Why Does My Wart Hurt [Common Pain Relief Methods]
Warts are rough, tiny growths that commonly form on the hands, feet, and other body parts. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can be uncomfortable or painful depending on their location, size, and type.
Many people have difficulty from warts, and knowing why you are experiencing pain will help you get the right care. In this article, we’ll explore the various causes of wart pain and how to manage and treat them.
Table of Contents
What Causes Warts to Hurt?
There are several reasons why a wart may hurt. Some warts grow in areas that are subjected to regular pressure or friction, such as on the hands, feet, or fingers. Let’s explore the key reasons why warts may become uncomfortable or cause pain:
Pressure on the Wart
Warts that develop on weight-bearing areas of the body, such as the soles of the feet (plantar warts), are especially prone to becoming painful.
This is because the constant pressure from standing or walking can press the wart deeper into the skin, causing discomfort. When walking or standing, the pressure on plantar warts can make them feel like stepping on a pebble or rock.
Hand warts are also susceptible to this, as they are frequently exposed to gripping, lifting, and other physical activities that can aggravate the wart and make it more sensitive to touch.
Inflammation
Warts can sometimes become inflamed, leading to pain and swelling. This inflammation may be triggered by injury to the wart, excessive rubbing, or an attempt to treat the wart with over-the-counter solutions.
When a wart becomes inflamed, the body’s immune system is responding to the irritation, which can cause redness, tenderness, and pain in the affected area.
Infection
Warts that become infected can be especially painful. Infection occurs when bacteria enter the wart through tiny cracks in the skin, often due to picking, scratching, or improperly treating the wart.
Signs of an infected wart include increased pain, redness, swelling, and the presence of pus or discharge. An infected wart may also bleed more easily than a typical wart.
When a wart is infected, the immune system reacts by sending white blood cells to the site, which can lead to localized inflammation. This inflammatory response makes the area around the wart more sensitive and painful. The skin may also feel warm to the touch, and the infection can spread if left untreated, leading to worsening symptoms.
Nerve Involvement
Certain types of warts, such as plantar warts on the feet and periungual warts around the nails, grow in areas where nerve endings are abundant.
These warts can press against the nerves, causing sharp, stabbing pain or a constant, dull ache. The sensation is often similar to stepping on a hard object when walking on a plantar wart or feeling a persistent throbbing around a nail with a periungual wart.
Nerve-related pain can be particularly challenging to manage, as even light pressure on the wart can trigger discomfort. In some cases, the growth of the wart itself can irritate the nerve endings beneath the skin, making the entire area sensitive and painful even with minimal contact.
Growth and Spreading of the Wart
Warts can sometimes grow in size or spread to nearby areas of the skin, which may cause discomfort as the wart increases in surface area or invades more sensitive parts of the skin.
If a wart starts to multiply or expand, this may indicate that the infection is spreading, and the new growths may cause irritation and pain.
How to Treat a Painful Wart
There are several treatment options available for painful warts, ranging from home remedies to professional medical treatments. The right treatment depends on the size, location, and severity of the wart. Below are some of the most effective treatment methods.
Cushioning Pads
For warts located on areas of the body that bear weight such as plantar warts on the soles of the feet – cushioning pads are an easy and effective way to reduce pain.
These pads are specifically designed to take pressure off the wart by redistributing weight away from it. They often come in a donut-shaped design, where the hole in the center fits around the wart, leaving it free from direct pressure.
Cushioning pads can be purchased over-the-counter at most pharmacies and should be placed inside shoes to act as a buffer between the wart and the hard surface of the shoe.
By minimizing the direct contact between the wart and the ground or the interior of the shoe, the pads reduce irritation and discomfort while walking or standing. This is a simple solution that offers immediate relief for those who need to stay on their feet throughout the day.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
For many individuals, over-the-counter topical treatments are the first line of defense in both relieving pain and eliminating warts. One of the most commonly used ingredients in wart treatment is salicylic acid, a keratolytic agent that gradually softens and dissolves the hardened layers of skin that form the wart. By breaking down the wart’s outer layers, salicylic acid also reduces pressure on the underlying tissue, easing pain over time.
