Plantar warts are not a serious health risk but they can be incredibly painful or bothersome. Experts at the Mayo Clinic explain that the warts grow on the soles of the feet due to a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The plantar wart develops where a person places the most pressure on the soles of the feet when walking or running. This includes the heels or the balls of the feet. Plantar warts appear like small, fleshy, grainy bumps. Treatment of the warts is not necessary but many patients opt to treat them to remove the discomfort and/or pain.
Freezing
A doctor can treat plantar warts by attempting to freeze them off, which is called cryotherapy, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. This is done by applying liquid nitrogen to the wart. This treatment is not usually painful and can be effective after numerous treatments. Liquid nitrogen works by causing a blister to form around the wart that eventually becomes dead skin. The dead skin will slough off over time, removing layers of the wart.
Cantharidin
Cnatharidin is a chemical extracted from a blister beetle, says the Mayo Clinic. This chemical can be applied to the wart with salicylic acid to form a large blister over the wart. A bandage is placed over the site after treatment. In about a week, a doctor can clip away the dead part of the wart that formed after the blister burst.
Surgery
Minor surgery is another method of removing a plantar wart. A doctor can insert an electric needle into the wart to help destroy and cut the wart away, according to the experts at the Mayo Clinic. This process is known as electrodesiccation and curettage. This method can leave a scar if done incorrectly. Another method of surgery consists of using a laser to eliminate the wart. This type of surgery is expensive, painful and usually has to be repeated before it is effective.
Immunotherapy
There are two main types of immunotherapy that can be effective in treating warts. The first is an injection that a doctor can administer that works by boosting a patient's immune system. By provoking an immune response, the body may naturally fight off the wart, which is caused by a viral infection. A similar type of immunotherapy is a prescription cream that is applied to the wart daily for several weeks, or as prescribed by a doctor.
