A wart or callus on the foot looks similar and occurs in the same area. They are, however, completely different. On the bottom of the foot, you can see lines on the surface of a callus. This is not true of warts, which have a cauliflower-type texture. Small black dots may also appear in the body of the wart. These are actually ruptured blood vessels that grow into and feed it. Plantar (sole of the foot) warts are often focused and deep or spread out and remain superficial. Warts require treatment.
Although warts can be painful, this isn’t the only reason you should seek attention from your podiatrist. A malignant tumor is sometimes mistaken for a wart. Unfortunately, if it is cancerous and not treated early, the patient could lose a foot. Also, because warts are actually viral infections, they can spread to other parts of the body and even to others.
People contract plantar warts by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces in warm, moist environments, such as showers, public locker rooms and swimming pools. The virus invades the body through cuts or breaks in the skin. Regrettably, the part you see is only a small portion of the abnormality.
The first step is for the podiatrist to diagnose the problem. If he determines it is a wart, he will remove it and put an end to the virus. To eliminate the infection, he may use multiple applications of topical treatments to destroy the cells where the virus lives. Sometimes cyrotherapy, a method whereby warts are frozen using a cold solution, can kill the virus. The cold, however, may fail to penetrate deep enough to completely eradicate it. Podiatrists may also use a treatment called Debridement, which along with an acid, may ensure the virus dies and warts will not grow back. This procedure involves using a scalpel to remove the warts under an anesthetic.
The most effective treatment, however, is using a laser. Your podiatrist may perform this clean and accurate approach in the comfort of his office. Patients are able to return to normal activities the same day.
If you suspect you have one or more warts on your feet, see your podiatrist immediately to diagnose it and treat it before it spreads.
Dr. Robert Abrams, DPM, is the medical director of the Footcare Center of Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-253-3668.