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Warts Specialist

Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates

Podiatry & Foot and Ankle Surgery located in Mission Viejo, CA

If you regularly walk around barefoot at your local sauna or pool, you’re more likely to develop foot warts. Foot warts aren’t a serious health problem, but they can be painful and affect your mobility and quality of life. At Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates in Mission Viejo, California, their team of skilled podiatrists offers safe and effective wart treatments to people of all ages. To request your podiatric foot wart consultation, call the office, or book online today.

Warts Q&A

What are foot warts?

Foot warts or plantar warts are small, flesh-colored nodules that usually develop on the soles and balls of your feet. Standing and walking put pressure on them, causing a hard, calloused exterior to form. 

Warts are unsightly and, depending on their location, may cause you pain. If you have diabetes or another chronic circulatory condition, you’re also at a higher risk of recurrent warts or warts that don’t respond to traditional treatments. 

What are the symptoms of warts?

The symptoms of warts vary depending on their size and location. Telltale signs of foot warts include:

  • A small fleshy or grainy lesion
  • Hard, thickened skin over a bump or spot
  • Pain when walking or standing
  • Tenderness when walking or standing 

In addition, foot warts usually have black dots across them. These are clotted blood vessels that provide the wart with oxygen. 

Who is at risk of getting warts?

Anyone can develop a wart, but certain factors increase your risk, including:

  • Being a child or teenager
  • Having a weakened immune system
  • Having a history of warts

You’re also more likely to get warts if you don’t wear protective footwear. Warts occur as a result of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV thrives in warm, damp conditions like locker rooms and saunas. You can significantly lower your risk of warts by wearing sandals or water shoes in public spaces. 

How are foot warts diagnosed?

To diagnose warts, your provider physically examines your feet and toes. If it’s not obvious that the lesion is a wart, they might also pare the lesion with a scalpel to look for the black dots or take a biopsy and send your sample to a laboratory for further testing. 

How are warts treated?

The podiatrists at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates treat stubborn warts using topical, pain-free options. For more persistent infections, they provide extensive eradication options. 

If you have a mild case of foot warts, your provider might recommend an in-office treatment with salicylic acid or cryotherapy. If your warts return or your symptoms don’t improve, your podiatrist might recommend minor surgery. 

To learn more about the various treatment options for foot warts, make an appointment at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates today; call the office or use the online scheduling tool at any time.