What I initially thought was a simple foot corn eventually turned out to be something completely different—a plantar wart.

For several months, I experienced a sharp and uncomfortable pain on the sole of my left foot. I tried treating it myself with corn pads and cushions, believing that I knew exactly what it was. Eventually, however, the pain began interfering with my walking, jogging, and daily activities, so I finally decided to consult a doctor.

That consultation led me to a dermatologist and, eventually, to cryotherapy.

In this post, I’m sharing my personal experience with plantar wart cryotherapy, from the procedure itself to the blistering, scabbing, healing process, and what my foot looked and felt like 60 days later.

Please remember that this is my personal experience, not medical advice. Healing after cryotherapy can vary from person to person, so always follow the instructions given by your healthcare professional.

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What Is a Plantar Wart?

A plantar wart, also known as a verruca plantaris, is a wart that develops on the bottom of the foot. It is caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Plantar warts can appear as rough, fleshy growths and may contain tiny black dots, which are small clotted blood vessels. Because they develop on weight-bearing areas of the feet, pressure from standing and walking may cause them to grow inward beneath a layer of hard skin and become painful.

The virus can enter the skin through tiny cuts or breaks. Walking barefoot in warm, moist communal areas such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers may increase exposure to the virus.

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A Plantar Wart Misdiagnosed as a Foot Corn

Admit it! There are times when we become our own “medical experts” and try to diagnose ourselves, whether it’s the cause of a fever, chest pain, or something seemingly as simple as a painful spot on the foot.

In my case, I had been experiencing a sharp pain on the sole of my left foot, which I confidently assumed was a foot corn.

It was my first time experiencing anything like it, yet somehow I was convinced I knew exactly what it was. I even used corn pads containing salicylic acid to treat it.

See how good of a doctor I was? Haha!

Since November 2020, I had been experiencing pain in the area, especially while walking and jogging. I continued using corn pads and cushions to cover the affected area and temporarily relieve the pressure.

However, the pain eventually began interfering with my daily routine.

On March 21, 2021, I finally decided to consult a doctor. It had already disrupted my daily runs, and I was becoming frustrated because staying physically active was important to me.

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During my consultation, I was referred to a surgeon who examined the lesion and told me:

“This is a wart, not a foot corn.”

I was then referred to a dermatologist, who advised me to have the wart treated rather than continue waiting.

Well, there went my self-diagnosis!

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What Caused My Plantar Wart?

Honestly, I don’t know.

The people I lived with didn’t have the same problem, so I couldn’t identify an obvious source. My doctor also explained that exposure can happen in different ways.

At the time, I wondered whether I might have been exposed to the virus during one of our camping trips.

Winter in Dubai is one of the best times to go camping with friends, enjoy the outdoors, and watch the stars. We had a favorite camping location near a muddy and slippery lake.

During one camping trip in November, I accidentally slipped and suffered a few abrasions on my leg and foot.

I initially wondered whether that incident was related to the wart that appeared later. However, I cannot know where or when I actually encountered HPV, so this was only my personal theory and not something medically confirmed by my doctor.

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During my check-up, the surgeon carefully examined and scraped some of the thickened skin surrounding the lesion before determining that it appeared to be a wart rather than a corn.

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What Is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy, sometimes called cryosurgery or freezing therapy, uses extremely cold temperatures to destroy abnormal tissue.

For common skin conditions such as warts, liquid nitrogen is frequently used to freeze the affected tissue. Depending on the size, location, and response of the wart, some people may require more than one treatment session.

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How Does Cryotherapy Work?

During cryotherapy, a healthcare professional applies extreme cold to the affected tissue. This freezes and damages the targeted cells, after which the treated tissue gradually heals and sheds.

Different methods and substances may be used for cryotherapy depending on the condition being treated.

For my plantar wart, my dermatologist used liquid nitrogen.

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How Long Did My Procedure Take?

The entire procedure took less than 10 minutes.

First, my dermatologist asked me to lie on the treatment bed. A nurse helped keep my foot steady in case I suddenly moved during the procedure.

The dermatologist then applied liquid nitrogen directly to the plantar wart using a small cryotherapy device.

No anesthetic was used in my case.

I tried my best not to move my foot, but the sensation was definitely uncomfortable. At first, it felt like ice touching my skin. After several seconds, however, the cold sensation became much more intense.

Yes, it hurt!

Thankfully, the actual freezing didn’t last very long. Before I knew it, the procedure was finished.

The nurse covered the treated area with sterile gauze, and I walked out of the treatment room. I stayed in the waiting area for approximately 15 minutes before going home because walking immediately afterward was painful.

And that was the beginning of my healing journey.

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My Plantar Wart Cryotherapy Recovery: Day 1 to Day 60

Day 1 — March 25, 2021

A day after the procedure, a large blister had developed around the treated area.

It was painful and felt almost like a burn. Although the pain was tolerable, I couldn’t walk normally with my foot completely flat on the floor.

Day 1: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 3 — March 27, 2021

By Day 3, the blister had become darker and larger, and the affected area appeared wider. It looked as though more fluid was accumulating inside the blister, and the discomfort had increased.

At this point, I did something that I would not recommend readers copy.

Because I was curious and desperate to relieve the pressure, I made a small opening in the blister myself using scissors that I had attempted to sterilize.

Once some of the fluid drained, the pressure and pain decreased significantly.

