What are warts, and how do I get rid of them?

Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus, warts are a terrible thing to find after a nice swim at the pool.

HPV can enter your skin through open wounds or even little scratches and abrasions created by, for example, simply walking on rough poolside non-slip tiles or dry skin. Having skin that’s too moist or too dry can also weaken the skin’s natural barrier against infection and make you more vulnerable to viruses.

While warts on the face and hands can project outwards, those which occur on the bottom of the foot are flattened by pressure from walking and are covered with hard skin. These warts can become very large and quickly spread to others, so starting treatment early is essential.

At Family Podiatry Centre, we employ effective clinical treatments including freezing and electrodessication (burning), as well as specialized chemical agents that destroy the warts and radiosurgery. However, foot warts are still very difficult to treat, and they may recur even after the initial treatment. Undergoing proper clinical treatments reduce the chance of recurrence greatly, especially with high-tech solutions like radiosurgery. We highly recommend booking an appointment with us to get rid of your warts, and skip the home treatment.