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Condition guide

Plantar warts

Plantar warts, or verrucas, are growths on the sole of the foot caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Some disappear on their own within months, while others hang around for years, spread into clusters or come back after treatment. Understanding why helps you choose the right approach.

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plantar warts

What to know

Key points about Plantar warts

  • Why some warts are stubborn

    A wart clears when your immune system recognises the virus. The virus sits in the top layer of skin, where it can stay hidden for a long time, especially in adults. Warts that have been present for years, large mosaic warts (clusters) and warts under thick callus usually take longer to clear. Picking, cutting or filing a wart can spread the virus to nearby skin.

  • Making sure it is a wart

    Corns, callus and some other skin lesions can look like warts. Warts usually interrupt the skin lines, show small black dots (tiny blood vessels) and hurt more when squeezed from the sides. A podiatrist can confirm the diagnosis, often by gently reducing the hard skin. A lesion that bleeds easily, changes colour or shape, or doesn’t respond as expected should be reviewed, and occasionally a biopsy is needed.

  • Treatment at Shellharbour Podiatry

    • In-clinic chemical treatment, at both our Shellharbour Village and Shellharbour City clinics: the hard skin is reduced and a treatment agent, usually salicylic acid, is applied under a protective dressing. Small warts often need at least four treatments.
    • SWIFT microwave therapy, at our Shellharbour Village clinic: microwave energy is applied to the wart for a few seconds at a time to prompt the immune system to respond. No dressings are needed, and a course is usually three to four sessions a few weeks apart. It is often considered for stubborn warts.

    Response varies and clearance can’t be guaranteed, so we review progress with you. Read about SWIFT therapy at Shellharbour Village.

Watch and learn

Video guide

Straight answers

Frequently asked questions about Plantar warts

Why does my wart keep coming back?

A wart can return if some infected skin remains after treatment, or you can pick up the virus again from a shared floor or from another wart on your own body. Completing the full course, treating all the warts at once and protecting your feet in shared wet areas lowers the chance of it coming back.

How do I stop warts spreading at home?

Don’t share towels, socks or shoes, wear thongs in the shower if someone in the house has warts, and wash the shower floor regularly. Avoid picking or filing the wart, and use a separate file or pumice stone for that foot if you need one.

Should I try a chemist treatment first?

For a small wart in a healthy adult, a chemist treatment used carefully can be a reasonable first step. Applied too widely, the acid can burn healthy skin. Don’t use home treatments if you live with diabetes, have reduced feeling or circulation in your feet, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. See a podiatrist instead.

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