However, intentionally opening a blister can increase the risk of infection. Looking back, it would have been safer to contact my healthcare provider and ask how the blister should be managed.

Day 3: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 13 — April 6, 2021

For several days, the blister remained round and continued to contain fluid.

On Day 13, I tried wearing medium heels. As soon as I placed pressure on the sole of my foot, the blister ruptured and the remaining fluid came out.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t painful when it happened.

Day 13: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

Because the skin was now open, I became particularly careful about keeping the area clean. I followed the treatment instructions I had received and used the topical medication prescribed by my dermatologist.

If a cryotherapy blister opens, it is best to follow your healthcare provider’s wound-care instructions rather than experimenting with different antiseptics or medications at home.

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Day 28 — April 21, 2021

By Day 28, the loose skin covering the blister had started peeling away.

The area was no longer painful, and the skin underneath appeared to be healing.

Day 28: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 30 — April 23, 2021

The treated area continued to dry, and a scab had begun to form.

At this point, I no longer needed to keep it constantly covered.

Day 30: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 31 — April 24, 2021

The surrounding skin was gradually returning to its normal pinkish color, while portions of the dried skin continued to peel naturally.

I no longer felt pain while resting, although walking was still slightly uncomfortable.

I also continued postponing my jogging routine because I didn’t want to put unnecessary pressure on the area before it had fully recovered.

Day 31: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 33 — April 26, 2021

As the days passed, my foot began looking increasingly normal.

I continued following the aftercare instructions given to me.

Day 33: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 34 — April 27, 2021

The scab looked as though it was ready to come off.

Believe me, it was extremely tempting to pull it!

However, I resisted the temptation and allowed the healing skin and scab to separate naturally rather than picking at it and potentially reopening the area.

Day 34: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 46 — May 7, 2021

By Day 46, part of the scab had fallen away naturally.

One small portion remained over the area where the wart had originally been located. The tissue there had hardened and looked different from the surrounding healthy skin.

Day 46: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 54 — May 15, 2021

By this point, I could finally walk comfortably again.

The remaining portion of the scab eventually came off naturally as well.

After weeks of watching my foot blister, peel, dry, and heal, I was finally seeing normal-looking skin again.

Day 54: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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Day 60 — May 21, 2021

Finally… Day 60!

The skin affected by the cryotherapy had returned to a normal pinkish color. The scabs were gone, the area felt smooth, and most importantly, I could no longer see or feel the painful wart.

My dermatologist had explained that swelling and blistering could occur after treatment, followed by scabbing and changes in the appearance of the treated skin as it healed.

I was also told that if the wart returned, I might need another cryotherapy session.

Fortunately, based on what I could see at Day 60, the area had healed well and I didn’t need another session at that time.

After dealing with the wart for months, it was such a relief to finally walk normally again!

Day 60: Cryotherapy Post-Procedure

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What I Learned From My Cryotherapy Experience

The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is simple:

Don’t always rely on self-diagnosis.

I spent months treating what I believed was a foot corn when it was actually a plantar wart.

Corns, calluses, plantar warts, and other skin lesions can sometimes look similar to an untrained eye. When something becomes painful, persists for weeks, changes appearance, or interferes with normal activities, getting it professionally evaluated can save you a lot of unnecessary discomfort and experimentation.

As for cryotherapy, it worked well for me.

The procedure itself was very quick, but the healing process certainly wasn’t instant. My foot went through blistering, peeling, scabbing, and gradual skin recovery before finally looking normal again.

My entire experience took roughly 60 days from treatment to the point when the skin looked and felt normal again.

That doesn’t mean everyone will have the same recovery timeline. The number of treatments and healing time can vary depending on the wart, its location, the treatment used, and the individual.

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Final Thoughts

Looking back, I’m glad I eventually stopped trying to treat the problem myself and consulted a healthcare professional.

Yes, cryotherapy was uncomfortable. And yes, watching a huge blister develop on the bottom of my foot was definitely not pleasant!

But in my case, the treatment was successful after one session, and by Day 60, the painful wart that had bothered me for months was finally gone.

If you’re dealing with something similar, don’t panic—and don’t automatically assume that every hard or painful spot on your foot is a corn.

Have it checked, especially if it persists or affects your ability to walk comfortably.

And if your doctor recommends cryotherapy, remember that the procedure may only take a few minutes, while the healing process can require considerably more patience.

Sometimes, taking care of ourselves means knowing when it’s time to stop guessing and ask for professional help.

“Healing takes time, and patience is part of the process.”

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
— Psalm 147:3

Whether the wound is big or small, healing reminds us that our bodies need time, care, and patience.

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A Final Thought

My 60-day journey taught me something beyond plantar warts and cryotherapy: don’t ignore persistent problems just because they seem small.

Something as tiny as a spot on the bottom of my foot eventually affected my walking, jogging, and everyday comfort.

Take care of your body, pay attention when something doesn’t feel right, and don’t hesitate to seek professional advice when you need it.

After all those days of limping, blistering, waiting, and watching that stubborn scab—I was simply happy to have my normal foot back again. 😊

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Medical Disclaimer:
This article describes my personal experience with plantar wart cryotherapy and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered medical advice or used as a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. If you have a persistent or painful skin lesion, signs of infection, or concerns about a wart, consult your doctor, dermatologist, or podiatrist.

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Sources

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24899-plantar-warts
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21099-cryotherapy
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20352691
• https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-treatment

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Originally Published: May 18, 2021
Updated: August 2026