Advanced Family & Sports Podiatry
Wart Removal Albany
What are
Plantar Warts?
A plantar wart is a kind of wart that grows on the bottom of your foot. It′s caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). When you walk or stand, the wart might get pushed into your skin, making it feel like you have a small lump or bump on your foot.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts can be painful, especially when you put pressure on them. They usually look like small, rough, and grainy spots with tiny black dots in the center. The black dots are small blood vessels.
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how you might get plantar warts
Direct Contact
The most common way to get a plantar wart is through direct contact with the virus. This can happen by walking barefoot in public places like locker rooms, swimming pools, or communal showers where the virus might be present.
Contaminated Objects
You can also get the virus from touching objects or surfaces that have been in contact with an infected person's warts. This could include towels, shoes, socks, or other personal items.
Weakened Immune System
If your immune system is weakened, it might have a harder time fighting off the virus, making you more susceptible to developing warts.
Skin Cuts and Scratches
If you have small cuts, scrapes, or other openings on the soles of your feet, the virus can enter your body more easily, increasing the risk of developing plantar warts.
Warm and Moist Environments
The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm and moist environments, which is why places like locker rooms and public showers can be breeding grounds for the virus.
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Differential diagnoses
Callus
A callus is a thickened area of skin that can develop on the soles of the feet due to friction or pressure. Calluses might look similar to plantar warts, but they don't have the characteristic small black dots (blood vessels) seen in warts.
Corn
Corns are small, round areas of thickened skin with a hard center. They often develop on the toes or feet and can be mistaken for warts. Corns are usually caused by friction or pressure.
Mosaic Warts
These are clusters of plantar warts that can grow close together, resembling a mosaic pattern. They are caused by the same HPV virus as typical plantar warts.
Foreign Body
Sometimes, a foreign object like a splinter or thorn can get lodged in the skin, causing a lump that might be mistaken for a wart.
Tinea Pedis (Athlete's Foot)
This is a fungal infection that can cause peeling, cracking, and itching of the skin on the feet. In some cases, it might appear as a rash that could be confused with warts.
Nevus (Mole)
Moles can occur on the feet and might be mistaken for warts, especially if they have a rough texture.
Plantar Fibromatosis (Ledderhose Disease)
This is a rare condition where non-cancerous tumors develop in the feet, causing thickened, nodular areas that might resemble warts.
Plantar Cysts
Cysts can sometimes develop beneath the skin on the feet and might feel like a lump. They are often fluid-filled and can be mistaken for warts.
Hemangioma
A hemangioma is a benign growth of blood vessels that might be mistaken for a wart, especially if it has a raised, lumpy appearance.
Skin Cancer
In very rare cases, certain types of skin cancer can develop on the feet and might initially be mistaken for a wart. Any suspicious or changing skin lesions should always be evaluated by a medical professional.
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How can Advanced Podiatry help?
Our podiatrists, who specialise in foot and ankle conditions, can provide various treatments for plantar warts. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the warts and your individual situation. Here are some common methods our podiatrists might use to treat plantar warts:
Microwave Therapy (Swift®)
Advanced Family & Sports Podiatry uses the new Swift® therapy that utilises microwave energy to heat and destroy wart tissue. It is very effective (over 80%) and safe for use on all types of warts. For more information on this, please see below.
Topical Medications
The podiatrist might prescribe or recommend over-the-counter topical treatments, such as salicylic acid or other medications, that you apply directly to the wart. These medications work by gradually breaking down the wart tissue.
Curettage
In this procedure, the podiatrist uses a specialised tool to cut away the wart. This is typically done under local anesthesia.
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Swift® Wart Treatment
Swift® is a relatively new and innovative technology used to treat plantar warts. It′s a type of microwave therapy designed to target the virus that causes the wart. Hundreds of patients have reported successful outcomes with Swift® treatment, experiencing wart reduction and eventual clearance. The treatment is designed to target the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes the warts by delivering controlled microwave energy to the affected area. The energy heats up and destroys the infected tissue, including the HPV.
The Swift® treatment
During the Swift® treatment, our podiatrists use a special handheld device to deliver controlled microwave energy to the affected area of the foot. This energy is specifically focused on the wart, and it works by heating up and destroying the infected tissues, including the HPV. The treatment is relatively quick, usually taking just a few minutes. After the procedure, you might experience some discomfort or redness in the treated area, but it typically heals relatively quickly. Swift® has gained popularity due to its effectiveness and minimal downtime compared to other traditional treatments like freezing (cryotherapy) or applying acids. However, as with any medical procedure, it′s essential that one of our podiatrists determine the most suitable treatment for your specific condition.