Have you ever noticed a strange growth on your foot and wondered what it might be? It could result from the HPV virus (human papillomavirus), which causes growths on your skin called warts.

There are many types of warts, but one of the most common is a plantar wart, which develops on the sole of your feet. Plantar warts can look different.

Sometimes, you could have one large wart. Other times, you might have clusters of smaller warts. The warts can appear on the surface of your skin, or they might be hidden, pushed down beneath thick layers of skin on the bottom of your foot by the pressure of your weight.

Regardless of what they look like, warts can be painful and make it uncomfortable to walk around. Board-certified podiatrist Jennifer Tauber, DPM, and the team at New Canaan Podiatry in New Canaan, Connecticut, know the frustration these warts may bring, and she has multiple treatment options to help you rid those pesky bumps and pains!

Why treatment for warts matters

Warts are a virus. This means you could wait for your warts to go away on their own as the virus runs its course. But this could take months or even years. And since this virus is highly contagious, you risk spreading it to other parts of your body or others.

If you’re ready to remove the pain and discomfort from warts and don’t want to spread the virus, our team at New Canaan Podiatry is ready to help. Our practice offers the latest innovations in wart treatments that let you say goodbye to warts for good.

A look at eight wart treatments

First, you can consider over-the-counter (OTC) wart medications you can buy at pharmacies and other stores. Most use salicylic acid in multiple forms, like gel, liquid, and patches. These OTC therapies can help but typically need patience and persistent care to remove the wart completely.

Your other options involve professional treatment. At New Canaan Podiatry, we offer multiple treatment options that are effective and timely.

Dr. Tauber recommends the treatment that works best for your personal needs. Here’s a look at seven additional treatment options for warts our practice provides:

• Prescription-strength salicylic acid ointments: A more potent version of OTC solutions for faster results
• Wart padding: Offers relief from pressure and friction, reducing pain
• Electrodesiccation and curettage: A procedure where the wart is dried up (desiccated), and then the surface skin is scraped away
• Pulsed-dye laser treatments: Targets blood vessels inside the wart, causing it to die
• Immunotherapy: Boosts your immune system to fight viral warts
• Liquid nitrogen freezing medicine (cryotherapy): Freezes the wart, causing it to fall off in time
• Swift® wart treatment: FDA-cleared technology using low-dose microwave energy to target the virus that causes warts by stimulating a natural immune response in your skin

These treatments are quick and painless. What’s more? Results show faster than OTC medicine, so you’ll be pain-free sooner! Dr. Tauber also discusses how to prevent wart outbreaks in the future so you can avoid the discomfort of warts in the future.

Ready to start your effective wart treatment today? Schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Tauber at New Canaan Podiatry today.