Book Now Book Now
Verruca Removal Auckland
Posted 15 Apr '24

How To Get Rid of Plantar Warts



If you or your kids have ever had warts, you’ll know that they’re unpleasant, unsightly and can at times be uncomfortable, especially if they’re on the bottom of your feet. They can quickly spread from one member of the family to another and once you’ve contracted them, they may pop up (literally) at any point in your life. So what exactly are warts and what can you do about them? Otherwise known as Verrucae Plantar warts are medically known as verrucae and tend to present on the sole of the foot. Warts are actually a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). It spreads through a break in the skin, like a small cut or graze, either directly or through sharing the same surface like a shower or a floor. What are the symptoms? A plantar wart appears as a small round-ish growth with rough or frayed edges. It remains rough within the wart itself. You may also notice tiny black/brown dots within the wart which are actually small blood vessels which will bleed if the wart is cut. You may notice that the lines of your skin move around the wart as opposed to through it. There may also be hard skin in the form of callus covering a wart. We typically reduce this hard skin in the clinic to both confirm that the lesion is indeed a wart and also for treatment. Is it really a wart or is it a corn? Perhaps one of those most difficult elements of treating warts is their similarity in symptomology and appearance to the untrained eye. Even to the trained eye! We’ve seen plenty of patients come in to see us after they had previously been told they had a corn when it was a wart and so their treatment had been unsuccessful. Corns also present on the sole of the foot and are round in appearance. They are a build-up of hard skin and have a smoother appearance and edges than a wart. Corns tend to elicit pain on direct pressure whereas warts tend to elicit more pain on a sidewards squeeze. Unless you’ve picked at it and caused damage, corns don’t tend to bleed, either. How do you treat it? To treat warts, you first need to see your Podiatrist. We don’t recommend at-home treatment because you risk damaging the surrounding skin and putting yourself at risk for a bacterial infection. We often see patients who have tried a stick-on pad over the wart as a means of treatment. Typically these pads contain some form of acid designed to break down area of the wart, eating away at it. The danger here is that the size of acid on the pad is usually much bigger than the size of the wart itself. The acid then works on the healthy skin surrounding the wart and it becomes very painful, red, tender and unpleasant. At Perform Podiatry we have a wide range of treatment options available depending on what is best suited for you and your wart(s) to see them gone. If you or your family are wanting an effective solution for warts from the foot health experts in Remuera, give us a call on 09 523 2333

Related Articles

Acupuncture and Podiatry: A Modern Approach to Foot & Ankle Care

When most people think of podiatry, they picture orthotics, skin/nail care, or sports injury treatment. But podiatry isn’t just about what’s happening mechanically in your feet, it’s also about supporting the body’s natural healing processes.

One treatment that’s gaining popularity in podiatric care is acupuncture — a technique with ancient roots and modern scientific backing.

Foam Rolling: A Game-Changer for Foot & Lower Limb Health

Even a few minutes of foam rolling per day can make a significant difference in your lower limb health. Focus on the calves, hamstrings, IT band, and plantar fascia. Combine with stretching and strengthening for best results.
Read this blog to find out more about the benefits of Foam rolling. 

Winter Is the Perfect Time to See a Podiatrist

When you think of foot problems, summer usually comes to mind and so does blisters from sandals, sunburns, or barefoot beach walks. But winter can be just as tough on your feet, and in some cases, even more so.

Keeping you healthy and performing at your best

Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.

Ground Floor, One Health Building
122 Remuera Rd, Remuera
Auckland 1050, New Zealand

MON - FRI 7:30am – 6:30pm
SAT 8:30am – 4:30pm
SUN Some availability

Make an Appointment

(09) 523 2333 (09) 523 2333

Online Schedule

Book here
 Book here

Send us a message

Name
 
Email Address
Message

Need Help After Hours?

Our virtual receptionist is available 24/7 to help with general questions, booking requests, and clinic information, even when our team is busy, or it's after hours.

Whether you're calling us or using our website, you'll get fast assistance any time of day. And if your query needs a personal touch, a member of our team will follow up as soon as possible.