Warts

• Caused by a virus that enters the body through a break in the skin - these viruses are commonly found in warm, moist environments like floors of locker rooms and public swimming pools
• May or may not be in high friction areas, ie. Can be found anywhere on the plantar aspect of the foot
• Skin lines pass around the wart
• There may be multiple satellite infections of different sizes and can form mosaic patterns (ie. they can spread to other areas of your foot as well as increase in size and/or multiply
• Has a blood supply, therefor little black spots are visible
• Maximum pain with side to side squeezing

Callous

• Caused by persistent pressure, friction and/or shear. This thickening of the skin is your body's response to protect itself against too much pressure in the area
• Localized only to high friction and pressure areas, like your heels and forefoot, or under any bony prominences
• Skin lines pass through the callous
• They are not contagious and will only appear in high pressure areas
• No blood supply, therefore no black spots
• Maximum pain with direct pressure