Plantar Wart Removal: How to Get Rid of Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are small lesions that appear on the bottom of the foot or sole and are caused by a virus, known as human papillomavirus (HPV). This same virus is responsible for causing genital warts, cervical cancer and also oral and genital carcinoma. Plantar wart is the result of direct contact with this virus that enters through any opening, like small cuts, cracks or any other types of skin abrasions.

Plantar warts usually appear as rounded protuberances with a black core. Sometimes, the warts may look flat, but may grow inwards leaving the surface to looking even and flat. The chances of getting infected by HPV increases if you walk barefooted on damp and moist surfaces of areas like public showers, swimming pools and locker rooms. Plantar warts are contagious and so, sharing shoes and socks with others can spread it from one individual to another.

How to Get Rid of Plantar Warts

Getting rid of plantar warts permanently can be a little difficult, though not impossible. Most of the common treatments for plantar warts have been able to provide a temporary solution to this problem. Plantar wart removal is often time consuming and needs lots of patience, as the problem resurfaces after subsiding for sometime with proper treatment. The usual method for getting rid of plantar warts is to apply acid on them. Salicylic acid is most commonly used for this purpose. Daily application of salicyclic acid for at least four weeks can be beneficial in removing these painful warts. Salicyclic acid can be applied on the affected area either as a patch or as a solution. However, make sure that it does not come in contact with the surrounding healthy skin, as it can cause skin irritation. Also, use a pumice stone or nail file to remove the dead skin at regular intervals.

If you are wondering about how to get rid of stubborn plantar wart naturally without visiting a physician, the answer is the application of papya, pineapple and banana peel on the affected area. The enzymes found in these fruits help to dissolve warts without any side effects. Aloe vera, apple cider vinegar and a paste of castor oil and baking soda can also be used to serve this purpose.

An easy way of getting rid of plantar warts, is to apply duct tape on it. What you need to do is to apply a piece of duct tape on the affected area and keep it there for at least five to six days. After six days, remove it and the wash the area properly. Then, rub off the dead skin by using a pumice stone or nail file and again apply the duct tape. In this way, continue for few weeks, as it usually takes six weeks to completely remove the warts. However, this simple technique for plantar wart removal may also take about two months to completely remove them.

The medical treatment options for plantar wart include cryotherapy, immunotherapy and laser surgery. In laser surgery, laser beams are used for burning the wart, but the process can result in scarring of the skin. On the other hand, in cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is used to kill the virus by freezing the wart. The process has shown limited success, as it cannot kill the virus if it moves into the deeper layers of the skin. Immunotherapy concentrates on stimulating the immune system of an individual to fight against the virus and it is done by injecting antigen into the wart. However, many of these treatment options may not be able to remove plantar warts the first time and may require multiple sessions.

In addition to trying the simple treatment options for plantar wart removal, it is also important to visit a physician for proper diagnosis, as in many instances they look similar to calluses and corns. Besides this, if plantar warts are spreading and infecting the surrounding areas of the skin, even after taking sufficient care and protection, then it is time to consult your physician.