Wart Treatment in Forest Hill

We treat warts on the feet (plantar warts) in children and adults. The aim is to reduce pain, stop the virus spreading and, where possible, clear the wart without causing unnecessary damage to the surrounding skin.

What are plantar warts?

Plantar warts are skin growths on the foot caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They may appear as single warts or as clusters covering a larger area, known as mosaic warts.

They are not always painful, but can be very uncomfortable when they sit under weight-bearing areas such as the heel or ball of the foot. The virus causes thickening of the top skin layer, which is why warts are often mistaken for corns or callus.

Warts are usually picked up through contact with contaminated surfaces. The virus is not highly contagious but can enter through small breaks in the skin.

Why are warts difficult to treat?

Warts live in the outer layers of the skin, where there are very few cells that trigger an immune response. Because of this, the body is slow to recognise and clear the virus, which is why plantar warts can persist for months or years without treatment.

Treatment options for warts

The best treatment depends on how painful the wart is, its size and location, and the age and general health of the person.

Options we may use include:

• Liquid nitrogen: A very cold liquid is applied to freeze the wart tissue. Several sessions are often needed.
• Acid preparations: A paste or paint containing a combination of acids is applied under occlusion (usually waterproof tape). This slowly breaks down the wart over time and is usually suited to smaller areas.
• Formalin 10%: Commonly used in children when the wart is not very painful. A soaked cotton or gauze pad is applied to dry out the wart cells and irritate the skin just enough to encourage an immune response.
• Silver nitrate: Forms a temporary “cap” over the wart that can help slow growth and sometimes remove some wart tissue when it sheds. It is generally a short-term option rather than a stand-alone cure.
• Efudix cream: A prescription cream used for certain stubborn warts. It targets rapidly dividing cells, including wart cells, and is applied under tape for a defined period.
• Deep needling: A more aggressive option using local anaesthetic. The wart is repeatedly needled to push viral tissue deeper into the second layer of skin (dermis), where immune cells are more active. Often only one or two sessions are required, and treating one wart can help the body clear others.
• Surgical curettage: For very painful or resistant warts, surgical removal under local anaesthetic may be considered.

We explain the likely discomfort, healing time and success rates for each option so you can decide what is most appropriate.

Book a wart assessment

If you have a persistent or painful wart on your foot, or are unsure whether a lesion is a wart, corn or something else, it is worth having it checked. You can book an appointment online or call the clinic to arrange a suitable time.

Lefort Podiatry provides wart treatment for patients from Forest Hill and surrounding suburbs including Blackburn, Burwood East, Vermont and Ringwood.