How do I get rid of warts on my feet?
What are warts?
Warts are otherwise known as Verruca Pedis, appear as clumps of rough skin. Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), this virus causes changes in skin cells. Warts may occur anywhere on the body, however, it is most common on feet and hands. As it is a virus it may spread resulting in several in the same area or warts across different areas of skin.
Warts grow in the upper layer of the skin (called the epidermis). Warts often have a raised and rough surface and may have dark dots throughout (this is often from blood vessels that supply the wart).
Warts are often seen as ugly and can be quite resistant to treatment. Although generally considered harmless and often disappearing on their own with time, they are considered quite unsightly and can be even painful depending on the location. There are effective wart treatments available.
Who is more likely to develop warts?
Individuals may develop warts if exposed to the HPV virus. Most people develop warts once or more throughout their life. It is common before the age of 20 and may be more likely to spread if you are immunocompromised.
Are warts harmful?
Warts are not generally harmful, they may be painful if they are on a sensitive part of the foot. Some people are bothered by the appearance of warts.
Are warts contagious?
Warts are contagious, but the risk of transmission to others is low. You are at risk if your skin is broken, damaged, wet, or in contact with a rough surface. A commonplace to transmit warts is at communal swimming pools and washing areas.
Warts can also spread to other parts of your body if they are picked or scratched. If you have a weak immune system warts may spread more rapidly and may be more resistant to treatment.
Tips to reduce the risk of transmission:
Wear flip flops in public areas such as at swimming pools
Cover warts with a waterproof plaster when swimming
Do not share towels
Do not share shoes or socks
What are some of the treatment options available?
Warts (Verruca Pedis) are very difficult to treat and it takes multiple treatments to achieve a result. Some warts are resistant to treatment and require more extensive treatment. The treatment aims to trick the immune system to respond to the HPV infection to get rid of the wart tissue.
Some treatment options include:
Salicylic Acid Treatment - this treatment includes the podiatrist debriding the overlying hard skin and applying acid weekly over many weeks
Occlusion - covering the wart with a non-breathable dressing
Silver nitrate - a gentle antimicrobial
Upton’s paste - this treatment includes the podiatrist debriding the overlying hard skin and applying acid weekly over some weeks
Liquid Nitrogen - this involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen
Needling - this is a procedure that requires a local anesthetic and involves needling the wart tissue
Curettage - removal of wart surgically
At Bondi Podiatry in Bondi Junction, our podiatrists often combine wart treatments to achieve the best results. A common treatment may include debriding the overlying tissue with a scalpel, silver nitrate, liquid nitrogen freezing, salicylic acid, and occlusion.
Book an appointment with our experienced Bondi Junction podiatrist to see which treatment options are suitable for you.
We treat feet from all over Sydney, particularly the Eastern Suburbs. As podiatrists in Bondi Junction, we are happy to treat anyone that comes to our Sydney clinic. Our local area includes Bondi Junction, Bondi, Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Rose Bay, Tamarama, Coogee, Randwick, Bellevue Hill, Dover Heights, Vaucluse, and Edgecliff.
