Warts are small growths (sometimes thickened and callus-like) that are caused by a skin infection due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Plantar warts occur on the foot, and can be found on the plantar surface/sole of the foot. Sometimes warts can cause no symptoms, but in areas subjected to pressure or friction, the area of the wart can be tender and affect ability to walk. Risk factors for plantar warts to develop include skin trauma, certain illnesses, weakened immune system, and use of public showers or frequenting humid/moist public places barefoot. Symptoms of foot warts include pain localized to the wart area, firm, rough/bumpy or spongy lesions with pinpoint dark spots in the lesion, or yellow or gray-brown growths on the heel or ball of foot. Several warts may even join together and form a mosaic of warts. Sometimes plantar warts can spontaneously resolve without any treatment. There are multiple home treatments available to treat warts, including use of a pumice stone to remove thickened skin, placement of moleskin around a wart to reduce pressure, or use of otc wart treatments like Compound W. If home treatments don't prove effective, the pain doesn't resolve, warts don't completely disappear after treatment, or warts reoccur after treatment, seek help from your doctor or podiatrist. Your podiatrist can offer freezing or burning services to remove the warts, or in stubborn cases, the wart can be safely removed through a surgical procedure.