Can I self-treat if it does not hurt?
No conclusion should be based on pain alone because reduced sensation may mask injury.
Patient question guide · Published
Plantar wart with diabetes or numb feet: what should I prepare?
If you have diabetes, reduced foot sensation or poor circulation and a plantar wart-like lesion, do not start an acid remover or cut it yourself before medical assessment. AAD and BAD advise consultation before salicylic acid or medical review when diabetes, neuropathy, poor circulation or poor foot sensation is present.
“My feet feel numb and I take diabetes medicine. Can I use a wart patch on this sole bump?”
Low pain does not make a foot lesion low risk
Neuropathy or reduced sensation can delay awareness of injury, heat and pressure. BAD advises medical review of plantar lesions in people with diabetes or poor foot sensation, and AAD advises speaking with a clinician before salicylic acid when diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation is present.
[1] British Association of Dermatologists. Plantar warts [2] American Academy of Dermatology. Warts: Dermatologists’ tips for at-home treatment [3] Japanese Diabetes Society. Diabetes complications
Prepare records before travel or a visit
Bring your diabetes diagnosis and care details, foot sensation or circulation problems, past slow-healing foot wounds, medicines and allergies, previous patches, acids or freezing, and dated photographs. If there is an open wound, ulcer, pus, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, darkening skin or fever, seek local medical assessment rather than waiting to travel to Seoul.
- Diabetes clinician and current medicines
- Numbness, tingling, burning or circulation problems
- History of slow-healing foot wounds
- Dates of patches, salicylic acid or cryotherapy
- Photos of wounds, drainage, redness or swelling
[1] British Association of Dermatologists. Plantar warts [2] American Academy of Dermatology. Warts: Dermatologists’ tips for at-home treatment [3] Japanese Diabetes Society. Diabetes complications
Bomyung’s safety-first decision
Near Gangnam Station, Seok-Yong Jo, doctor of Korean medicine, uses 24 years of wart-care experience to review prior treatment, the current lesion, skin damage, sensory and circulation information and medicines before deciding whether individual Korean-medicine care is appropriate. Bomyunghwan, Bomyungtang and immune pharmacopuncture are not automatic and do not replace general medical assessment of an open wound or high-risk foot signs.
[1] British Association of Dermatologists. Plantar warts [2] American Academy of Dermatology. Warts: Dermatologists’ tips for at-home treatment [3] Japanese Diabetes Society. Diabetes complications
Questions before your visit
Is one use of a wart patch safe?
Individual risk cannot be judged here. Discuss it before use if diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation is present.
What should not wait for a Seoul visit?
Seek local care for an open wound, ulcer, pus, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, darkening skin or fever.
Sources and limits
BAD and AAD cautions for diabetes, poor sensation, neuropathy and circulation are applied, with Japanese Diabetes Society foot-sensation guidance. No universal test or remote prescription is promised.
Read next and prepare for care
- Shoes and socks with a plantar wart
- Bleeding plantar lesion while walking
- Medicines before removal
- Medicine list before herbal consultation
General health and visit-preparation information, not an individual diagnosis or prescription. Outcomes, duration, non-recurrence and absence of adverse effects are not guaranteed.