If you have a painful spot on the bottom of your foot, it’s tempting to assume it’s just a callus. But many patients are surprised to learn they’re actually dealing with a plantar wart—and treating the wrong condition can delay healing for months.
Understanding the difference matters, because warts and calluses have very different causes and treatments.
What Is a Callus?
A callus forms in response to pressure or friction. It’s your skin’s way of protecting itself.
Common features of calluses:
- Thickened, yellowish skin
- Pain improves when pressure is removed
- Skin lines continue across the lesion
- Often found under the ball of the foot or areas of high pressure
Calluses are mechanical problems. Treatment focuses on offloading pressure, footwear changes, and sometimes custom orthotics.
What Is a Plantar Wart?
Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) entering the skin through tiny breaks.
Common features of plantar warts:
- Pain when squeezed side-to-side
- Disruption of normal skin lines
- Tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels)
- Often feel tender even without direct pressure
Because warts are viral, they don’t respond well to treatments meant for thick skin alone.
Why Misdiagnosis Delays Healing
Over-the-counter wart treatments often fail because:
- The lesion isn’t actually a wart
- The virus sits deeper than surface skin
- Pressure from walking keeps irritating the area
Similarly, treating a callus like a wart can lead to unnecessary pain without solving the root cause.
When to See a Specialist
You should seek evaluation if:
- Pain persists despite home care
- The lesion spreads or multiplies
- Walking becomes uncomfortable
- You’ve been treating it for weeks without improvement
A proper diagnosis allows treatment to be targeted and more effective.
Supporting Skin Health During Treatment
Maintaining clean, healthy skin is an important part of foot care—especially when dealing with lesions that disrupt the skin barrier. Gentle daily skin hygiene can support the surrounding tissue while definitive treatment is underway.
Bottom Line
Warts and calluses may look similar, but they behave very differently. Getting the diagnosis right is the first step toward real relief.
When foot pain doesn’t improve, guessing can delay healing.
If you’ve been treating a painful spot on your foot without results, a focused evaluation can determine whether you’re dealing with a wart, a callus, or another condition—and guide appropriate treatment.
Call 207-774-0028 today to request an appointment to get clarity and a plan.
