Plantar warts are small, rough growths on the soles of the feet caused by infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). These growths typically develop on pressure points, such as the heel or the ball of the foot, where they are pressed inward by the body’s weight. They often present as thick, grainy lesions that can be gray or brownish, sometimes featuring tiny black pinpoints (clotted blood vessels). While some warts are merely irritating, those on weight-bearing areas can cause significant pain and tenderness, making walking or standing uncomfortable.
Urgent Care Scope for Plantar Warts
Urgent care facilities are equipped to provide initial assessment and treatment for many common skin conditions, including plantar warts. These clinics are suitable for patients with simple, small, or newly developed warts causing mild to moderate discomfort. A healthcare provider, such as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, will first examine the lesion to confirm it is a plantar wart, distinguishing it from other common foot issues like calluses or corns.
The primary role of urgent care is immediate intervention for straightforward, superficial cases that are not clustered in large groups. However, the scope of treatment is often limited compared to a specialist’s office.
Urgent care centers typically refer patients when the condition becomes complex or resistant to standard care. They usually do not treat large, deep lesions, such as mosaic warts (tight clusters of multiple warts). Patients with severe pain, or those with warts in sensitive areas like directly under a toenail, are generally referred to a specialist. If a patient has underlying health concerns, such as diabetes or a compromised immune system, urgent care will recommend a referral due to the increased risk of infection or poor healing.
Typical In-Office Removal Procedures
When a plantar wart is determined to be within the scope of an urgent care facility, the treatment typically involves one of two common in-office procedures. These methods are designed to destroy the infected tissue, prompting the body to shed the wart. The choice of treatment depends on the wart’s size, location, and the provider’s preference.
Cryotherapy
One of the most frequently used methods is cryotherapy, which involves the precise application of liquid nitrogen to the wart. This extremely cold substance rapidly freezes the wart tissue, causing cell death and the formation of a blister underneath the treated area. The dead tissue then sloughs off, often within a week or two. Plantar warts on the thick skin of the foot may require multiple sessions spaced two to four weeks apart for complete eradication.
Chemical Treatments
The other common approach is the use of chemical treatments, primarily high-concentration salicylic acid. This is a powerful keratolytic agent that works by chemically peeling away the layers of the wart over time. The urgent care provider may debride, or shave down, the wart’s surface before applying the prescription-strength acid, which is significantly stronger than over-the-counter options. This treatment is often applied in the clinic, and the patient may be instructed to continue applying a lower-concentration formulation at home between follow-up visits.
Indicators for Specialized Treatment
While urgent care offers a convenient first step, certain indicators suggest the need for specialized treatment from a podiatrist or dermatologist. One of the most common reasons for a referral is the failure of a wart to respond to initial urgent care treatments. If a wart persists or recurs after multiple sessions of cryotherapy or topical acid applications, it often indicates a deeper or more aggressive viral presence that requires advanced intervention.
Specialized care becomes necessary for deep or extensive lesions, such as those that have grown significantly inward due to the pressure of walking. These complex warts may require surgical excision, which involves cutting out the growth, or more aggressive therapies like laser treatment. Podiatrists, who specialize in foot and ankle conditions, are best suited for deep lesions that affect the structure of the foot or cause significant mobility issues.
A referral is also critical for patients with systemic health conditions that impact healing and circulation. Individuals with diabetes or peripheral artery disease should always seek a specialist, as a minor procedure could lead to a serious foot infection or non-healing wound. Dermatologists offer advanced modalities like immunotherapy injections, which stimulate the body’s own immune system to fight the HPV virus, or specific prescription medications that go beyond the scope of general urgent care settings.