Those Rough Spots on Your Feet Might Be Plantar Warts… Here’s What You Can Try at Home to Help Treat Them
Not every rough or hard spot on the foot is just a callus. Plantar warts can develop on the soles of the feet and may sometimes look like thickened, hardened skin.
Common signs can include:
* A rough, grainy spot on the sole of the foot
* Tiny black dots within the lesion
* Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
* A growth that interrupts the normal lines of the skin
What You Can Try at Home
For adults and older children, over-the-counter salicylic acid treatments are commonly used for plantar warts. Follow the product instructions carefully, and avoid applying it to healthy surrounding skin.
Soaking the foot in warm water and gently filing away softened dead skin with a dedicated emery board or pumice stone can also help the treatment work more effectively. Do not share the file or pumice stone with anyone else.
Avoid cutting, picking, or burning the wart yourself, as this can cause injury or spread the virus to other areas.
If the spot is painful, keeps growing, bleeds, changes appearance, or you are unsure whether it is actually a wart, it is best to have it checked by a healthcare professional. People with diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced sensation in their feet should seek medical advice before attempting treatment at home.
