Dr. Salma Aziz, D.P.M, M.S.

Warts

What Are Warts? …
“A wart is an infection caused by a virus, which can invade your skin through small cuts or breaks. Over time, the wart develops into a hard, rough growth on the surface of the skin. A wart is most commonly see on the bottom of the foot (plantar wart), but it can also appear at the top. Children, teens and people with allergies or weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to wart virus.

Symptoms: warts may appear spongy, with tiny red, brown, or black spots. They can grow up to an inch or more across, occurring alone (solitary) or with smaller warts clustered nearby (mosaic). Warts are sometimes mistaken for corns or calluses. They persist for years and recur in the same spot. If left untreated, warts can spread to other parts of the foot or even hands of other areas of the body.

Treatment:   The wart is removed with a small, spoon-shaped instrument (curette). To lessen pain, a local anesthetic is often used with procedure.

 After your podiatrist treats your warts, protect your feet from future infection by keeping them clean and dry. Avoid going barefoot in public place like showers, gyms, and locker rooms. The wart virus may spread easily in moist setting like these. Wear thongs or sandals on your feet.