What do plantar warts look like on feet?
Mia Lopez
Updated on February 24, 2026
They appear as thick, rough, callus-like thickenings on the soles of the feet. In addition, plantar warts often have multiple small black "dots" at the surface, which are actually tiny blood vessels. Plantar warts are usually tender.
What does a plantar wart look like early on?
Plantar wart signs and symptoms include: A small, rough growth on the bottom of your foot, usually at the base of the toes or on the ball or heel. On brown and Black skin, the growth may be lighter than unaffected skin. Hard, thickened skin (callus) over a spot on the skin, where a wart has grown inward.How do you get rid of plantar warts on your feet?
Treatment
- Freezing medicine (cryotherapy). Cryotherapy is done in a clinic and involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, either with a spray or a cotton swab. ...
- Stronger peeling medicine (salicylic acid). Prescription-strength wart medications with salicylic acid work by removing a wart a layer at a time.
How do I know if my wart is a plantar wart?
Plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet. Unlike other warts, plantar warts grow into your skin, not out of it. You can tell you have a plantar wart if you notice what appears to be a small hole in the bottom of your foot that is surrounded by hardened skin. Plantar warts can make walking uncomfortable.Are plantar warts an STD?
These kinds of HPV are spread during sexual contact. (Other types of HPV cause common warts like hand warts and plantar warts on the feet — but these aren't sexually transmitted.)Do I have a Plantar Wart on my foot?
What does plantar wart look like?
Plantar warts often look like circular spots of thick, callused skin. These spots will typically have tiny black dots on the surface, which are actually bits of dried blood. Plantar warts are usually flat and grow inwards as pressure from walking is applied to them. This often leads to pain.Does a wart on my foot mean I have HPV?
Cause of Foot WartsPlantar warts are caused by HPV or Human Papillomavirus. This particular virus may enter your body through breaks or tiny cuts on the bottom of your feet. When skin cells become infected with HPV, it makes the cells grow quicker, resulting in the formation of warts.
Are plantar warts contagious by touch?
You should avoid touching and picking at a plantar wart. This can increase your risk for the virus to spread to other areas of your foot or hand. However, you generally don't need to worry about plantar warts spreading to other areas of your body. The virus will only spread to other areas with similar skin.What does a plantar callus look like?
The skin of a plantar callus is gray or yellowish. The skin may also feel hard, rough, dry, and flaky. It may be painful when direct pressure is applied to the area. Plantar calluses can be large, covering a wide span of the heel or the ball of the foot.How do you get rid of a planters wart at home?
Plantar wart home treatment
- Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar continues to be studied for a wide range of health uses, including possible wart removal. ...
- Duct tape. One way to gradually get rid of plantar warts is by using duct tape. ...
- Salicylic acid. ...
- Tea tree oil. ...
- Milk thistle. ...
- Iodine. ...
- OTC freezing sprays.
How do you get rid of a plantar wart overnight?
HOW TO USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- Dilute two parts ACV with one-part water.
- Soak the cotton ball in the solution.
- Put the cotton ball on the wart directly.
- Cover the area with a tape or bandage for several hours (probably overnight)
- Remove and discard the cotton ball and bandage.
- Repeat the process until the wart breaks off.
Can you pull the seed out of a wart?
You may be able to remove the outer layer, but the seed of the wart is deep in the sole of your foot and it will come back again. Over-the counter wart removers can actually do more harm than good. They contain acids and chemicals that destroy the skin they touch.Can you cut out a planters wart?
Whatever you do, do not try to cut off a plantar wart yourself because you may injure yourself and cuts in your skin allow the warts to spread.How do you tell if it's a wart or callus?
The differences between calluses and wartsWhen you have a callus, you'll see the lines of your skin continuing in the growth. Warts do not have skin lines and appear more separate from the rest of your skin. They can also have black or red dots on the growth from the infection.