Warts Specialist

Associated Podiatrists, P.C.

Podiatrists & Podiatric Surgeons located in Novi, MI

Warts can be more than just a cosmetic concern. The experts at Associated Podiatrists, P.C. offer an array of treatments for men and women in Novi, Michigan, and provide a warm, welcoming, and respectful environment for podiatric care. Your podiatrist can help you get rid of the small painful bumps and improve your gait, posture, and foot functionality. Book your consultation online or call the office to learn more.

Warts Q & A

What are warts?

Warts are small growths that can appear anywhere on your body. Common warts are caused by a viral infection of the skin, and when these warts appear on your heels or the bottoms of your feet, they’re called plantar warts.

Signs and symptoms of plantar warts include:

  • Hard, callused skin
  • Pain and tenderness when walking
  • Small clotted blood vessels around the raised area

Some warts can even grow inward, underneath a callus.

What causes plantar warts?

Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV enters the body through tiny cuts and scrapes in the skin under your feet. There are over 100 different kinds of HPV, but only a few of them cause warts. Everyone reacts differently to HPV; some people might develop plantar warts, while others won’t.

HPV strains that lead to plantar warts tend to thrive in damp and warm environments, such as locker rooms and swimming pools. Plantar warts are more common in people with weakened immune systems, children, and adolescents.

If you’ve had plantar warts before, you have a higher risk of developing them again in the future. When plantar warts become painful, they can even affect your gait and change your posture without you even noticing, which can lead to muscle or joint pain and additional complications.

If you have a bleeding or painful lesion, or if you notice any changes or abnormalities in the appearance or color of your wart, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

How are plantar warts treated?

While most plantar warts aren’t a cause for concern and go away without treatment, some warts require medical intervention. To treat your plantar wart, your podiatrist might recommend:

  • Topical prescription medicines, such as salicylic acid to progressively remove layers of the wart over time
  • Freezing with liquid nitrogen to remove the wart
  • Laser surgery to burn and remove the wart
  • Surgical excision of the wart

 Our office is also proud to now offer Swift treatments in-office!

Swift offers our patients significantly faster, easier, safer, and more effective results for wart removal than previous methods. The procedure itself only takes a couple of seconds, and through the use of a handheld tool, our podiatrists deliver lower-power microwave energy to the layers of skin surrounding the wart. The microwaves excite water molecules and generate heat and friction, which in turn draws in proteins and activates your immune system (your immune system normally ignores the layers of skin where warts form and that’s why warts take so long to go away on their own). With Swift, you direct your body’s attention exactly where it needs to go, and help it quickly build up an immunity to the strand of HPV causing your wart. Additionally, aside from minor discomfort during the 2-3 seconds of application, the Swift treatment is virtually painless and will not restrict you from your normal activities!

To reduce your risk of developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools and locker rooms, and try to keep your feet clean and dry. You should also change your socks daily.

Whether your plantar warts are an aesthetic or a functional concern, the experts at Associated Podiatrists, P.C. offer innovative and effective solutions. Call or book an appointment online today.