Overview
A plantar wart is a harmless skin growth. Plantar warts occur on the bottom of your feet and may be painful when you walk. A virus makes the top layer of skin grow quickly, causing a wart. Warts usually go away on their own in months or years.
Warts are spread easily. You can infect yourself again by touching the wart and then touching another part of your body. You also can infect others by sharing towels, razors, or other personal items.
Most plantar warts do not need treatment. But if warts cause you pain or spread, your doctor may recommend that you use an over-the-counter treatment. These include salicylic acid, duct tape, and freezing sprays. Your doctor may prescribe a stronger medicine to put on warts or may inject them with medicine. Your doctor also can remove warts through surgery or by freezing them.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
- Use salicylic acid or duct tape as your doctor directs. You put the medicine or the tape on a wart for a while and then file down the dead skin on the wart. You use the salicylic acid treatment for 2 to 3 months or the tape for 1 to 2 months.
- If your doctor prescribes medicine to put on warts, use it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- Wear comfortable shoes and socks. Avoid high heels or shoes that put a lot of pressure on your foot.
- Pad the wart with doughnut-shaped felt or a moleskin patch. You can buy these at a drugstore. Put the pad around the plantar wart so that it relieves pressure on the wart. You also can place pads or cushions in your shoes to make walking more comfortable.
- Take an over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) if you have pain. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from a wart.
- Pus draining from a wart.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:
- You do not get better as expected.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter S429 in the search box to learn more about "Plantar Warts: Care Instructions".
Current as of: November 16, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
