Question
Dear Dr:

I thought I had a planters wart on the bottom of my foot for a few years and had been cutting it off, getting it burnt and using various chemicals on it. Nothing worked. I saw a podiatrist the other day when I went to get my throat checked at the local clinic and he said that I had a clogged sweat gland. He offered to shave it down once a month for $40 each time, or talked about a surgury that may or may not work. What is your advice for my situation, my foot is very sore and it hurts to walk on it too much. I compinsate by walking on the side of my foot and it's throwing my hip out, hurting my back and just making life tough.  Please let me know what you think I should do. Thank you!

Answer
This lesion is called a porokeratosis or porokeratoma.  They can be removed surgically. However, with any treatment they can come back.  If they hurt that much I would see another podiatrist and check that option.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
http://www.thetampapodiatrist.com
http://www.tampacryosurgery.com
http://katzpodiatristtampa.blogspot.com
http://painfoot.blogspot.com
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http://www.notoenailfungus.com

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