(HealthDay News) -- Plantar warts stem from a common virus and are formed on the bottoms of your feet.

You increase your risk of infection by walking in bare feet in public showers or locker rooms, the American Orthopaedic Food & Ankle Society says.

Plantar warts may be painful, but they're easily treated or may go away on their own.

The society suggests how to treat plantar warts:

  • Your doctor may trim the wart and apply a chemical treatment.
  • Salicylic acid patches can be applied daily.
  • Use a pumice stone regularly and maintain good foot hygiene.
  • If your wart does not respond to treatment, a doctor can apply liquid nitrogen to the wart to freeze and dissolve it. This treatment probably will need to be repeated.