What happens to a plantar wart if left untreated?

09 Jun What happens to a plantar wart if left untreated?

Have you recently begun to develop a plantar wart?  If you’ve been thinking about leaving it unchecked in hopes that it will go away on its own, you’re likely making a mistake.  At Great Neck Family Foot Care, our team knows the issues that can come from doing this.  To learn more about what can happen if you leave a plantar wart untreated, continue reading.

What Is a Plantar Wart?

Before diving into what can happen if it is left untreated, Dr. Hochstein, our expert podiatrist, would like to provide more information on what a plantar wart actually is.  A plantar wart is a small growth that typically occurs on your heels.  This growth develops when the HPV virus finds a way to enter your skin.  Concerning the growth, additional symptoms that point to the development of a plantar wart include:

• Hard, thickened skin that forms over a “well-defined” spot on the foot.
• Black pinpoints that look like seeds in the middle of the growth.
• Suffering from pain on your heel when walking or standing.

When Left Unchecked:

As previously stated, leaving a plantar wart untreated can lead to serious issues.  Plantar warts are highly contagious.  Once one develops, if left unchecked, it can quickly spread to other parts of your foot.  Soon, you’ll have multiple warts to deal with instead of just one.  Additionally, the warts or area around them may become infected, leading to serious issues.

Treatment For Plantar Warts:  

Here at Great Neck Family Foot Care, our team is well versed in dealing with issues such as plantar warts.  Our podiatrist Dr. Hochstein can perform a full evaluation on your foot to help determine which intervention method will yield the best results.  Depending on the severity of your plantar wart, treatment methods can include:

• Prescription-strength wart peeling medication.
• Cryotherapy to freeze the wart.
• Laser treatment.
• Swift Technology.
• In severe cases, surgery.  

Contact Us:

While you may only view plantar warts as an aesthetic issue, that is no excuse to let one linger.  A failure to receive prompt treatment can lead to more warts forming or more serious issues taking place.  To make sure you avoid this from happening, contact Dr. Hochstein here at Great Neck Family Foot Care today.