Maybe it was when you put on your shoes one morning or when you went for an evening jog that you first noticed that painful or uncomfortable bump on the bottom of your foot. Whatever the case, one thing for sure is that a painful or itchy bump on the sole of the foot should be checked out to rule out a more serious health concern. Usually, a bump on the bottom of the foot is innocent and not a reason to worry, however, sometimes they are a sign of a larger underlying problem.
Here are a few possibilities of what that pesky bump on the bottom of your foot could be:
The most common issue is a plantar wart, which happens if you have the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The warts are small, raised bumps, much like those found on the hands, and have a fleshy, even squishy, feel to them. When you have a wart on your foot, it may hurt when you walk or put pressure on that region. Although plantar warts are usually not serious and typically heal on their own, if the bump causes too much discomfort, you can treat it with an over the counter solution that freezes the wart and slowly removes it.
Another possibility is that the bump of your foot can be a plantar fibroma – or a small non-cancerous nodule that typically grows on the arch of the foot within the plantar fascia ligament. Usually genetics are to blame for the development of plantar fibromas, but other conditions such as trauma to the ligament in the arch of the foot can cause them too. Symptoms of plantar fibromas are pain or discomfort while walking, especially while walking after being off your feet for a few hours.
A ganglion cyst can be another reason for the bump on the bottom of your foot. The cyst is a little sac filled with synovial fluid and is sometimes tender when touched and is typically harmless (or benign). As annoying as a cyst at the bottom of your foot is, there is usually no need to worry. The cyst may or may not go away on its own and is rarely painful. See a medical professional for treatment options if the ganglion cyst causes you a lot of discomfort or pain, as there could be underlying reasons for the cyst.
Does your cyst itch? If so, it can be a sign of dyshidrotic eczema. This form of eczema causes small blisters to form on the hands and soles of the feet. These fluid-filled bumps tend to grow towards the edges of the foot and can last up to three weeks. They are usually very itchy and can look scaly, cracked and unusually dry and cause discomfort or pain when walking or when pressure is put on that area. Some causes include seasonal allergies like hay fever, as well as exposing your feet to water or moisture for an extended time. Dyshidrotic eczema is usually not serious and can go away on its own, although it can be a lasting chronic condition. Specially prescribed itch creams or, more currently, UV light therapy can be effective treatment options for this skin condition.
As always, if your feet are hurting for any reason, make sure to call our Evanston office – Evanston Podiatric Surgeons at 847-475-9030, or Downtown Chicago office –Mag Mile Foot and Ankle Institute at 312-236-3507. Our care options for foot injuries and pain include some of the most cutting-edge procedures and technologies available!