How are plantar warts diagnosed?

A doctor can diagnose a plantar wart by examining your foot. A plantar wart has a distinct appearance; it is a small, bumpy growth, often with tiny black dots on the surface. In rare cases, your doctor may remove part of growth and have it biopsied to rule out skin cancer.     

Usually, your doctor will only need to look at your plantar wart to diagnose it. If they are unsure, your doctor might use a scalpel to try to decrease the size of the lump, which may cause a very tiny bit of bleeding. Occasionally, a doctor might do a biopsy of the wart. With a biopsy, a small portion of the wart will be shaved off for review under a microscope.