Foot pain on the sole? It’s often assumed to be a wart… or a corn.
While they may look similar, these two conditions are actually very different.
Plantar Wart
- Caused by a virus (HPV)
- Contagious
- Rough surface, sometimes with small black dots (clotted blood vessels)
- Often painful when pinched from the sides
- Can multiply (mosaic warts)
Corn or Callus
- Skin thickening due to repeated pressure or friction
- Not contagious
- Typically painful when pressed directly or while walking
- Commonly located on pressure points (toes, ball of the foot)
Why is diagnosis important? Because the treatments are completely different. A corn can be safely debrided (trimmed), while a wart requires topical antiviral or laser therapy.
