Plantar Wart Diagnosis and Treatment in St. Catharines

Warts can occur anywhere on your skin and, when it appears on the bottom of your foot, it is referred to as a plantar wart. In St. Catharines patients can find treatment at Orvitz Podiatry Clinic. Plantar warts are a common nuisance that can affect many people. Warts are generally harmless, but can be painful. Plantar warts may make walking painful.

Plantar warts tend to be hard and flat with a rough surface. You may also see black dots in the centre of the wart.

You will likely initially notice a plantar wart as a lump on the bottom of your foot, often feeling like there is a pebble in your shoe. Warts can spontaneously disappear after a short time and can just as frequently reoccur in the same location. If it is left untreated, it can grow up to an inch wide and may even spread into clusters, called mosaic warts. In the most severe cases, it can cause a change in your gait or posture, which results in leg or back pain.

Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) making its way through the skin from small cuts and abrasions. Often, the virus is picked up from walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces in public places and warm, moist environments, such as public locker rooms, swimming pools, saunas, and common areas. We recommend that you wear supportive flip flops rather than going barefoot. Warts are also spread by touch, scratching, or contact with the skin shed from another wart. Patients in St. Catharines can find plantar wart relief at Orvitz Podiatry Clinic.

Some tips for prevention of plantar warts include:

Wearing shoes or flip flops instead of going barefoot (except on sandy beaches)
Change your socks and shoes daily
Keep your feet clean and dry
Avoid direct contact with warts, whether from another person or from other parts of your body
Do not ignore growths or changes on your skin
Visit Orvitz Podiatry Clinic for regular checkups

Treatment at Our St. Catharines Clinic

When you see something suspicious on your foot, your first step should be to call Orvitz Podiatry Clinic to get a proper diagnosis. Treating a wart yourself at home is not the best option. Many over-the-counter remedies destroy skin cells and can damage the healthy skin as well if not applied properly. Also, many warts can be stubborn and will not respond to drugstore treatments. Another reason to go to an expert is that it may instead be a more serious condition instead, which you may misidentify as a wart.

Additionally, if you have diabetes or a circulatory disorder, you should take special care if you detect any warts on your feet. In those cases, consult a podiatrist rather than attempting any over-the-counter care.

Our Podiatrist will use specialized procedures to rid you of the warts once and for all. In cases where a surgical procedure is necessary, a local anesthetic will be administered.

Schedule a Diagnosis

To schedule an appointment to discuss your plantar wart treatment options with our podiatrist, contact us today to make an appointment. Our staff in St. Catharines is here to answer your call.