See a Plantar Warts Specialist in Chattanooga
Get the appropriate medical attention for your plantar warts. Our foot doctor accommodates English and Spanish-speaking patients in the greater Chattanooga area. Schedule your visit today.
Book Your Appointment
Book your visit via a phone call or our patient portal. Once your visit has been scheduled, our team will confirm through SMS text or voice call. We welcome walk-ins and same-day visits.
See Our Podiatrist
During your appointment, our physician evaluates the skin on your foot, provides a diagnosis, and puts together a treatment plan. Your treatment depends on your condition and its severity.
Treat Your Plantar Warts
Once you agree to the doctor’s treatment plans, we begin treatment and schedule check-ups if necessary. You also receive educational materials about plantar warts.
Board-Certified
Podiatrist
You will be cared for by Dr. Maria Pacheco, DPM, who has 9 years of experience in podiatry and foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Pacheco is certified with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and she’s also certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Pacheco has seen a wide range of plantar warts conditions in and out of the greater Chattanooga area. Moreover, we genuinely care for our patients. We understand that plantar warts cause not only physical problems but also emotional concerns. Our goal is your fast rehabilitation.
Get to know your foot physician in Chattanooga.
Dr. Maria Pacheco
“Everything that I have heard bout Dr. Pacheco is true – she is professional and very kind and interested in your condition!”
William M.
Plantar Warts: Your Condition Explained
Plantar warts are small growths on the plantar surfaces (the bottom of your feet) caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Please take note that the strains that cause plantar warts (as well as palmar warts — warts on the palms) are not the same as the HPV strains linked to genital warts and cancer.
Most plantar warts are not a serious condition, but they cause pain and discomfort. Dr. Pacheco evaluates your case carefully to determine the right treatment for you.
Symptoms
Plantar warts appear as small, round, fleshy growths on the soles. They’re about the size of a pencil eraser, but some warts grow bigger. Often, the warts:
- Are found on the weight-bearing areas of the foot, like the base of the toes or the heel
- Grow inward and are surrounded by a callus—the skin’s attempt to prevent warts from spreading
- Have a black spot in the middle. These are called wart seeds, but they’re, in fact, clotted blood vessels. Warts don’t have seeds.
- Interrupt the lines and ridges of your sole
- Cause pain or discomfort when walking
In some cases, plantar warts grow in clusters, which are called mosaic warts.
Possible Causes
People may develop plantar warts if they come in direct contact with HPV, which enters the skin through openings like wounds and cuts. The virus thrives in warm, moist places, like swimming pools, locker rooms, and even footwear.
Each person responds differently to HPV. In fact, not all people who come in direct contact with an infected surface develop plantar warts. However, these specific strains are contagious; if you have contracted the virus, you may spread it onto different surfaces.
Risk Factors
Anyone may develop plantar warts — in fact, most people will get it at some point in their lives — but some people are more likely to affect:
- People with compromised or weak immune systems
- People who walk barefoot in public areas where HPV thrives, such as swimming pools, gyms, saunas, water parks, locker rooms, etc.
- People with a history of plantar warts
- Children and teenagers
During Your Consultation
Our podiatrist will examine the lesion on your foot and confirm if it’s a plantar wart. To help Dr. Pacheco diagnose your condition, please be prepared to answer these questions:
- When the lesion first appeared
- Your history of plantar or palmar warts
- If you feel pain when you walk on the lesion
- Existing conditions, like diabetes or disorders that compromise your immune system
- Home remedies you’ve tried
We strongly advise seeing Dr. Pacheco before trying remedies. She will prescribe a treatment that will effectively eliminate the wart without damaging the healthy skin surrounding it.
Possible Treatments
Some cases of plantar warts disappear on their own, without any intervention. However, this can take months, even years. Moreover, some people may experience pain that gets in the way of their daily activities. And you don’t want warts to spread to other parts of your body.
Dr. Pacheco may prescribe different procedures, depending on your condition. Some of these treatments require multiple visits to the clinic.
The list below is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Conservative Treatments
- Peeling Treatment. Our podiatrist may prescribe topical medications (usually with salicylic acids) to remove the warts, layer by layer.
- Cryotherapy. This procedure involves freezing the wart off. Our podiatrist numbs the area first, then applies liquid nitrogen to the wart. A blister would form on the affected area. The dead skin would peel off within a week.
Other Treatments
- Electrocautery. In this procedure, our podiatrist numbs the area, then uses an electric needle to remove the wart.
- Laser Treatment. Our physician uses laser treatment to burn the tiny blood vessels that feed the wart. With no supply of oxygen and nutrients, the infected tissue dies, and the wart falls off.
Prevent the Spread
Because plantar warts can also spread to other parts of the body, our podiatrist will provide specific care instructions. In the meantime, if you suspect that you have plantar warts:
- Avoid touching the wart. Touching the infected area will spread the virus to your hands or other parts of your body.
- Wash your hands. If you accidentally touched the warts, wash your hands thoroughly with disinfecting soap.
- Cover your warts. You may cover the affected area with a clean, non-medicated bandage.
- Wear comfortable shoes. If pressure on the wart causes pain, wear shoes that provide cushion and support, like athletic shoes.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of developing plantar warts in the future, keep these in mind.
- If you go to public swimming pools or gyms, avoid walking barefoot.
- When doing water activities, use water-resistant footwear.
- Wash your feet immediately after spending time in a public area.
- Immediately address any openings, like sores and cuts, on your feet.
- Don’t share skin and nail care tools with other people, such as nail clippers and pumice stones.
Find Out the Right Treatment for Your Plantar Warts
Book a consultation with Dr. Pacheco to put together the right treatment for your condition.
About Our Chattanooga Clinic
Insurance
Patient Age Range
Bilingual Service
Patient Intake Form
For new patients, download and fill out this form before your plantar warts consultation.
Patient Portal
For those who already have records at our clinic, use our Patient Portal to book visits.
Years of Experience
Patients Treated
Medical Publications
Team Members
our accolades
Testimonials
Feedback from the people we have had the privilege to help:
achievement
Years of Experience
Projects Completed
Awwards Winning
Professional Team
Our Pricing
Professional Plan
- Fast Service
- Design and Build
- 24/7 Support
- 1 Month Maintenance
Our Expertise
9 Years of Experience treating foot and ankle ailments of all types
We look forward to helping you next!
- Associate, American Society of Podiatric Surgeons
- Member, Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association
- Member, American Podiatric Medical Association
- Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Medicine and Orthopedics
- Diplomate, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Our Mission
Comfortable Environment
Chattanooga Foot & Ankle Clinic has a comfortable environment at our clinic, where we reduce the stress our patients feel. We also recognize that the cosmetic issues entailed by plantar warts take a toll on your mental well-being, so we do our best to put you at ease.
Advice for Patients
To address your medical issues properly, we consider all aspects of your health. Our medical team keeps abreast of developments in the foot and ankle pathologies and their treatments.
Rehabilitation of Foot and Ankle
We want you to recover quickly from your condition. Our clinic puts together an effective treatment plan, so you can go back to living your best life. We will explain every step of the procedures required.
Empathy for Our Patients’ Condition
Our practice is a place where patients feel that they’re heard and their problems are addressed. Our medical team upholds kindness, compassion, and care for patients, regardless of their condition.
Make Your Plantar Warts Go Away
Book your visit today, so Dr. Pacheco can check and treat your plantar warts.