Your kids have enough to deal with without also needing to worry about the development of a painful or unsightly wart on their toes or feet. However, plantar warts are a common problem for about 10-20% of kids and teens, and we oftentimes get asked by parents and kids about the best ways to manage and prevent these growths. We wanted to put all that information in one place, which is why today’s blog focuses on managing plantar warts in children.
Understanding Pediatric Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are caused by a viral infection of the human papillomavirus, or HPV. There are more than 100 types of HPV, and the virus is very common. Not every form of HPV leads to plantar warts, and their onset is also dictated by your child’s immune response, so their development will vary from child to child. The warts may develop when the virus enters through an opening on the skin, and the foot is a common spot for bacteria entry.
Common symptoms of plantar wart onset include:
- Small, rough growths on the skin
- Skin patches that take on a different color, oftentimes with black pinpoints
- Tenderness or pain when pressure is applied to the area
- Harder or callused appearance compared to normal skin
Even if the plantar wart is not uncomfortable in the moment, many parents and children want to have the warts managed for aesthetic reasons. If you or your child wants to see if their plantar warts can be reduced or removed, consider reaching out to a specialist like Dr. Silverman who can provide some individualized advice for your specific situation.
Treating Pediatric Plantar Warts
There are a few different ways that you can work to tackle your child’s plantar warts. Here are a couple of ways that pediatric plantar warts are commonly treated at home or with professional intervention:
Topical Treatments – You can see if the wart shrinks or goes away with the help of topical treatments you can find at your local drugstore. Topical treatments like salicylic acid or wart-medicated band-aids can help to kill off the growth.
Taping/Bandages – Others find that covering the wart with a tape or a band-aid for a few days before soaking the area and gently filing it down eventually leads to the reduction or elimination of a pediatric plantar wart.
Professional Topical Care – If your home-based treatments don’t work, you can head to a physician for a stronger conservative approach. They may be able to apply extra strength topical medication or attempt to freeze the wart in hopes that it eventually falls off and doesn’t return.
Professional Surgical Care – In rare instances where the wart is not responding to conservative care and it’s causing discomfort, the provider may opt to carefully remove the wart with a surgical procedure.
It’s worth noting that most plantar warts do eventually go away on their own, so more invasive methods may not be necessary even if your conservative efforts aren’t proving effective. We know that it can be hard, but if you can be patient and you practice good foot hygiene, there’s a good chance your warts will eventually resolve on their own.
For personalized advice on how to care for your child’s plantar warts, or for help with a different foot or ankle issue, connect with Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.