A wart is a small growth on the skin that forms when the skin is infected by a virus. Warts can develop anywhere on the foot, but usually appear at the bottom of the foot (ground). Plantar warts occur most often in children, teens and seniors.

There are two types of plantar warts:

A solitary wart is a single wart. Often increases in size and may eventually multiply, forming warts "satellites" additional.

Mosaic warts are a cluster of several small warts growing closely together in one area. Mosaic warts are more difficult to treat than solitary warts.

You can have it if you experience pain in the ball of the foot area. Often painful corns can also occur in the underlying skin.

As we age, usually lose the layer of fat in this area of the foot, causing abnormal pressure and blows to the area. People with abnormally high arches or overweight people may also experience this type of pain.

The symptoms of a plantar wart may include:

• Thicker skin. Often a plantar wart resembles a callus because of its tough, thick tissue.
• Pain. Walking and standing can be painful. Press the sides of the wart may also cause pain.
• Small black dots. Often these appear on the surface of the wart. The dots are actually dried blood contained in the capillaries (small blood vessels).

Plantar warts grow deep in the skin. This growth usually comes on slowly, the wart starts small and grows over time.

To diagnose a plantar wart, the foot and ankle doctor examines the patient's foot and look for signs and symptoms of a wart.

Although plantar warts may eventually disappear on their own, most patients desire faster relief. The goal of treatment is to completely remove the wart.

To remove the wart, the foot and ankle doctor may use topical or oral treatments, laser therapy, cryotherapy (freezing), acid treatments or surgery.

Regardless of the treatment methods undertaken, it is important that the patient follow the doctor's instructions, including all home care and medication that has been prescribed, and follow-up visits to your doctor. Warts can recur and require additional treatment.

If no response to treatment may be necessary to perform additional diagnostic evaluation. In such cases, the doctor may perform a biopsy to rule out other possible causes of growth.

Although there are many folk remedies for warts, patients should be aware that these remedies have not been tested and may be dangerous. Patients should never try to remove a wart on their own. This can do more harm than good.