What are the best ways to treat plantar warts?
Q. I have recently developed plantar warts. I looked at over-the-counter medications, but are they the best treatments for this?
A. Plantar warts are hard, grainy growths that often appear on the heels or balls of your feet. They are caused by the human papillomavirus that enters your body through tiny cuts or breaks on the bottom of your feet. Plantar warts usually aren't a serious health concern and most resolve spontaneously. However, in some people the warts can persist for months and require treatment.
Salicylic acid, a prescription-strength medicine applied daily or with a week-long plaster, is the first-line treatment, although it may require up to two to three months to cure the infection. Another option is cryotherapy, the application of liquid nitrogen to freeze the affected tissue. This often requires several months of treatment applied every two weeks by your doctor.
As for home remedies, duct tape applied to the wart and left on for a week has shown mixed results in some studies. Still, it is a low-risk treatment that may be worth trying. If these standard treatments do not work, consult with a dermatologist or podiatrist to review other options. For example, injection of the chemotherapy drug bleomycin (Blenoxane) or topical use of 5-fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex) can be effective. Laser therapy also has been used with some success. In some cases, minor surgery to remove the warts may be necessary.
—William Kormos, MD
Editor in Chief, Harvard Men's Health Watch
Source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-are-the-best-ways-to-treat-plantar-warts