Plantar Warts vs. Calluses: How to Tell the Difference

 Wondering whether that painful patch of skin on the bottom of your foot is a simple callus or something more that requires medical attention? 

At Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute, Dr. Scott Rogers, DPM, FACFAS, and his team diagnose and treat all types of foot and ankle issues, including calluses and plantar warts. With offices in American Fork, UT, and Saratoga Springs, UT, our team knows it isn’t always easy to tell the two apart.

Although they look similar, these conditions have little else in common.  A plantar wart is a contagious viral infection on the sole caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In contrast, a callus is a harmless patch of thickened skin that forms purely from prolonged rubbing, pressure, or friction.

Warts, however, are infections that can easily spread to other parts of your foot or to other people if they're left untreated. 

Key signs to help you tell them apart

Telling the difference between these two issues is easier when you know what to look for. You can often identify the culprit by checking for pain when squeezing, looking at the skin lines, and searching for tiny dots. Here are three simple ways to evaluate the spot on your foot:

Check the skin lines

Natural skin lines, or fingerprints, on your feet run right through a callus. If you have a plantar wart, the virus disrupts these lines, causing them to grow around the lesion instead of through it.

Squeeze vs. direct pressure

Warts and calluses respond differently to touch. Plantar warts tend to hurt more when you squeeze them from side to side, while calluses usually hurt only when you press directly down on them.

Look for tiny black dots

Plantar warts frequently display tiny black dots that resemble seeds. These dots are actually tiny blood vessels that supply the wart with nutrients.  

Professional treatment options that work

If you have a callus, soaking your foot in warm water and gently filing the area with a pumice stone can help. If the callus continues to be bothersome, our team is highly skilled in managing painful calluses. 

However, if you're dealing with a stubborn plantar wart, professional care is the safest and fastest path to clear skin. Our team provides advanced, targeted treatments to eliminate warts. We'll evaluate your feet, provide an accurate diagnosis, and create a personalized treatment plan to get you back on your feet comfortably.

You don't have to live with foot pain or guess what's causing your discomfort. To get professional care for your feet, contact our office to schedule an appointment with our specialists today.