Why You Shouldn't Remove a Wart Yourself

You look down and notice an unsightly wart on your feet or toes. How long has that been there? And, more importantly, how can you safely and effectively get rid of it?

It’s easy to develop warts on your feet, medically known as plantar warts. But getting rid of the problem can become challenging without the right approach. And if you try too hard to remove a wart by yourself, you can end up with a wound or injury.

At Town Center Foot & Ankle, expert podiatrist Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer, aka “Dr. Ike,” treats plantar warts for new and existing patients at our Kingwood, Texas, office. 

Why shouldn’t you try to cut off a wart by yourself? Here’s what you need to know about your risks and options for plantar wart care.

The causes of plantar warts

The part of plantar warts you see with the naked eye might not represent the true extent of the issue. Warts result from a viral infection with a strain of human papillomavirus (HPV). That’s why warts are so contagious and easy to contract. All it takes is a little break in your skin where the virus can enter.

Once the virus is in your body, your skin reacts, building up keratin protein to create the lumpy part of a wart. You’re most likely to develop warts in the load-bearing parts of your feet, but they can appear anywhere. 

The visible wart may look like a single growth, or a cluster of growths, and you may see a small black dot in the center of any growth. Over time, warts can grow larger and become more painful.

You might be tempted to try to remove the wart yourself. But many handed-down home remedies for wart treatment don’t eradicate the underlying viral infection. And if you try too zealously to cut the wart away, you can end up creating an injury to your skin or foot, producing bleeding and resulting in infection risk.

Professional treatment support for getting rid of warts

Instead of trying to remove a plantar wart on your own, contact Dr. Ike at Town Center Foot & Ankle for professional examination and care. That way, you know your treatment will work and be safe for you and your foot health.

You may benefit from topical prescription medications to eradicate warts. 

If your wart has grown large or is deeply callused, you may need surgical care to pare away the external buildup in order to expose and treat its core.

If you’re embarrassed by a wart on your foot or are experiencing discomfort related to one, save time and hassle by starting treatment with professional podiatry care. It’s particularly important to seek medical treatment for warts if you’re living with a condition that weakens your immune system or if you have diabetes.

With the right care, foot warts are easy to treat. To get started, call us at Town Center Foot & Ankle today, or request an appointment online.