Warts are noncancerous and develop in your epidermis (topmost layer of your skin) after infection with certain strains of human papillomavirus. They are named based on where they are located on the body. On the hands, they are called palmar warts and on the soles, they can be called plantar warts.
Plantar warts are caused by the virus invading the skin beneath your feet. This can happen through tiny cuts that could be from many sources. The skin becomes thickened and callused due to the constant pressure from your weight. Although they are not inherently dangerous, plantar warts can cause minor bleeding or irritation.
Plantar warts can be a problem if you feel pain. This could cause you to shift your posture and walking, which can lead to problems with your body’s mechanics.
Ehsan Tabrizi, a foot specialist at Steady Gait Foot Clinic in Scarborough, ON, and his team know that although plantar warts don’t usually pose a problem, they can cause discomfort. This is why they offer several treatments.
How does the virus get around?
Plantar warts can be caused by HPV strains different from genital warts. They are not easily transmissible or highly contagious. Some people who have come into contact with HPV do not develop warts.
HPV thrives when it is warm and moist, so locker rooms and swimming pools are the ideal places. You are more likely to contract the virus if you walk in these areas barefoot. The virus can form where it enters the skin. However, it can spread to other areas, creating new warts.
Most common are plantar warts in:
- Children and teens
- People with weak immune systems
- People who have had plantar warts in the past
- People who do not have foot protection in locker rooms for walking

How do plantar warts feel and look?
You’ll notice a plantar wart if you have one.
- Small, fleshy, and sometimes rough growths on the sole of your feet, usually at the heel or base of the toes.
- The growth crosses the normal lines and ridges in the skin
- The wart has grown into the feet, a hard callus was made over a “spot”.
- Black spots are small, clotted blood vessels that are often called “wart seeds” or “black spots”.
- Standing or walking can cause pain or tenderness.
What is the best way to treat plantar warts?
Many warts resolve by themselves within two years. If you are experiencing pain or irritation, it is possible to have warts taken out.
There are many home remedies to get rid of warts. These include banana peels and duct tape. They are all only moderately effective and take several months to see any significant reduction.
An in-clinic treatment will give you more success. Steady Gait’s foot specialist, Ehsan Tabrizi uses the following method:
Salicylic Acid & Trichloroacetic Acid
The foot specialist applies prescription-strength salicylic acid to the wart, dissolving it layer by layer. Your body may also be able to activate your immune system to fight the underlying infection. This requires several treatments. If you do not respond to the series of treatments, Dr. Perel might use stronger trichloroacetic acids.
Cryotherapy
This method freezes warts with liquid nitrogen. It destroys their structure. It will then blister and then slough away in approximately a week. You may need several treatments if you combine cryotherapy and salicylic acid.
Lasers
A laser beam burns the blood vessels of warts. The wart will dry out and fall off without these nutrients.



















