Q: What is a Plantar Wart?

A: A plantar wart is a painful sore on the bottom of the foot caused by a viral infection of the skin. This is usually contracted by walking barefooted in public places where others have also walked barefooted. In the vast majority of cases, there is a special acid compound that can be used to create a tightly controlled “chemical peel” of the wart, resulting in a gradual and fairly comfortable removal of the wart over a period of typically 2-6 weeks. There are other treatments available, but they are rarely required.