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Up to 10% of people have plantar warts –– hard, skin-colored growths that form on the weight-bearing areas of the feet. At Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona in Chandler, Arizona, podiatrists and board-certified foot and ankle surgeons Alex Stewart, DPM, Antonius Su, DPM, and their team offer outpatient treatments of plantar warts, including cryotherapy, laser removal, and minor surgery. Call Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona today to schedule plantar wart treatment, or book your appointment online.
How are plantar warts different from common warts?
Plantar warts and common warts are both skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), but they have distinct differences.
Common warts
Common warts typically form on the palms of the hands. They grow outward and look like a head of cauliflower.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts grow inward, “planting” themselves firmly in your skin. They form on the heels or the balls of the feet and are sensitive, making it difficult to stand and walk.
Should I see a podiatrist about plantar warts?
Make an appointment at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona if you have plantar warts on one or both feet. Most plantar warts go away, but it often takes months or even years.
Plus, if you have a health issue, like diabetes, that affects blood flow to your feet, plantar warts increase your risk of more severe problems, such as infection.
How are plantar warts diagnosed?
Your Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona provider asks about your symptoms and examines the bottoms of your feet. They check each growth, looking for a black “seed” in the middle; the seed is a group of blood vessels supplying the wart with oxygen and nutrients.
After confirming you have plantar warts, your provider makes personalized treatment recommendations.
How are plantar warts treated?
The Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona team offers several types of plantar wart treatment, including:
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves liquid nitrogen that freezes the wart and surrounding tissue. Before that, your provider numbs your skin with a local anesthetic. Exposing plantar warts to sub-zero temperatures kills the virus that causes them, and the treated wart eventually sloughs off.
Laser removal
Laser removal uses targeted beams of light energy (lasers) to stop the blood supply to plantar warts. Cutting off a wart’s blood supply causes it to die and eventually peel off.
Minor surgery
Your provider recommends minor surgery if you have large plantar warts. They numb your foot with a local anesthetic and use surgical tools to remove the plantar wart and some surrounding skin. They apply a bandage or stitches and explain how to care for the wound at home.
Call Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists of Arizona today to schedule plantar wart treatment, or book your appointment online.