What to Do if Your Child Gets Plantar Warts

Cute as they are, kids are magnets for all kinds of trouble! One example is warts!  If they happen to be on the sole of the foot, they’re known as plantar warts, because they are on the plantar aspect or bottom of the foot.  Children get warts more than adults because their immune system is still developing.

So let’s say you or your little one develops a wart.  What options do you have?  You could try to just wait it out.   But they can be painful or embarrassing, but they’re usually not “harmful” in a medical sense.   However, a medical evaluation should be done to ensure they are a wart and not a skin cancer.   Warts can spontaneously go away; but it might take quite a few months or even a few years.  If you do decide to go this route don’t pick at the wart; not only does this not work, but can cause warts to spread. It will also be important to maintain good hygiene, wash hands, change socks regularly, etc.

Most of the time something should be done because if left untreated, warts can spread to other parts of the body—or other family members. Warts should also always be treated if they cause pain, whether that’s the physical pain of standing on a bump all day, or the emotional pain of embarrassment and self-consciousness.

Over the counter medications at the grocery store typically is not enough if the wart is on the sole of the foot, because the skin is very thick.  Dr. Elenburg at the Foot & Ankle Center of Oklahoma, has more potent medication that is available.  Also, he can offload the areas to relieve pain by padding around the area.  If this is not enough, he may offer freezing or burning off the wart.

Dr. Elenburg at the Foot and Ankle Center will offer treatment options, so you can choose what is right for you!

To schedule an appointment with us in either Oklahoma City or Edmond, OK, give us a call at (405) 418-2676.