Do you have plantar warts on the bottom of your feet? While these warts may have started off much smaller, they could be growing in size, causing you to feel concerned about the condition of your feet. Although the warts typically do not cause too much pain at first, they can quickly spread, become larger, and eventually cause some discomfort. These warts are caused by the viral infection that is known as HPV. While they are not particularly dangerous, you may still want to know what you can do to remove the warts and then keep them from coming back again.
Salicylic Acid Treatment
One way for you to attempt to get rid of the plantar warts on your feet is to use salicylic acid at home. There is a step-by-step process you are going to need to follow if you choose to use this method of treatment to combat plantar warts. The first thing you are going to need to do is apply some petroleum jelly to the skin that surrounds any of the warts on your feet because you do not want to get any of the salicylic acid on the healthy skin. After applying the petroleum jelly with a cotton swab, take a separate cotton swab, dip it into the salicylic acid, and then carefully apply it to any of the warts that are on your feet.
You will need to give the salicylic acid some time to dry before you start walking around or putting on your shoes and socks, so make sure you have at least 10-15 minutes to sit down when you are applying this treatment to the bottom of your feet. Once the salicylic acid has dried, you can put on your socks and shoes and continue with the rest of your day. Some people like to place a protective bandage over the warts after applying the salicylic acid to make sure it sticks to the feet and does not rub off on the socks and shoes they are wearing.
The results from this treatment are not instant. You will need to apply the acid treatment once in the morning and once at night for several weeks to achieve the best results. While it does take time, this method has worked for many people, allowing them to effectively treat their plantar warts at home.
In-Office Nitrogen Treatment
If the salicylic acid treatment is not something you are interested in because you would prefer a treatment method that will help you see results at a faster pace, an in-office nitrogen treatment with the foot doctor may be the best solution to your problem with plantar warts. The foot doctor will use the liquid nitrogen to freeze the warts, ultimately getting them to fall off. The process does cause some discomfort, and you may need more than one treatment to get rid of all the plantar warts, but it all depends on how many you have and how big and deep they are. In-office nitrogen treatments are an effective method of treatment for plantar warts.
Preventing Plantar Warts
Once you no longer have warts, it is important to take some preventative measures to avoid dealing with them again in the future. Make sure you keep your shoes on when you are in public areas, including college showers, beach showers, and other areas where plenty of other people may be walking around barefoot and unknowingly spreading the viral infection. If you need to take a public shower, you should wear a pair of sandals and keep them on the entire time as a safety precaution.
If you have plantar warts, you can use a salicylic acid treatment at home or visit the foot doctor for an effective in-office nitrogen treatment. After you get rid of these warts, keep your feet protected by wearing shoes when you are in public places where other people may be walking around without shoes on their feet. Contact a foot doctor for more information.
