Plantar warts are simply warts that appear on the foot's sole (plantar surface). They often have a thick, callused appearance with tiny black dots (which are tiny blood vessels). They tend to grow inward because they’re in weight-bearing areas, sometimes forming a tender spot. They can occur singly or as a cluster (a “mosaic wart” when many small warts fuse). While warts elsewhere on the body might stick out, plantar warts often flatten under pressure, making them less obvious visually but sometimes even more painful.

Warts are caused by a virus (HPV). How did it get into your foot? Usually through direct contact – the virus loves warm, moist environments like locker room floors, public showers, and pool decks. If you walked barefoot in such areas, the virus could enter through tiny cuts or abrasions in your foot’s skin. Athletes (think swimmers, gym-goers) and kids/teens (who often run around barefoot) catch them frequently. If your immune system doesn’t clear it immediately, a wart forms a few weeks or months after exposure. And yes, warts are contagious – you can spread them to other people, or even to other spots on your body by touching or scratching them. They won’t spread beyond the skin (so don’t worry about “internal” spread), but you could, for instance, get a wart on your finger if you pick at one on your foot.

Some people are more susceptible than others – you might step in the same locker room as someone else and only one of you gets a wart. You might be more prone if you have a weakened immune system or poor circulation. Also, plantar warts can spread on your own foot if not treated, popping up nearby to form that mosaic pattern.

The good news: plantar warts are not dangerous – they won’t turn cancerous or anything. But they can definitely be a nuisance. They can also be stubborn; sometimes they go away on their own, but that might take a year or two (or longer in adults),  and in the meantime, they might multiply or cause pain. That’s where treatment comes in – to get rid of them and give you relief.

Treating warts can sometimes feel like detective work – what zaps one person’s wart might not work as well for another. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach, offering a range of treatments. Often, we combine methods to increase effectiveness. Rest assured, all our treatments are safe and performed in-office, and we focus on minimizing discomfort (we know some wart treatments can sting a bit, but we have ways to ease that).

Here’s a menu of what we can do:

• Cryotherapy (Freezing): This is a classic and effective wart treatment. We apply cryo spray to the wart, which freezes the tissue rapidly. This destroys wart cells and also triggers your immune system to help out. It feels like a very cold spray, typically causing a mild stinging or burning sensation for a few seconds. After, the area might blister or get puffy – that’s normal. Over the next week or so, the frozen tissue dies, and the wart may peel off. We usually repeat cryotherapy every 2-3 weeks for a few sessions until the wart is gone. It’s especially good for small, solitary warts. We perform cryotherapy carefully to target the wart while minimizing damage to the surrounding skin. Kids often handle this well since it’s quick. If you’ve tried those OTC freeze sprays, know that the medical cryo spray is much colder and works better. This treatment usually works on regular skin, on top of the foot or leg, not so much on the bottom of the foot.
• Topical Cantharidin (“Beetle Juice”): This is a fun one – a blistering agent derived from blister beetles (hence the nickname). We “paint” on a liquid cantharidin solution over the wart and cover it with a bandage. It’s painless on application. A blister will form underneath the wart over the next 24-48 hours. This lifts the wart off the skin. You might feel some throbbing when the blister forms. After a few days, you return, and we remove the dead wart tissue. This method is great for kids or those afraid of injections, because there’s usually no need for numbing. It often requires a few rounds for stubborn warts. Cantharidin essentially “tricks” your body into shedding the wart.
• Salicylic Acid/Sodium Hydroxide/Phenol Treatments: You might have tried salicylic acid at home (plasters or drops). Our office uses prescription-strength chemical formulations that are stronger than over-the-counter. We can apply and cover a chemical, softening and dissolving the wart tissue. We will pare down the dead tissue each week and reapply until the wart is gone. This method is slow and steady, and we often combine it with others, such as a prescription topical antiviral. It’s safe and works well, especially for larger, thick warts after debriding.
• Immune Therapy (Squaric Acid, DPCP, or Yeast/Fungus Injections): For multiple or resistant warts, we may utilize topical immunotherapy agents such as squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) or diphencyprone (DPCP). These agents do not directly destroy the wart but instead stimulate your immune system to recognize and attack the wart virus by creating a mild allergic reaction at the site, which recruits immune cells to the area. Similarly, Candida (yeast/fungal) antigen injections work by triggering a localized immune response that helps the body target the virus responsible for the wart. These therapies are particularly useful in challenging or widespread cases that haven’t responded to conventional treatment. Typically, immune sensitization is performed first, followed by weekly or biweekly applications or injections. Because some of these therapies require special-order supplies, they may not be available immediately, but they offer a powerful option when other treatments have failed.
• Needling Procedure: This is an innovative technique: under local anesthesia, we use a fine needle to poke the wart area multiple times (hundreds of tiny punctures). The idea is to implant the virus particles deeper into the skin where the immune system cells reside, prompting an immune response. It essentially vaccinates your body against the wart. This is often done just once. It’s shown success for some persistent warts, especially mosaic warts. Post-needling, your foot might be sore for a few days (like stepping on a bunch of pin pricks – which, you did). We’ve had some good outcomes with this for patients who had warts for years.
• Laser Wart Removal: We have a powerful diode laser that can be used for warts. Laser treatment works by either vaporizing the wart tissue or targeting the blood vessels feeding the wart. No blood supply, the wart dies. Laser sessions are usually done with some local numbing(cold spray or an injection). It may take a couple of sessions for the full effect. Laser is a great option for warts that haven’t responded to other methods or for patients who want a more high-tech approach. Studies show lasers can be quite effective, though, like all methods, not 100% for everyone.
• Minor Surgical Removal: A minor surgery can be done in stubborn cases or for extensive warts. Under local anesthesia, Dr. Patish will use a scalpel to cut out the wart and curette (scoop) the tissue. The base may be lightly cauterized or treated to kill residual virus. We then bandage it – no stitches are usually needed unless it’s a large area. Surgical removal removes the wart in one go, creating a wound that must heal over a few weeks. We typically reserve this for warts that have failed less invasive measures, or if we suspect it’s something else (rarely, a biopsy might be needed if it’s not behaving like a typical wart).

