If you feel a rough, painful patch of skin on the bottom of your foot, it may be a plantar wart. Plantar warts are a common skin condition that affects approximately 10% of people in the U.S. and can make it difficult to walk, run, exercise, or simply do everyday activities.
The skilled podiatry team at Central Kansas Podiatry Associates understands that not only are plantar warts painful, they can also be embarrassing and difficult to treat. Although some plantar warts go away on their own, it can sometimes take a year or more for that to happen. Here, our experienced foot doctors discuss Remy laser therapy—a breakthrough technology to treat plantar warts.
Understanding Plantar Warts
A plantar wart is a small growth on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s most often found on the heels or balls of the foot. Although you may have only one wart, it’s possible for them to grow in clusters called mosaic warts.
How You Contract Plantar Warts
The HPV enters the skin through small cuts, cracks, scrapes, or abrasions. Because the soles of your feet can be moist and warm, they provide a perfect environment for the virus to thrive. Locations where you can contract the HPV virus more easily include:
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- Saunas
- Public showers
- Swimming pools
- Gym floors
- Locker rooms
Once the wart is established, it can grow inward due to pressure from walking, so they’re more painful and difficult to treat. A plantar wart may also multiply and spread to other areas. If you ignore a wart on your foot, it may become more resistant to treatment over time. Additionally, they can disrupt your mobility, so it’s important to see a podiatrist as soon as you notice you have one.
Remy Laser Therapy for Plantar Warts
There are a variety of treatment options for removing plantar warts, including conventional methods such as the following:
- Salicylic acid to peel the wart layer by layer
- Cryotherapy, which causes a blister to form around the wart, and the dead tissue falls off in about a week
- Minor surgery, which involves cutting away the wart by using an electric needle.
However, these older, invasive treatments can be painful and cause skin irritation or burns, pain or blistering, affect nearby healthy tissue, and may allow recurrence. That’s why Remy laser therapy is a better alternative. This treatment offers a gentler, more precise solution.
How Remy Laser Therapy Works
Remy laser therapy uses focused light energy to selectively destroy wart tissue while leaving the surrounding skin untouched. It’s a fast, non-invasive technology that zeroes in on the wart’s blood supply. As the laser disrupts this supply, the wart begins to shrink and eventually falls off—typically after just a few sessions.
Why Remy Laser Is Different
Laser therapy is a more precise treatment that allows your podiatrist to do the following:
- Target just the wart. All healthy skin surrounding the wart remains untouched. Unlike acids or freezing sprays, Remy Laser doesn’t harm nearby tissue.
- Avoid painful injections. Our podiatrist doesn’t need to use a numbing injection before treatment. Remy therapy doesn’t require anesthesia, and most patients describe the sensation as a mild snap or warmth.
- Provide faster recovery. With Remy therapy, there are no open wounds, no bandages, and no need to stay off your feet. You can return to normal activity almost immediately after treatment.
What Happens During Remy Laser Treatment?
Once our podiatrist confirms the wart diagnosis, they’ll apply the laser treatment. No prep is required, and they won’t administer an injection to numb the affected area of your foot or use topical creams. The laser is directed at the wart for a few short pulses, and most sessions take less than 15 minutes. There’s no downtime after the treatment, and you can leave the office and resume your normal activities. You won’t need to wear bandages or take care of the wound, and the wart may darken or shrink before falling off.
The Risks of Not Seeking Treatment for Warts
You may be tempted to ignore your plantar wart and wait to see if it goes away on its own. However, plantar warts can multiply, deepen, and make walking and running painful. If you don’t treat a wart, it can:
- Spread to other parts of the foot
- Transmit to other people
- Be harder to treat over time
- Lead to posture or gait problems from compensating for pain
Contact Central Kansas Podiatry Associates
Remy Laser Therapy is a precise, comfortable treatment for plantar warts that helps them heal faster than traditional treatments. It’s an ideal solution for patients who want to avoid the discomfort, mess, and downtime of traditional wart removal methods. Don’t let a stubborn wart keep you off your feet. Ask our podiatrist if Remy Laser Therapy is right for you. Read our testimonials from patients we’ve helped with their plantar warts.