What are warts?
Warts are fleshy growths that appear on your skin after direct exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV). The podiatrists at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers treat warts because they commonly appear on the feet.
Warts on the bases of your feet, heels, and toes are called plantar warts. They’re common because the virus that causes them thrives in warm, dark, and often moist environments. The floor of a community shower or locker room is the ideal area for HPV to live, and walking around barefoot can result in the growth of one or more plantar warts.
Plantar warts and other warts aren’t just eyesores: They’re often painful or uncomfortable. Walking or standing on your plantar warts can exacerbate the pain.
What are my options for wart treatment?
Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers offers several options for wart treatment. If you’d like to get rid of your wart faster than it can disappear on its own, they may recommend:
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid topical products burn off your wart layer by layer. Your podiatrist might recommend using these products after cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen.
Liquid nitrogen
Freezing your wart off with liquid nitrogen, also called cryotherapy, eventually causes your wart to form a blister before falling off.
Microwave SWIFT therapy
WHAT IS SWIFT®?
Swift is a new technology, developed in the UK, which has been licenced for the general treatment of skin lesions in Podiatry and Dermatology. Swift uses microwave energy which is delivered through a special probe applied to the skin to treat the affected tissue.
Curettage
Curettage is a minor surgery that involves cutting off your wart, along with a margin of skin around it.
How long does it take for my wart to go away after wart treatment?
The amount of time it takes for your wart to disappear entirely depends on the specific treatment you get.
If you use salicylic acid alone, you may need to use the product for up to 12 weeks before you see the wart disappear. With cryotherapy and salicylic acid combined, it may take as little as a week.
Curettage can remove your wart right away, but there’s a risk of scarring that doesn’t come with methods like cryotherapy and salicylic acid. Your podiatrist helps you compare the risks and benefits associated with each option during a wart treatment consultation.
Warts are unsightly, contagious, and uncomfortable. To find a wart treatment that works, call Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers or book an appointment online today.
