Plantar warts are caused by a subtype of the human papilloma virus.  This virus is transferred between individuals at areas of skin irritation.  Once contracted an individual will always have the virus.  It is not a life threatening condition but one is which the propensity to develop a wart will always be present.  Often plantar warts begin as a small area that subsequently spreads to other areas on the foot.  Warts have a variable course with some resolving with no treatment and others becoming extremely resistant with multiple forms of treatment.

 

Warts will cause an interruption of the normal skin lines on the surface of the skin.  Often small black dots are seen in the center of the wart which represents the blood vessels feeding the wart.  Upon superficial trimming of the wart small areas of pin point bleeding are seen at these vessels.

 

Multiple forms of treatment exist for warts from the conventional to the unconventional.

 

Your podiatrist can explain these options and determine which may be most beneficial for you.  Our physicians are trained in the use of lasers that require minimal aftercare and have high success rates.  The pulsed dye laser is a newer type of laser that targets the blood vessels, superficially, that feed the wart.  By treating these blood vessels the wart loses its nutrient source and dies, thereby leaving the skin free of warty tissue.  Visit our office to learn more.