What it is
A plantar wart is a small, rough growth on the bottom of the foot. It is caused by certain types of HPV, which enter the skin through tiny breaks or cuts. These are not the same HPV types usually linked to genital warts. Having one is common and says nothing about how clean you are.
Because we stand and walk on the soles of our feet, plantar warts often grow inward under pressure instead of rising up. This can make them feel like a stone in the shoe or a tender spot when walking. Some people notice tiny dark pinpoint dots in the growth, which are often small clotted blood vessels. Many people ask about black dots in a plantar wart, and a clinician can tell you what you are seeing.
The virus tends to spread in warm, damp places such as pool decks, locker rooms and shared showers. It can also spread by touching or scratching a wart, or by sharing towels or footwear. Some people seem more prone than others, and warts can sometimes go away on their own while others linger. Results vary, and warts can return.
How it’s traditionally been approached
People have approached plantar wart removal in many ways. Some choose to watch and wait, since warts sometimes fade without treatment. Others use over-the-counter products, most often ones containing salicylic acid, which are applied to soften the thickened skin over time. Always follow the package directions.
In a clinic, a provider may offer other options, such as freezing, careful removal of surface skin, prescription topical medicines, or minor procedures. Which of these is considered depends on the wart, the person's health and the provider's judgment. The regulatory status of specific prescription products can change, so it is reasonable to ask your provider about the current FDA status of anything suggested.
Home care calls for some caution. Please do not cut, burn or dig out a growth at home, as this can cause injury, infection or spread. People with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or a weakened immune system should ask a provider before treating a foot wart at home. No approach is guaranteed to cure a wart or the virus, or to keep it from coming back.
How the right provider may help
A podiatrist or dermatologist can look at the spot and help tell whether it is a plantar wart or something else, such as a corn, callus or another skin change. A plantar wart vs corn question comes up often because the two can look alike. A corn is a patch of thickened skin from pressure or friction. A wart is caused by a virus. Only an exam can sort this out.
A visit often includes questions about when you first noticed the spot, whether it hurts, your health history and your daily footwear and activities. The provider will look closely at the area and may talk through options with you. Good questions to ask include: What do you think this is? What are my options, including waiting? What are the possible side effects? Might it return? What should I do about shoes, socks and shared spaces?
Finding a podiatrist for plantar warts is one route, and a dermatologist or primary care provider can also help. A provider is especially worth seeing if the spot is painful, spreading, or hasn't improved, or if you have diabetes or circulation concerns. A provider may help you feel more informed and more comfortable, but outcomes are never promised.
The whole-person view
Body, mind and stress are connected. A sore spot on the foot can change how you walk, how active you feel and how you feel about summer sandals or the pool. Some people feel embarrassed or frustrated by a wart that lingers, and stress and poor sleep can add to that load. Looking at the whole person is a kind and reasonable way to think about care.
If worry or tension around your health is weighing on you, body-based support such as Somatic Experiences may be one option to explore. If you would like to talk through stress or self-consciousness, Therapists.plus can help you find talk therapy. These are complements to, not substitutes for, an exam by a licensed clinician.
Somatic Experiences: nervous system regulation →Therapists.plus: anxiety panic and ocd →
Keep in mind
- A growth that is changing, bleeding, itching, irregular in shape or color, or not healing should be checked by a dermatologist for skin cancer, and should not be self-treated. The ABCDEs of melanoma are only a general guide, not a way to diagnose yourself.
- Not every spot on the foot is a wart, so see a licensed clinician for an exam before treating anything, especially if you have diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or a weakened immune system.
- Over-the-counter wart products are not meant for the face or genital area, and you should never cut, burn or dig out a growth at home.
- Warts.ai is educational only and does not give medical advice. For emergencies call 911, and in a crisis call or text the 988 Lifeline.
Guides in this topic
Provider types
Plantar warts (feet)
plantar wart evaluation · debridement and treatment · footwear and pressure advice
Cryotherapy (freezing)
liquid nitrogen cryotherapy · repeat freezing sessions
Laser wart removal
pulsed-dye laser · CO2 laser · laser for stubborn warts
Immunotherapy for warts
topical immunotherapy · intralesional immunotherapy · options for recurrent warts
Frequently asked questions
What is a plantar wart?
A plantar wart is a common skin growth on the sole of the foot caused by an HPV virus. It often feels tender because walking pushes it inward. A licensed clinician can confirm what a spot is.
What is the difference between a plantar wart and a corn?
A plantar wart is caused by a virus, while a corn is thickened skin from pressure or friction. They can look similar, so an exam by a podiatrist or dermatologist is the reliable way to tell them apart. Treating the wrong one at home may not help.
What are the black dots in a plantar wart?
The black dots in a plantar wart are often tiny clotted blood vessels in the growth. They can be a clue a clinician looks for, but they should not be used to diagnose yourself. Any spot that is bleeding, changing or not healing should be checked by a dermatologist.
How do you get rid of plantar warts?
There is no single approach that works for everyone, and no treatment is guaranteed to cure a wart or keep it from returning. Options traditionally include watching and waiting, over-the-counter products, or clinic-based care. A licensed clinician can help decide what is appropriate for you after an exam.
Should I see a podiatrist for plantar warts?
A podiatrist is a reasonable choice for plantar warts, and a dermatologist or primary care provider can also help. It is especially wise to be seen if the spot is painful, spreading or not improving, or if you have diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or a weakened immune system.
How do plantar warts spread?
Plantar warts spread through contact with the virus, often on damp surfaces like pool decks and locker rooms, or through touching or scratching a wart. Wearing sandals in shared showers and keeping towels and footwear to yourself are common precautions. Warts can still appear or return despite care.
Educational resource. Warts.ai shares general information and connects people with independent providers. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.