Foot warts are a common condition caused by a contagious virus that works its way into your skin through tiny cracks and wounds. These unsightly growths can cause pain and discomfort—especially when they develop on areas of the feet that support your weight.

Although foot warts are common, that doesn’t mean you need to live with them. Board-certified podiatrist Jennifer Tauber, DPM, and the team at New Canaan Podiatry in New Canaan, Connecticut, banish foot warts using different treatments—including cryotherapy to freeze off warts once and for all.

Here’s a closer look at why you get warts on your feet and how cryotherapy can help.

Why do I have warts on my feet?

Foot warts develop because of a common virus called HPV (human papillomavirus). Although warts aren’t a life-threatening condition, they can be uncomfortable when they grow on your feet.

These warts, called plantar warts, grow on the bottom of your feet. You might have a cluster or warts or one larger wart. Sometimes they push below the surface of your skin, making it painful when you walk or stand on your feet.

While anyone can get plantar warts, some factors increase your risk of developing these pesky growths, including:

• Having direct contact with someone who has plantar warts
• Having had plantar warts before
• Walking barefoot in areas where HPV thrives (e.g., swimming pools; locker rooms)
• Being a child, teenager, or person with a weakened immune system

You can minimize your risk of getting plantar warts by keeping your feet clean, wearing protective footwear in public areas, and avoiding contact with warts—including washing your hands after touching your own wart.

How does freezing warts work?

Warts eventually go away on their own. But it can take years for touch plantar warts to resolve without help. And sometimes, new warts pop up in the meantime when your skin gets reinfected with the HPV virus.

At New Canaan Podiatry, Dr. Tauber uses cryotherapy to get rid of your warts. This treatment uses liquid nitrogen to freeze plantar warts on your feet. You’re a good candidate for cryotherapy if:

• Over-the-counter treatments haven’t worked
• You want to quickly treat your plantar wart
• You have lighter skin (darker skin may scar)
• You’re an adult or older child

Cryotherapy is a quick treatment. Most plantar warts get 3-4 applications of liquid nitrogen, with each application lasting 20-30 seconds. You can expect a very cold sensation, and your skin may feel numb.

Once the cryotherapy is complete, your skin may feel tender for a day. Sometimes a small blister forms over the treatment area. If this happens, don’t pick at or pop the blister. Eventually, a scab forms and falls off after about a week.

One cryotherapy treatment is typically enough for smaller plantar warts, but large warts may need several cryotherapy treatments spaced 2-3 weeks apart. Dr. Tauber may recommend applying salicylic acid between freezing the wart for best results.

Freezing plantar warts can be an effective way to get rid of your warts once and for all. To get started, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Tauber at New Canaan Podiatry.