Anyone can develop plantar warts, but they’re especially common in children and teens. If you have warts and they interfere with your ability to exercise or do other daily activities, don’t wait to seek professional help. At Hunter Foot & Ankle Associates, PLLC, Roderick C. Hunter Jr., DPM, AACFAS, offers comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of plantar warts. To make an appointment at the practice in Plano, Texas, call the office today, or click the online booking feature.
Plantar warts are small, flesh-colored growths that form on the weight-bearing areas of your feet, like the balls and heels. They’re caused by a strain of HPV and develop when the virus enters your body through cracks or breaks in your skin.
Most plantar warts go away in response to at-home treatments. If you have diabetes or another circulatory issue, warts can increase your risk of more serious complications.
Symptoms of plantar warts include:
If you experience one or more of these issues, make an appointment at Hunter Foot & Ankle Associates, PLLC right away.
Anyone can experience plantar warts, but several factors may increase your risk, including:
To reduce the risk of plantar warts, Dr. Hunter recommends keeping your feet clean and dry, changing your shoes and socks daily, and not picking or scratching at warts.
To diagnose plantar warts, Dr. Hunter asks about your symptoms and examines your foot. He assesses the lesion(s) to determine their size, location, and number. Warts are visible to the naked eye, so observation is typically enough to make a diagnosis. If Dr. Hunter suspects another issue, he might take a biopsy and send it to a lab for analysis.
At Hunter Foot & Ankle Associates, PLLC, Dr. Hunter treats plantar warts using Swift® microwave therapy. Swift is an FDA-cleared device that uses targeted microwave energy to attack and destroy the virus, encouraging your body’s natural immune response.
The Swift protocol involves a series of three or four treatments spaced about a month apart. Each treatment lasts 5-10 minutes and requires no recovery period or downtime.
To get treatment for plantar warts, make an appointment at Hunter Foot & Ankle Associates, PLLC today. Call the office, or click the online scheduling tool.
