Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole, heel, or ball of the foot.Most plantar warts are diagnosed based on their appearance. They are generally rough and spongy, and most are gray, brown, or yellow with dark dots in the center. While you likely heard as a child that these are the ‘seeds’ of the wart, they are not the little black dots are simply dried blood in your capillaries.

What Are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) invading the body through the skin on the bottom of the feet, typically through cuts or breaks. The virus often is present on contaminated surfaces, such as the tile floors of public locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.