What should you know about imiquimod for warts on feet?

Warts on the feet can be rough, painful with pressure and surrounded by thickened skin. A callus, corn or another lesion can look similar, so self-diagnosis may lead to the wrong treatment. Imiquimod is a topical immune-response medicine and is not automatically the first choice for a plantar wart. Evidence and prescribing decisions depend on the wart's location, thickness, number and previous treatments. On the sole, friction from walking can intensify soreness and make irritation harder to manage. A clinician may examine the skin closely and trim thick surface skin before deciding what approach is appropriate.

Use only the amount and schedule supplied by your clinician. Wash and dry the area, apply the medicine only to the intended skin and wash your hands afterwards. Avoid covering the site tightly unless you were told to do so, and do not combine it with wart acids, freezing products or abrasive filing without professional advice. Keep feet clean and dry, change socks regularly and avoid picking at the wart. Do not share towels, socks, shoes or nail tools, since wart-causing virus can spread through contact. Cushioning may reduce pressure while the skin settles.

Contact the clinician if pain is worsening, walking becomes difficult, the skin develops pus, spreading redness, marked swelling or persistent bleeding, or the reaction prevents you from following the plan. Get urgent help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty or a widespread blistering reaction. People with diabetes, reduced foot sensation, poor circulation or a weakened immune system should obtain medical guidance before treating a foot lesion. A wart that changes, bleeds repeatedly or fails to respond needs reassessment, because it may not be a wart.

Ask how the diagnosis was made, whether the medicine is appropriate for the sole or another part of the foot, how to protect the surrounding skin, what to do after a missed application and when improvement should be reviewed. Ask whether pressure relief or another treatment would be safer for your foot.