
• Wart padding (compound wart preparations)

In rare cases, surgery may be recommended to remove a troublesome wart. This procedure is performed in the office using local anesthesia. 

In addition to treating your wart, our team discusses ways you can prevent future plantar wart outbreaks to avoid the embarrassment and pain of foot warts in the future. 

Be sure to call our office if your wart begins to bleed, changes in appearance, interferes with your ability to walk, or if you have a compromised immune system.

Want to say goodbye to unsightly plantar warts? Schedule an appointment at Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic at our Holladay or West Jordan, Utah, location. We serve the entire Salt Lake City region.