Plantar Warts: Care Instructions

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 the warts cause you pain or they 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 contact your doctor 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 silver duct tape as your doctor directs. You put medicine on every day or put the tape over a wart for 6 days and then file down the dead skin on the wart. You use the salicylic acid treatment for up to 3 months or the tape for up to 2 months. You may also use both the medicine and the duct tape together to increase the chances that the wart will go away.
• If your doctor prescribes medicine to put on warts, use it exactly as prescribed.
• Wear comfortable shoes and socks. Avoid high heels and 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.

When should you call for help?

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have symptoms 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 if:

• You do not get better as expected.