What are the treatment options for plantar warts?

There are several ways to get rid of plantar warts. The most common is by freezing them (cryotherapy) with liquid nitrogen. Cryotherapy may require several visits to your primary care doctor or dermatologist. Other treatments include burning (electro surgery), often combined with curettage, a procedure in which the wart is scraped off with a sharp instrument. Another option is “painting” plantar warts with the compound cantharidin, which causes a blister to form under the wart; a week or so later, the dead wart can be removed. In some cases, your doctor may be able to cut the wart out, a process called excision. There are several other treatments as well. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you.     

One favorite remedy for mild plantar warts involves duct tape. Cover the warts tightly with it for a week, then peel it off; the warts usually follow. There are also effective over-the-counter treatments, such as salicylic acid.

If your warts aren't mild; you need to see a dermatologist, who has several weapons of wart destruction:

• applying cantharidin, which creates a blister under the wart, allowing it to be snipped away
• freezing off the wart (cryotherapy)
• burning it off (electrosurgery)
• scraping it off with a tiny scalpel
• zapping it with a laser
• treating it with a drug that prods your immune system to attack the wart virus

There are several treatments available for plantar warts. Some, such as use of acidic or chemical wart removers, can be done at home. Others, including surgical or laser treatments and cryogenic freezing must be performed by a doctor or podiatrist in their office.

There are many treatment options available for plantar warts. Over-the-counter options include salicylic acid and cryotherapy (freezing) products. Some people have successfully treated warts using duct tape. For more persistent warts, your doctor can prescribe medication or do a procedure that may involve cutting, burning, or freezing the wart.