Painful and unsightly warts are very common on the feet. Warts result from an infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which about 100 known strains exist. Certain strains have a predilection for infecting the feet. This may result in a small lesion that our body’s immune system can deal with and requires no intervention. Some, however, are more virulent and can produce large lesions that spread to multiple warts on both feet.

The wart typically gains access to the skin via cuts, cracks and scratches on the feet, and is more easily spread in moist, warm environments – that’s why swimming pools are often thought to be where the infection starts.

Solutions available – Treatment can involve various interventions and in some larger lesions multiple modalities may be required. Simple trimming and home application of mild caustics/acids may be advised, with weekly visits to the podiatrist for more aggressive trimming, in conjunction with the application of stronger acids or freezing.

In foot warts that are resistant to previous treatments, a minor surgical procedure can be carried out where the foot wart is curettaged under local anaesthetic or sedation.

View below additional treatments offered at Bio Podiatry. Our podiatrists can provide you with information about all these options. A discussion is always carried out on the first consultation so that an informed decision can be made.