If you have ever dealt with a wart on your feet, you know how annoying and uncomfortable they can be. Patients with foot warts are often embarrassed to go barefoot or wear sandals in public. They might also face pain and difficulty standing, walking, or wearing shoes. Toe warts, in particular, can cause uncomfortable rubbing and friction. Warts are notoriously hard to get rid of. If you’re currently suffering from a wart on your foot, you deserve real, permanent solutions.
At Best Foot Doctor NY in Brooklyn, NYC, you can find the answers you’ve been looking for. There are multiple effective treatments available. As the best podiatrists in NYC, our knowledgeable team members will take the time to help you choose the best one. Keep reading to learn more about why foot warts develop, what problems they can cause, and how you can get rid of them for good with help from your foot doctor.
What Is a Plantar Wart?
Warts found on the feet are typically known as plantar warts. These rough, raised patches of skin are caused by contact with the HPV virus. This virus can quickly spread from one person’s foot to another via surfaces or through contact with an infected person. Plantar warts are a common problem, and they can happen to anyone – even if they have excellent hygiene!
What Problems Can Foot Warts Cause if Left Untreated?
While foot warts are typically small, they can cause undesirable issues if ignored. Of course, warts on your feet are unsightly, and you may want them gone for cosmetic reasons. Here’s a look at a few other problems foot warts can cause.
Foot Warts Can Easily Spread to Other People
When you have warts on your feet, you have to be vigilant to avoid spreading them. Others may be concerned about this potential, too, and your warts can impact your social life.
Foot Warts Can Make It Hard to Walk or Wear Shoes
Depending on where your warts are located, they can cause uncomfortable pressure or friction when you walk or wear shoes. Warts between two of your toes can be especially irritating. Over time, you can even develop more serious problems with your feet as your warts begin to change the way you walk.
Foot Warts Can Raise Your Chances of Developing Other Infections
Warts compromise the skin barrier on your feet. If you accidentally cause trauma to a wart – or if you pick at the wart – bacteria can enter the opening and cause an infection. This is especially concerning for patients with diabetes or compromised immune systems.
How Do You Treat a Plantar Wart?
While you can certainly scrape away at the surface of a wart, it can be hard to truly eliminate the wart for good. Treatment options include home remedies and procedures at your podiatrist’s office. Let’s take a look at some of your options in each category.
Options for The Best Plantar Wart Removal at Home
Patients often start with at-home treatments for plantar warts. While these treatments can be effective, it’s important to do your research before choosing one. Home remedies like covering your wart with duct tape, rubbing it with apple cider vinegar, or applying essential oils can be appealing. However, it helps to ask your podiatrist before trying home remedies for a plantar wart or seed wart removal. Some of these can be risky or simply ineffective.
Salicylic acid is often the best way to remove foot warts at home. You can buy this over the counter at many drugstores and apply it to your wart regularly. Salicylic acid can be effective, but it does take a long time to eliminate your wart – and it may not be completely successful on its own.
Plantar Wart Treatment at Your Podiatrist’s Office
Unfortunately, at-home treatments often fail to clear up warts on a patient’s foot permanently. If you’ve tried and failed to solve the problem at home, you might wonder: “Where is the best plantar warts treatment near me”? At Best Foot Doctor NY, our caring and experienced team has helped countless patients in Brooklyn, NYC, and the surrounding communities get relief from foot warts.
One of our recommended treatment options is salicylic acid. However, since this can take a long time to be completely successful, we sometimes advise patients to combine it with cryotherapy, or cold therapy. Applying liquid nitrogen to your wart can provide enough cold to destroy the blood supply that keeps it going. Depending on your circumstances, your podiatrist at Best Foot Doctor NY may recommend just an acid treatment, just cryotherapy, or a combination of both these treatments. You may need several visits to your podiatrist before your foot warts are gone for good.
Cryotherapy for Plantar Warts in Queens, NYC
How Can I Avoid Getting Plantar Warts on My Feet Again?
Once you’ve successfully treated your plantar warts, it’s time to focus on prevention. It’s helpful to clean your hands and feet regularly and avoid walking barefoot in high-traffic areas.
While treating your foot wart, it’s also important to avoid spreading it to other people. Keeping it covered can reduce the likelihood that you’ll accidentally pass it on. Sharing items like towels, shoes, socks, or slippers is not recommended. Always wash your hands after touching your feet, and try to avoid touching your wart.
Ready to Find a Lasting Solution to the Warts on Your Feet?
Warts can be hard to get rid of on your own. The team at Best Foot Doctor NY is ready to help you say goodbye to your warts for good. Schedule an appointment today with Best Foot Doctor NYC to get started!