How To Treat Plantar Warts
posted: Apr. 12, 2022.
When plantar warts develop on your feet, they can cause severe pain and irritation. At Central Connecticut Footcare Center in Meriden, CT, Dr. Tina Boucher and her team are ready to help prevent, diagnose and treat these small warts that typically affect the weight-bearing areas of your feet.
What Are Plantar Warts?
Most plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). If you have a small cut or open wound on your feet, the virus can enter through these exposed areas. If you walk barefoot in public places, you're at a higher risk of developing plantar warts in Meriden, CT.
If you're infected, you may develop a single wart. Or, a cluster of warts might grow in a specific area of your feet. Although warts don't pose an imminent threat to your overall health, they can be irritating and quite painful. Plantar warts are also highly contagious.
Treatment Options
In many cases, people experience little to no pain, and warts will go away on their own. However, some people might have severe pain (or it affects their mobility) and need medical intervention. Prescription medication like salicylic acid can help soften the wart, but in many cases, it will take time to work its way through the tougher areas of the skin.
In some cases, patients benefit from freezing technology to destroy warts and reduce or eliminate pain. Some patients might need a doctor to perform a minimally-invasive procedure to eliminate warts if they don't respond to other treatments.
To reduce your risk of developing these warts, you should keep your feet clean and dry as often as possible. If you can avoid walking barefoot in public places, you should. You should also avoid direct contact with any warts you may have, and you should immediately wash your hands before you handle anything else after touching any warts.
To learn more about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of plantar warts in Meriden, CT, schedule a consultation with Dr. Boucher and our team at Central Connecticut Footcare Center by calling (203) 238-3668.