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How to Stop the Pain of Planters Warts
Most warts are not painful, but plantar warts grow on the feet so they can hurt because of their location. The Mayo Clinic says they often grow around pressure points on the foot 1. Common areas include the heels or balls of the feet. Walking causes pressure on the plantar wart, which can be very painful. There are ways to treat plantar warts that will relieve the pain and get rid of the wart so it can't cause any future discomfort.
Cushion the plantar wart with a corn pad. Ray Foster of New Start Health Care says this is a donut-shaped pad that will cushion the wart and relieve the pressure 2. A pad may enable you to walk more comfortably.
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Treat the plantar wart with an over-the-counter preparation to get rid of it. The Mayo Clinic says these warts will eventually go away on their own, but you can speed the process up by treating it 1. The two most popular OTC treatments are salicylic acid and freezing kits. Acid treatment generally takes longer than freezing. The acid often comes on pads that you can wear to cushion the wart while the product is working. You will need to put a corn pad on the wart after a freeze treatment.
Make an appointment with your doctor if OTC treatments are not working and your plantar wart is still painful. The doctor has other treatment options, such as more powerful products to dissolve or freeze the wart. In the most stubborn cases the Mayo Clinic says he can remove it surgically or with a laser treatment 1.
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Keep your feet clean and dry to help prevent the plantar wart from returning. Warts can be prone to return once you have had them, and they can crop up in the same painful spot. They like moist environments, so clean, dry feet are less prone to develop them. The Mayo Clinic also recommends wearing sandals rather than going barefoot in locker rooms, on pool decks and in other public places with warm, moist floors 1.
Warnings
Don't touch your plantar wart excessively or pick at it. It may be painful and annoying, but if you do this you could spread it around your foot and possibly to your hands. If you touch it when applying a corn pad or treating it, the Mayo Clinic says to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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References
- Mayo Clinic
- New Start Health Care
- Witchey DJ, Witchey NB, Roth-Kauffman MM, Kauffman MK. Plantar warts: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(2):92-105. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.024
- Binitha MP, Sarita SP, Manju M. Photoletter to the editor: Squamous cell carcinoma associated with and masquerading as molluscum contagiosum. J Dermatol Case Rep. 2013;7(3):103–105. doi:10.3315/jdcr.2013.1152
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes and foot problems. Updated January 2017.
- Craw L, Wingert A, Lara-Corrales I. Are salicylic formulations, liquid nitrogen or duct tape more effective than placebo for the treatment of warts in paediatric patients who present to ambulatory clinics? Paediatr Child Health. 2014;19(3):126–127. doi:10.1093/pch/19.3.126
- Salk RS, Grogan KA, Chang TJ. Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream in the treatment of plantar warts: a prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2006;5(5):418-24.
- Gladsjo JA, Alió sáenz AB, Bergman J, Kricorian G, Cunningham BB. 5% 5-Fluorouracil cream for treatment of verruca vulgaris in children. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009;26(3):279-85. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2008.00800.x
- Cleveland Clinic. Fluorouracil, 5-FU skin cream or solution. Updated January 27, 2017.
- Pasquali P, Freites-martinez A, Gonzalez S, Spugnini EP, Baldi A. Successful treatment of plantar warts with intralesional bleomycin and electroporation: pilot prospective study. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017;7(3):21-26. doi:10.5826/dpc.0703a04
Warnings
- Don't touch your plantar wart excessively or pick at it. It may be painful and annoying, but if you do this you could spread it around your foot and possibly to your hands. If you touch it when applying a corn pad or treating it, the Mayo Clinic says to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Writer Bio
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."