Pinky Toe Wart - What Causes It and How To Get Rid of It Safely?

Pinky toe warts are caused due to HPV (human papillomavirus) which is contagious and can spread through direct as well as indirect contact. These small skin growths can not only form on the feet but can also be formed on other parts of your body such as hands and fingers.

Image by Sozavisimost from Pixabay 

People develop immunity towards HPV as they age, which makes children more vulnerable to warts as compared to adults. If you have children at home, make sure to check their feet periodically.

Is it pinky toe wart or a corn?

Pinky toe wart and corn can have several similarities as well. You should first make sure what type of growth you have before looking for home remedies to get rid of it. Here are some similarities between them:

• Both pinky toe wart and corn can appear on feet
• Both can be painful to touch as well
• Both usually have a rough texture

They're different in the following ways:

• While warts can appear anywhere on the body, corns appear only on feet
• Warts have grainy black pinpoints but corns are hard and flaky
• Warts are caused by HPV and while corns are caused by pressure or friction

You may also visit your podiatrist to get an initial diagnosis first.

How to prevent pinky toe wart?

• Avoid walking barefoot in public places like swimming pools, saunas etc
• Wear shoes that fit you, so there's less friction and pressure
• Do not share personal care items with people who already have warts
• Do not pick or clip the wart

How to get rid of pinky toe wart?

While warts usually go away on their own in 6 months or as long as 2 years, this is really not an option for most people. Since warts can easily spread, it is best to get them treated.

There's several ways to remove pinky toe warts but your first step should be consulting your doctor to make sure that what you have is a wart only and not some other type of skin growth. Diagnosis should be covered by your insurance, if not the removal process.

Most doctors use liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. Others methods such as using laser or minor surgery are just as effective.

Home remedies mostly include removal devices, apple cider vinegar, and salicylic acid. 

Sources:

https://medlineplus.gov/cornsandcalluses.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20371125

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-overview