# What to do about runner's foot scab that won't heal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767 "2016-06-07T20:20:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barack\_Obama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/1 "2016-06-07T20:20:10Z")
I have many calluses on my feet, the most annoying is this small scab like thing that has no feeling to it, and is black. Today after running on my treadmill half of it came off exposing a very small hole in my foot, I’ve had this scab for months, half of it remains and when I attempted to remove it I could not. It appears to literally be attached to my skin, I don’t know if this is a foreign object that embedded it’s self into my foot then the skin grew around it, or if it’s a sort of scab like callus trying to heal a small area that repeatedly got damaged. Also this scab thing before breaking today, was just an annoying null feeling on one specific spot on my foot, it has 0 feeling to it as if it’s a callus but it’s sticking out like a scab and feels like one. There is no callus around it as far as I can see, just a small scab thing resembling a seed, it sticks a few cm off the bottom of my foot, every time I walk I can feel it now that I messed with it. I’ve tried to trim it with scissors but was unsuccessful. I could cut it out but don’t want to more damage that there already is. I’m unsure of what exactly this is and I’ve resorted to asking this question here, because this is the best medical advice I can receive atm. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/2 "2016-06-07T20:35:55Z")
IANAD, but had you considered the possibility that it might be a wart? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/3 "2016-06-07T20:54:30Z")
I agree, it sounds like potentially a wart. See a doctor for confirmation and treatment advice. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/4 "2016-06-07T21:37:43Z")
Get thee to a podiatrist! ---
**Author:** ![Barack\_Obama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/5 "2016-06-07T21:42:26Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > IANAD, but had you considered the possibility that it might be a wart? It wasn’t the color of a wart(there is no white skin around it), nor was it as large as one compared to it’s height. It’s darker than my skin color, almost looks like callused skin. Has no feeling it’s self aside from pressure (Where piece of it came off is a bit painful but not noticeable enough refrain from walk on it). There is a very small flesh colored indent where the “scab” was. The “scab” is clear flesh color, it’s cut in half the inside looks no different. Edit: Also I can’t go to the doctor, hens why I made this thread. I’ll seek medical treatment when It’s convenient. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/6 "2016-06-07T21:57:58Z")
If anyone should have access to medical care, I’d think it would be you. 😉 I hope you don’t actually implement a course of treatment based on suggestions by random people who have only a description to go by. If you truly do have a “hole in your foot,” it would be wise to know what’s going on before putting anything on it. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/7 "2016-06-07T21:58:33Z")
Blood blister? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/8 "2016-06-07T22:00:07Z")
Warts and verrucas have quite a range of different appearances - have you tried a Google image search to see if anything matches? ---
**Author:** ![Barack\_Obama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/9 "2016-06-07T22:16:39Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Warts and verrucas have quite a range of different appearances - have you tried a Google image search to see if anything matches? More than I care to, and yes I can confirm according to every possible wart I’ve googled this isn’t anything like that. It’s not white, it’s the same color as my skin, the area around it is not callused. The “scab” it’s self looks like clear skin(not technically clear) with no feeling. I should of mentioned I also tried to pull it out, that’s how I realized it’s attacked to my skin. I can also see now where it is attached to my skin at thanks to the small indent/hole from the part that I assume got ripped out. I’ve been thinking it’s possibly glass or something my skin healed over in callus fashion. If that makes remotely any sense. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/10 "2016-06-07T22:51:14Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion, our home for medical questions. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/11 "2016-06-07T23:11:20Z")
> [@Barack\_Obama](#): > > It wasn’t the color of a wart(there is no white skin around it), nor was it as large as one compared to it’s height. It’s darker than my skin color, almost looks like callused skin. Has no feeling it’s self aside from pressure (Where piece of it came off is a bit painful but not noticeable enough refrain from walk on it). There is a very small flesh colored indent where the “scab” was. > > The “scab” is clear flesh color, it’s cut in half the inside looks no different. > > Edit: Also I can’t go to the doctor, hens why I made this thread. I’ll seek medical treatment when It’s convenient. Don’t wait, go to a doctor. You won’t get any better advice. If you get an infection in your foot, it could become life-threatening. ---
**Author:** ![Barack\_Obama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/12 "2016-06-07T23:16:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Don’t wait, go to a doctor. You won’t get any better advice. If you get an infection in your foot, it could become life-threatening. I doubt a very small indent in my foot can become infected enough to threaten my life but thanks for the concern. I’ve had someone look at it and apparently it’s a wart but since it’s on the bottom of my foot it didn’t turn white like how I see on the internet. I’ll go find something tomorrow to get rid of it now that I’ve confirmed it’s a wart. Seems the dopers were right again. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/13 "2016-06-08T03:48:01Z")
> [@Barack\_Obama](#): > > I doubt a very small indent in my foot can become infected enough to threaten my life but thanks for the concern. I’ve had someone look at it and apparently it’s a wart but since it’s on the bottom of my foot it didn’t turn white like how I see on the internet. > > I’ll go find something tomorrow to get rid of it now that I’ve confirmed it’s a wart. Seems the dopers were right again. You said you have a hole in your foot. > [@](#): > > Today after running on my treadmill half of it came off exposing a very small hole in my foot, I assumed you meant an actual wound. I know from experience (I’m diabetic) foot wounds can become infected and land you in the hospital with a bad case of MRSA. If you don’t have a wound in your foot, I apologize and retract my comment. But no Doper is going to be as right as your personal doctor. Not even the ones who are actually doctors, as they don’t have the benefit of observing your foot in person. ---
**Author:** ![trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/14 "2016-06-08T04:26:20Z")
> [@Barack\_Obama](#): > > I doubt a very small indent in my foot can become infected enough to threaten my life but thanks for the concern. My dad found himself in the hospital for six days due to cellulitis that started with a very small wound in his foot. I realize you’ve already been diagnosed with a wart, but pay close attention to your foot as it heals. If anything doesn’t look right, call your doctor right away. You probably won’t get cellulitis, but it’s dangerous enough that it’s worth being extra careful. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/15 "2016-06-08T10:21:02Z")
> [@Barack\_Obama](#): > > I doubt a very small indent in my foot can become infected enough to threaten my life but thanks for the concern. [That’s what Bob Marley thought.](https://repeatingislands.com/2011/04/15/a-death-by-skin-cancer-the-bob-marley-story/) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/16 "2016-06-08T18:04:49Z")
Plantar wart. I really just wanted to post so I can say I participated in Obabmacare, being an internet Dr. and all. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/17 "2016-06-08T20:40:14Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I really just wanted to post so I can say I participated in Obabmacare, being an internet Dr. and all. I am a Republican, so rather than fix any of the problems with your post, I want to delete it altogether, but have no suggestion on what to replace it with. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/18 "2016-06-08T20:43:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I am a Republican, so rather than fix any of the problems with your post, I want to delete it altogether, but have no suggestion on what to replace it with. But the OP said Doc Jackson could keep his post if he liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/19 "2016-06-08T20:55:40Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > But the OP said Doc Jackson could keep his post if he liked it. He said my Charter Membership fee would go down, too. Instead it went up to pay for all the Guests. “Dope and Change” my ass. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767/20 "2016-06-09T16:22:35Z")
I am not a Medical Doctor so take my post with a grain of salt but maybe you have the foot tuberculosis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-runners-foot-scab-that-wont-heal/756767.md?page=2)