Our Services / Warts

Warts are a common but annoying problem that can affect your quality of life and mobility. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments that remove them, providing lasting relief. At NYC Footcare PC, foot and ankle surgeons Paul Drucker, DPM, Jarret Drucker, DPM, AACFAS, and the team specialize in diagnosing and treating warts. The practice has multiple offices on the Upper East Side at 60th and 70th Street in New York City, with additional offices in Jamaica, Queens, and Plainview, New York, and a surgical center in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Schedule your appointment by calling the nearest office or booking online today.

What are warts?

Warts are small, hard growths that form on the weight-bearing areas of your feet, like the balls and heels. They occur when a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV) enters your body through breaks, cuts, or scratches in your skin.

Warts aren’t typically a serious problem. Most go away on their own over time. Even so, if you experience foot pain and it affects your ability to work or perform other activities, seek professional help.

What are the symptoms of warts?

Symptoms of warts include:

• Small, skin-colored growths on the bottoms of your feet
• Hard, thickened skin
• Pain when walking or standing
• Tenderness

Warts also have a visible black dot in the middle, called the seed. The seed is a group of small, clotted blood vessels.

When should I see a foot and ankle specialist about warts?

Make an appointment with the team at NYC Footcare PC if you develop one (or more) warts and they bleed, change color, or affect your mobility. That’s especially true if you’ve treated the wart multiple times and it continues to come back, or you have an underlying health problem that affects blood flow to your feet (like diabetes).

Who is at risk of experiencing warts?

Anyone can experience a wart, but several factors may increase your risk, including:

• Being a child or teenager
• Having a weakened immune system
• Having a history of plantar warts
• Walking around barefoot in public areas like saunas or locker rooms

Without intervention and treatment, warts may affect your posture and gait. Over time, that might result in back pain, joint pain, or other musculoskeletal issues.

How are warts diagnosed?

At NYC Footcare PC, the team diagnoses warts during an in-office visit.

First, your provider reviews your medical records and asks you to take your shoes and socks off. Next, they examine your warts, assessing their size, shape, and location. If your provider suspects the lesion is something other than a wart, they might also take a biopsy and send it to a laboratory for additional testing.

After gaining the necessary information, your NYC Footcare PC provider develops a custom treatment plan.

How are warts treated?

The team at NYC Footcare PC offers several treatments for warts, including:

Prescription peeling medication (salicylic acid)

If you have several small warts, your provider might recommend treatment with prescription peeling medication. Salicylic acid works by removing your warts one layer at a time. The medication also stimulates your immune system, reducing the risk of future recurrence.

Cryotherapy

If you have several large warts that don’t respond to prescription peeling medication, the team might recommend cryotherapy. Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze your warts. Freezing them kills the virus and causes your skin to blister and peel off.

The team at NYC Footcare PC also offers more specialized treatment for warts, including immune therapy, minor surgery, and laser treatment.

To receive treatment for warts, make an appointment at NYC Footcare PC by calling the nearest office or booking online today.