And if you’ve had a plantar wart for a while, you might feel more self-conscious about it when wearing summer shoes or spending time with others at pools or the beach.
But don’t be fooled by common myths about these growths on the soles of your feet. The wrong at-home treatment may damage the skin on your feet, and the problem wart won’t go away, either. How do you know what’s fact and what’s fiction?
At Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood, Texas, we know the facts about plantar warts. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer keeps track of common plantar wart myths, so he can advise patients about what to do, and what not to do, for a troublesome wart.
Many of the myths around plantar warts involve at-home treatments. But when you try the wrong treatments, you only end up frustrated. For example, does apple cider vinegar work to get rid of warts?
Plantar warts occur due to a viral infection in your epidermal tissue. Until you get rid of the viral infection, you can’t get rid of the wart. Washing the outer layers of your skin with vinegar may remove surface buildup, but won’t address the cause of the wart.
Using vinegar for warts is a myth, not an effective form of treatment.
Another persistent myth about plantar wart treatment suggests that cutting the wart off from air flow with duct tape will make it suffocate and go away.
This method won’t work. Plantar warts don’t depend on air flow and, in fact, tap into your bloodstream’s oxygen resources. Save yourself the skin irritation, and don’t cover plantar warts with duct tape.
Many myths about plantar warts describe at-home treatments that won’t work, but these warts nearly always require some form of treatment to go away. If you ignore plantar warts, they can stay with you for a long time and even become more extensive.
Over time, plantar warts can grow, deepen, or spread. The pain and discomfort may affect your gait. You can also pass the contagious virus on to others.
One reason some people delay seeking a podiatrist’s care for warts is the myth that plantar warts always require surgical treatment. At Town Center Foot & Ankle, we recommend starting with the least invasive treatment that’s likely to work for you.
Some severe cases benefit from excision surgery or laser treatment. In most cases, though, you can rely on other types of care. Cryotherapy (freezing) often works well for warts, and we also provide topical medications containing active ingredients like salicylic acid.
When you need to eradicate foot warts, turn to the experts for the facts. To schedule a consultation, call us today at Town Center Foot & Ankle in Kingwood, Texas, or click here to request an appointment.
