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Warts are small, sometimes painful growths that develop when skin comes in contact with the human papillomavirus. They are characterized by where they occur on the body and how they look. The five main kinds of warts are common warts, plantar warts, flat warts, filiform warts, and periungual warts. Although some of these growths may go away on their own, many do not and can spread to other parts of the body if they’re not treated.

How Do You Treat Warts?

wartsThere are a variety of ways that your foot doctor can treat warts. Two of the most popular approaches are freezing them off or burning them off. For more stubborn warts, your doctor may use laser surgery to target the wart tissue and destroy it.

If you want to avoid surgery, your doctor may recommend a chemical called cantharidin instead. This blistering agent will cause a blister to develop underneath the wart, and when the blister dies, your doctor can remove part of the wart with it.

How Do You Prevent Warts?

The best way to prevent warts is to wash your hands regularly and take good care of your skin. Cracked or damaged skin is more vulnerable to the virus that causes warts, so moisturize often and protect any open wounds, especially when you go out in public.

If your feet seem more prone to warts than the rest of your body, make an effort to keep them dry and clean at all times. You should also avoid walking around barefoot where the virus might be present, like in the gym locker room or at the public pool.

 

If you have warts on your feet, turn to Dr. Joseph G. DiPrima of Advanced Foot Care Center of Rochester in Monroe County, NY, for treatment and prevention. Visit his website to learn more about the foot conditions he treats, including hammertoe and plantar fasciitis, or call (585) 249-0020 to make an appointment today. 

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