It’s important to apply salicylic acid-based treatments exactly as directed, as overuse or improper application can lead to skin irritation or damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. These treatments often come in the form of gels, liquids, or adhesive pads and are typically applied once daily.
After each treatment, the softened tissue can be gently filed away using a pumice stone or emery board, helping the wart to shrink over time. While this method is effective, it can take several weeks to see results.
For additional pain relief, some over-the-counter treatments contain analgesic properties or are paired with a cushioning pad to both treat and protect the wart.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a medical procedure that involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen, a substance that reaches extremely low temperatures.
This treatment is highly effective at destroying the wart tissue by creating ice crystals inside the cells, leading to cell death. After treatment, the wart may blister and eventually fall off.
Cryotherapy is generally performed in a doctor’s office, though some over-the-counter cryotherapy kits are available for at-home use. The process can be painful during and immediately after the procedure, as the freezing sensation may cause stinging or burning.
However, once the wart begins to heal and is removed, any pain associated with it should subside. Cryotherapy usually requires multiple sessions to fully eliminate the wart, especially if it is large or located in a difficult-to-treat area like the feet or hands.
Laser Therapy
For warts that are stubborn, recurrent, or causing significant pain, laser therapy may be an effective treatment option. Laser therapy uses highly concentrated beams of light to target and destroy the wart tissue.
There are several types of lasers used in wart treatment, such as pulsed-dye lasers that target blood vessels supplying the wart or CO2 lasers that vaporize the wart tissue.
Laser therapy is a precise method, and while the procedure itself may cause some discomfort, it is highly effective, especially for warts that have not responded to other treatments.
The recovery period may involve some temporary pain as the treated area heals, but once the wart tissue is fully removed, long-term relief is typically achieved. This option is particularly useful for large or deep warts that are difficult to remove using other methods.
Surgical Removal
If the wart is causing extreme pain or has not responded to other forms of treatment, surgical removal is a more direct approach. There are a few surgical methods available for wart removal:
- Curettage and Electrosurgery: In this method, a healthcare provider first numbs the area with local anesthesia. Then, the wart is cut or scraped off using a sharp instrument called a curette. Electrosurgery may follow, where an electric current is used to burn away any remaining wart tissue and prevent regrowth.
- Excision: The wart is cut out using a scalpel, and the area is treated with local anesthesia to prevent pain during the procedure. This method is quick and usually effective, but it may leave a scar, and there is a chance the wart could return.
Preventing Wart Pain
To prevent wart pain and avoid making the wart worse, there are some steps you can take to manage the condition and protect the affected area:
- Using pain-relieving creams or gels containing ingredients like lidocaine or benzocaine can temporarily numb the wart and surrounding area, providing relief from irritation.
- Soaking the wart in warm water. This softens the skin and can ease some of the discomfort. Adding Epsom salts may also help reduce inflammation.
- For inflammation or after treatments like cryotherapy or laser therapy, a cold compress can soothe the area and reduce swelling.
- Avoid picking or scratching the wart, as this can introduce bacteria and lead to infection.
- Use padding or cushioning for plantar warts to reduce pressure on the sole of the foot.
- Keep the wart clean and dry to prevent infection and reduce irritation.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or socks, as this can spread the HPV virus to others or other parts of your body.
- Boost your immune system by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, as a strong immune response can help the body fight off the virus causing the wart.
Conclusion
Warts, while generally harmless, can become quite painful when exposed to pressure, friction, or infection. Recognizing the specific cause of your wart pain is crucial for choosing the right treatment approach.
Whether it’s cushioning pads to reduce pressure, topical treatments, or more advanced options like cryotherapy or laser therapy, there are various ways to manage and relieve wart discomfort.
However, if the pain persists or worsens, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional to explore further treatment options and ensure proper care.