When to get help right away
If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
Warning signs for this page will be added after our doctor reviews it.
What they look and feel like
Plantar warts often grow on parts of the foot that take a lot of pressure, like the heel or the ball of the foot. You may notice:
- A small, rough, grainy bump on the bottom of your foot.
- Hard, thick skin over the spot, a bit like a callus.
- Tiny dark dots in the spot.
- Pain when you stand, walk, or squeeze the spot.
- A few warts close together.
A wart can look a lot like a corn or a callus. If you are not sure what it is, have it checked.
Common causes
Plantar warts are caused by a virus. Kids often pick them up at pools and locker rooms.
The virus can get in through tiny cuts or cracks in the skin. It spreads most easily in warm, damp places where people walk barefoot, like shared showers and pool decks. Adults get plantar warts too.
Not everyone who comes in contact with the virus gets a wart. A wart can also spread to other spots on your own foot.
For children, read about foot care for kids and families.
What you can try at home
These steps may help keep a wart from spreading:
- Leave it alone. Do not cut, pick, or dig at a wart.
- Wash your hands after you touch it.
- Cover your feet in locker rooms, pool areas, and shared showers. Sandals or shower shoes work well.
- Keep your feet clean and dry. Change your socks if they get damp.
- Do not share towels, socks, or shoes.
Some people try store-bought wart products. Follow the label. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or numb feet, check with your doctor before you use one.
When to see us
Make an appointment if:
- You have a wart that hurts, spreads, or does not go away.
- You are not sure the spot is a wart.
- The spot bleeds, or changes in color or shape.
- A wart keeps coming back after you have tried home care.
If you have diabetes or poor circulation, do not wait on foot pain. Learn about diabetic foot care.
How we treat it
Your doctor will build a plan around your feet, your work, and your activities.
Which treatments we offer for plantar warts, and at which office, will be confirmed by the clinic.
There is more than one way to treat a plantar wart. Your doctor will talk with you about the options that fit you. Some warts take more than one visit.
What a visit looks like
- We listen. Your doctor asks when you first noticed the spot, whether it hurts, and what you have tried.
- We examine your foot. We look closely at the spot and the skin around it.
- You leave with a plan. You will know what to do at home and when to come back.
New here? Read what to expect at your first visit and fill out your new patient forms ahead of time.
Questions people ask
Are plantar warts contagious?
Yes, the virus can spread. It spreads most easily in warm, damp places where people walk barefoot. Covering the wart and wearing shower shoes in shared spaces can help protect others.
Is it a wart or a callus?
They can look alike. A callus is thick skin from pressure. A wart is caused by a virus and may have tiny dark dots. Your doctor can tell the difference at a visit.
Will a wart go away on its own?
Some go away on their own, but others spread or keep coming back.
If a wart hurts or bothers you, it is fine to have it checked instead of waiting.
Do I need a referral?
Some insurance plans need a referral and some do not. Check with your plan, or call us at (541) 385-7129 and we can help you find out.
See the insurance plans we accept.
This page is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own feet, talk with your doctor.
Reviewed by: doctor name to be confirmed. Last reviewed: date to be confirmed.