page_title: Plantar wart
section_title: Surgery
hierarchical_section_title: Plantar wart / Treatment / Surgery
caption_attribution_description: English: Plantar wart papilloma. The papilloma was extracted out of patient's footsole just before the photo was taken.
context_page_description: A plantar wart is a wart occurring on the bottom of the foot or toes. Their color is typically similar to that of the skin. Small black dots often occur on the surface. One or more may occur in an area. They may result in pain with pressure such that walking is difficult.
  They are caused by the human papillomavirus. A break in the skin is required for infection to occur. Risk factors include use of communal showers, having had prior warts, and poor immune function. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms.
  Treatment is only needed if it is causing symptoms. This may include salicylic acid, cryotherapy, or surgical removal. The skin over-top the lesion should generally be removed before treatment. In about a third to two thirds of cases they go away without specific treatment, however this may take a couple of years. Plantar warts are common. Children and young adults are most often affected.
context_section_description: Liquid nitrogen — This, and similar cryosurgery methods, is a common surgical treatment which acts by freezing the external cell structure of the warts, destroying the live tissue.
  Electrodesiccation and surgical excision, which may produce scarring.
  Laser surgery — This is generally a last resort treatment, as it is expensive and painful, but may be necessary for large, hard-to-cure warts.
  Cauterization — This may be effective as a prolonged treatment. As a short-term treatment, cauterization of the base with anesthetic can be effective, but this method risks scarring or keloids. Subsequent surgical removal if necessary, also risks keloids and/or recurrence in the operative scar.
caption: A ~7 mm plantar wart surgically removed from the sole of a person's foot after other treatments failed
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