Patients often ask about home remedies like duct tape, banana peels, vinegar, and more. Duct tape actually has some evidence – occluding a wart with duct tape over several weeks may cause the skin to macerate and prompt an immune response (this is often referred to as the “duct tape challenge”). It might work for small, minor warts in some individuals. If you’re giving it a try, we don’t discourage it entirely, but keep in mind that it requires consistent effort over many weeks. The good news is, you can combine duct tape with our professional treatments (for instance, using it between office visits to help keep the wart softened). Over-the-counter salicylic acid products may also be effective for minor warts if used properly and consistently, and we often advise patients to use them alongside in-office therapies to enhance results.

 Important caution: Home remedies are not recommended for patients with autoimmune disorders, diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation. These individuals are at higher risk for skin breakdown, infection, and delayed healing, which can lead to serious complications. If you fall into any of these categories, please consult with us before trying any at-home wart treatments.

Our philosophy: no one should have to live with painful or embarrassing warts. We’ll throw the kitchen sink at them until they’re gone.

While undergoing treatment and after, you’ll want to avoid getting new warts or spreading them:

• Wear Flip-Flops in Communal Areas: Always wear protective footwear in public showers, gyms, pools, dorm bathrooms — anywhere lots of people go barefoot. This is how you avoid picking up (or transmitting) the virus.
• Don’t Pick or Scratch: It’s tempting to pick at a wart, but that can spread the virus to your fingers or under your nails (and then potentially to others or back to your foot later). If a wart’s surface gets flaky after treatment, use a disposable emery board or pumice to gently file it, then throw that tool away. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching the wart area.
• Keep Feet Dry: The virus thrives in moisture. Change your socks daily (more if your feet get very sweaty). Let your shoes air out. Consider an antifungal foot powder — while it’s for fungus, keeping the area dry deters warts, too.
• Boost Your Immune Health: A strong immune system can more effectively fight off warts. Eating well, managing stress, and getting enough sleep all contribute. Some patients find taking vitamins (like vitamin C) or immune supplements helpful anecdotally. At the very least, general health can’t hurt.
• Don’t Share Personal Items: If you have a wart, towels, socks, and nail clippers should be kept personal. You wouldn’t want to accidentally give your family member a wart. Sterilize nail clippers after use on a wart-infected nail.
• Finish the Treatment Course: Warts can be sneaky. They might look gone, but a tiny bit remains. Follow through with the full treatment plan we prescribe, even if it seems like it’s gone, to ensure we really got it all. Sometimes, we treat one extra session past “looks clear” just to be safe.
• Check Other Family Members: Unfortunately, warts can be a family affair. If a spouse or child has one, it’s good for them to get treated, too, so you don’t pass it back and forth.

Plantar warts can be a real pain – literally and figuratively – but with our comprehensive approach, you’ll be rid of them as efficiently as possible. We’ve combined time-tested methods with new innovations to tailor the right plan for you. 

Many patients come to us after suffering for months or years, saying “I thought I’d never get rid of this.” And then, a few appointments later, they’re walking without that pebble-in-shoe feeling and the skin is smooth again. That could be you soon!

Don’t let plantar warts plant themselves in your life any longer.

Take the First Step to Wart-Free Feet: Contact our office via phone or text to schedule an appointment. We’ll confirm it’s a wart (occasionally, other foot lesions mimic warts) and discuss the best treatment options for you. We often begin treatment on the very first visit—why wait? Your feet could be feeling better in a matter of days. Plus, the sooner we treat them, the easier they are to eliminate (small warts are generally easier than giant ones).

With our expert help, you can send those warts packing. You’ll be back to barefoot beach walks or gym showers (with flip-flops, of course!) with no worries. Book your appointment today and take the step toward healthy, wart-free soles!