Skin conditions on your feet can be difficult to fully get rid of, which is why it’s so important to track the healing process. So, here are the normal stages of healing for a plantar wart that can help you monitor your recovery.
What Is a Plantar Wart?
A plantar wart (verruca plantaris) is a very common skin infection found on the bottom of the feet. It’s caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and it’s contagious. It manifests as a rough bump on the skin, and it can be easily differentiated from other skin conditions like foot corns by the dark specks in the center of the bump (wart seeds). The wart is benign, meaning it’s not dangerous or harmful, but it can cause a lot of foot pain and discomfort.
What Are the Stages of Healing Plantar Wart
There are multiple treatment options, from laser treatments and immunotherapy to cryotherapy, but a minimally invasive surgical procedure has been proven to be the most effective solution. The healing process and its duration can vary from person to person, but here are the usual stages of healing plantar warts with surgery people go through.
Stage 1: Initial Discovery and Assessment
Once you go to the appointment, the doctor will carefully examine the bumps and either make a diagnosis or decide to do a biopsy of the infected skin in order to confirm the infection. If a biopsy is needed, they will cut out a small piece of infected tissue and send it to a lab to get tested for HPV. The results will come in a few days, and that’s when you will be diagnosed.
Stage 2: Early Healing Phase (Week 2-4)
Once you have been diagnosed, the doctor will go over all the treatment options with you before deciding on the best approach and scheduling a surgical removal. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that lasts for about half an hour, where the doctor will numb the area, make a small incision, remove the wart, and close the wound.
Stage 3: Midway Healing Phase (Week 5-8)
After the surgery, you will be advised to avoid applying any pressure to that foot for a couple of weeks, you may even need to use crutches. If needed, the doctor will also prescribe you pain medication.
Stage 4: Advanced Healing (Week 9-12)
Once four weeks since your surgery have passed without any complications and you’ve had your final check-up, you can start getting back to your normal daily routine and applying pressure to the foot.
What Are the Signs of Complete Healing?
If you don’t experience any difficulties after the surgery and the wart doesn’t reappear, you can have peace of mind knowing your foot is completely healed.
What Should You Do as a Post-Healing Care?
Your doctor will provide you with detailed instructions on your post-surgery healing care, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If you experience any complications such as severe pain, bleeding, or an infection after the procedure, immediately contact your doctor for a follow-up appointment.
Consult Your Miami Doctor and You’ll Get Rid of Warts
If you’re experiencing plantar warts and home remedies aren’t helping get rid of them, you should visit a doctor and get a proper treatment plan that will fully and permanently remove the problem. Contact us and schedule your appointment with the podiatrist in Miami at the Luxe Foot Surgery.
