Warts

A plantar wart is a skin growth caused by a virus. It can look like a callus and spread into a cluster.

Why it happens
Contact with the wart virus can infect the skin. A single wart may become several nearby growths. The dark dots are tiny blood vessels, not roots.

What you may notice
Thick skin, pain with standing or squeezing the area, and sometimes tiny dark dots.

How treatment is chosen
The choice depends on the number, location and persistence of warts, as well as your health. Medicine such as salicylic acid may be used under professional guidance. It can irritate surrounding skin, so the correct product, placement and schedule matter.

Treatment and what to expect
Options include medicine applied to the wart or freezing treatment. Some warts go away on their own; others need repeated care. A growth that does not improve may need further testing. Warts can return after treatment. If a spot does not respond as expected, your clinician may take a small skin sample to check for another cause. Do not assume every thick patch is a wart.

When to call
Call if the spot changes or becomes more painful. Ask before using wart removers if you have diabetes or poor circulation.

 Your next steps
● Have the spot examined to confirm that it is a wart.
● Avoid trying to cut or remove it yourself.
● Use only the treatment your clinician recommends. Keep follow-up visits; more than one treatment may be needed.

After an office treatment
Freezing can cause discomfort, crusting or a blister. Ask which changes are expected and how to protect the area while walking.

Some painted-on medicines cause a blister and must be washed off at a specific time. Follow the exact instructions for the product used. Do not guess the timing.

Why repeat visits matter
Most people need more than one freezing session; treatments may be spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. Your schedule may differ. Tell the clinician about excessive pain or a skin reaction before using more medicine. Persistent warts may need another approach, and treatment can sometimes leave a color change or scar.