Wart Removal Ballarat
Address painful and uncomfortable warts safely with our holistic approach.
What are Warts?
Warts are growths on the skin caused by exposure to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). When they occur on the sole of the foot, they’re known as verruca or plantar warts. Although there are more than 100 different strains of HPV, only a few cause warts on the feet.
This skin condition often occurs on the heel, ball of the foot, and other weight-bearing areas, which may cause some pain or discomfort when standing or walking.
While they’re typically not a serious health concern, this pain and discomfort (along with their highly contagious nature) often lead people to look into seeing a podiatrist to have their warts removed.
Wart Symptoms
If you have developed a wart, some of the symptoms that you may experience include:
- A small, rough, grainy lesion on the foot
- A solid border around the lesion and dark spots in the centre
- Thickened skin (often with a yellowish appearance)
- Pain when squeezing the outside edges of the lesion
- Pain or discomfort when walking
Causes of Warts
HPV can be transmitted by both direct and indirect contact. This means that you can contract it through skin-to-skin contact (such as shaking hands) or by sharing surfaces, shoes, socks, or towels with someone who is infected.
As the virus thrives in warm, moist environments, it’s commonly found in communal areas like public change rooms and swimming pools.
While anyone can get a plantar wart, some factors may place you at increased risk:
- Having a weakened immune system
- Frequently walking barefoot in communal areas
- Poor foot health (including cuts, injuries, or fungal infections)
- Age (children and teenagers are more at risk due to increased exposure and still developing immune systems)
- Some chronic conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus)
Wart Removal and Treatment
While these growths will often go away on their own, many people prefer to explore wart removal and other treatments if they’re causing pain and discomfort.
Treatment options that your podiatrist may recommend include:
- SWIFT microwave therapy: a microwave signal is focused into the skin, rapidly heating the wart tissue to potentially resolve the infection.
- Silver nitrate: the wart is debrided to expose the blood supply before the chemical is applied in a bid to kick-start the body’s immune response.
- Salicylic acid: the wart is debrided, then this paste-like substance is applied to attempt to activate the body’s immune system.
- Cryotherapy: a freezing agent (usually liquid nitrogen) is applied to the wart. A blister may form, which should resolve in the days after.
- Needling: a sterile needle is used to puncture the wart and cause a little bleeding to stimulate the body’s immune response.
- Surgery: known as curettage, this is when the wart is surgically removed from the foot under local anaesthetic.
Depending on the size of the wart, how long the infection has been present, and the treatment option used, you may require several treatments to completely resolve the issue.
Your Wart Removal Questions Answered
While anyone can develop a wart if they come into contact with HPV, there are some things you can do that may prevent them. These include:
- Avoid walking barefoot in communal areas (like change rooms and showers)
- Keep your feet clean and dry
- Avoid direct contact with warts on other people
- Avoid picking or scratching at warts (as this can spread them to other parts of the body)
While over-the-counter wart treatments are available and some people do see success with them, we always recommend seeing a qualified podiatrist for removal.
Some people prefer to wait to see if their plantar wart will go away on its own; however, you should seek advice from a podiatrist if:
- It is causing pain or discomfort
- It keeps recurring
- You have multiple grouped together (known as mosaic warts)
- Over-the-counter treatments have been unsuccessful
Warts and corns can have a similar appearance, so getting the diagnosis right is important for proper treatment. The easiest way to tell is by squeezing the sides of the lesion; a corn won’t hurt, but a wart will.
Why Choose Ballarat Podiatrist ?
Patient Centred Care
No two patients are alike, so we take the time to tailor our treatment plans to your unique needs and health goals.
Experienced Team
Our podiatrists bring many years of experience to the table, so you can rest assured that your feet are in good hands.
Collaborative Approach
We have established partnerships with medical centres and organisations around Ballarat for continuity and accessibility of care.
Choose Experienced Podiatrists for Wart Removal
Plantar warts are nothing to be embarrassed about, nor should they be something you have to live with. Contact the team at Ballarat Podiatrist today, and together we can explore treatment options for resolving your stubborn wart and potentially preventing them from recurring in the future.
