Warts come in many different shapes, sizes and locations, but when they develop in clusters on the underside of your foot, they are oftentimes classified as a mosaic wart. These larger, clustered and deeper warts can be uncomfortable or even painful, which is why many people want to try and rid their feet of these growths. But what are some of the best ways to treat a mosaic wart? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how you can work to treat the formation of mosaic warts on your feet.
Causes And Symptoms Of Mosaic Warts
Mosaic warts are caused by the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus infects cells in the skin known as keratinocytes, and as a result, the skin gets thicker and tougher as a cluster of warts begins to form. You can contract HPV by direct contact with a person who has it or by touching contaminated surfaces. Be wary of going barefoot in public places like gyms, swimming pool changing areas and other high-traffic surfaces ripe for contamination.
Symptoms of mosaic warts, other than the obvious physical formation of multiple clusters of warts on the bottom of your feet include:
- Thickened skin
- Sensitivity around the area
- Small black dots on the warts (These are very tiny blood vessels that have burst)
- Pain/Discomfort when touched or irritated
How To Treat Mosaic Warts
There are a few different ways you can work to treat the formation of mosaic warts on your feet, but know that most growths end up going away on their own. This might take months or longer, but the majority of mosaic warts will eventually resolve. We don’t recommend that you completely ignore them during this period, but at the same time, this is one of the few foot conditions that has the capability to fully resolve without any proactive treatment.
However, if you want to speed this process along, you have some options at your disposal. Some of the most common treatments include:
Over The Counter Salicylic Acid – OTC salicylic acid applications can help to exfoliate the layers of dead skin from the underside of your foot and trigger your immune system to fight off the presence of the virus.
Cryotherapy – Cryotherapy involves freezing the wart by exposing it to liquid nitrogen, causing the wart to blister and fall away. This application can be a little uncomfortable and may take more than one treatment, but it tends to be effective at removing some or all of the cluster.
Topical Prescription Medications – A stronger topical medication can be prescribed by your doctor if OTC options aren’t proving effective.
A surgical excision can also be performed, but this is rare because as we already mentioned, these growths tend to resolve on their own. They may be a little uncomfortable for a while, but they typically do not rise to such a level where symptoms demand surgical removal. We’ll work with you to find the right treatment path for your specific wart issue.
For more information about mosaic or planter wart formations, connect with Dr. Silverman’s office today.