Will Foot Warts Go Away On Their Own?

Plantar warts, also known as verrucae in the health field, are rough, circular masses that develop on the feet. They’re a widespread problem affecting both kids and adults, and are caused by the HPV virus. They can also be quite frustrating when they spread, or just from being challenging to get rid of. If you’re wondering if you have a wart, look for:

• Little black dots in the centre of the wart
• A rough, uneven, granular appearance in the wart tissue
• A raised or thicker appearance compared to the surrounding skin
• Pain if you squeeze the wart from side to side with your fingers
• The lines of your skin (called striations) that go around the wart, not through it

Many people leave their plantar warts alone, patiently waiting in the hopes they’ll self-resolve on their own. And as plantar warts do go away over time (which can range from weeks to years), this approach is fine for those whose warts aren’t causing them any issues, and they’re not worried about spreading the virus to family members. 

The problem is that for those people whose warts are interfering with their quality of life, whether that’s from their location over the bones at the heel or forefoot that makes it uncomfortable or painful to walk, or for those who feel distressed by their unsightly appearance or that have concerns over the warts spreading, waiting an unspecified period during which the warts may first grow bigger just doesn’t cut it.

So what should you know about plantar warts, and what can you do to make them go away faster - or at least relieve your symptoms? Here’s what you should know about getting rid of your plantar warts.

Will Plantar Warts Self-Resolve?

If you are currently living with warts and are wondering if they can disappear without any professional care, then yes! They can. As a virus causes foot warts, once the body recognises the foreign viral cells, it will activate your natural internal defence mechanisms (immune response) to clear the viral cells and, hence, the wart.

The problem lies in it being almost impossible to tell when this will happen, given that the wart hasn’t been a priority for your body so far. With warts, the virus tends to evade immune detection or triggers a slow immune response. Hence, it’s not uncommon to take years for warts to self-resolve in children and longer in adults. We find this true from our personal experience, too - with many people remembering having warts throughout their childhood.

So how long does it take for a wart to go away on its own? Harvard Health reports that up to one-third of warts will resolve by the two-year mark. But this will be further influenced by the size and position of your warts, as well as your personal health, the exposure of the wart to friction and pressure - and many more aspects. This means it's a guessing game for most. And you need to decide whether you’re comfortable and happy playing the guessing game, or if other factors like immediate pain means you need to take steps to make yourself comfortable.

Is Your Wart Causing You Foot Pain?

Many decide whether to treat a wart or wait it out based on the discomfort or pain it causes and how it affects their quality of life. Warts can be painless if there’s no pressure on them, but if they are on weight-bearing areas like the heel or ball of the foot or where they rub against footwear (or against the other toes), they can be very painful. Walking and daily activities can then be uncomfortable. Warts may also develop a callus from pressure during walking, making the area more tender and sore. This often indicates that it’s time to see a podiatrist for treatment - and this is the stage that we see many of our patients here at Merivale Podiatry.

Warts Can Spread Within Households

Another reason many people choose to have their warts treated instead of playing the waiting game is due to the risk of the wart (virus) spreading to other household members. Foot warts are typically spread through direct contact with the wart and, hence, the viral cells. Viral cells enter the skin through tiny cuts or abrasions in the skin, allowing the virus to infect the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. Sharing personal items like towels, socks, or shoes with someone with plantar warts increases the risk of spreading the virus. Choosing to treat the virus instead of waiting it out means that the risk of it spreading is minimised.

Treating Plantar Warts

For those who don’t want to take the gamble on waiting months, years or longer for their warts to resolve, you have two options: book in to see your podiatrist for treatment or try treating your plantar warts at home. 

Podiatrist treatment for plantar warts

Our podiatrists have several treatment options for plantar warts available in our clinic, including those that use Upton’s paste due to recent research on its efficacy. With that said, not every treatment is best suited to everyone, and your podiatrist will present you with the treatment options best suited to your circumstances at your appointment after they’ve assessed your feet and discussed your goals. Alongside treating the wart, many people find it extremely helpful for us to use offloading measures to relieve the pressure away from the wart so they can walk a lot more comfortably. This may include customised offloading padding, debriding the callus overlying and surrounding the wart, and more.

Home treatment for plantar warts

We recommend using three things to help manage your foot wart at home: Spirularin Wart Cream, Adhesive Orthopaedic Felt, and a Mefix Dressing Sheet. Here’s how to use them:

1. Clean and dry around the wart: start by washing the area around the wart with mild soap and water. Pat it dry with a clean towel. Ensuring the skin is clean and dry is essential for proper adhesion and effectiveness of the products.
   
   
2. Apply the Spirularin wart cream: follow the instructions provided with Spirularin Wart Cream. Generally, apply a small amount of the cream directly to the wart. Gently massage it in and let it dry before proceeding to the next step. The wart cream is designed to help treat the wart and reduce discomfort.
   
   
3. Cut your adhesive orthopaedic felt: take the orthopaedic felt and cut it into a shape that covers the wart and the surrounding area. The felt should be slightly larger than the wart to provide adequate cushioning and support during offloading.
   
   
4. Position your felt: carefully position the cut felt pad over the wart, ensuring it covers the entire affected area. Press down gently to make sure it adheres properly.
   
   
5. Secure the felt with the Mefix dressing sheet: cut a piece of the Mefix dressing sheet large enough to cover the adhesive orthopaedic felt and some surrounding skin. Apply the Mefix over the felt pad, firmly securing it in place.
   
   
6. Monitor and replace: check the offloading setup regularly to ensure the felt and dressing sheet are still in place and provide proper offloading and support. Replace the felt and Mefix either daily, when it gets wet, or as directed by your podiatrist.
   
   
7. Get help if in doubt: if you’re concerned about your wart, book in to see your podiatrist. Our podiatrists here can help you manage the wart and support you in your home treatment approaches, especially when you’re treating multiple warts at once.

We’ve made our recommended wart home treatment products available in a handy wart treatment pack here, delivered straight to your door or available for collection from our clinic.