Plantar Warts: A Quick Guide to a Common Condition

As summer approaches, children’s shoes may be swapped for sandals during fun at the pool, at the beach, or in the yard. With feet more exposed, you may notice something – a wart! Here are some things to know about warts and common treatments. 

What Are Plantar Warts? 

Plantar warts, or warts on the bottom of the feet, are harmless bumps on the skin. They are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus family and are common in school-aged children. Typically, direct contact with the virus is needed to cause infection, and areas of scrapes, cuts, or injury are more likely to become infected. Spread may occur from an already present wart somewhere else on the body, a wart on someone else, or possible contact with the virus in the environment. Warts typically are not painful, but they may cause discomfort or pain depending on the location.

What Do Warts Look Like? 

Warts can have different appearances and features such as: 

• Raised, dome-shaped, thickened skin that may be brown, tan, yellow or black in color
• Bumpy, “cauliflower-like” texture
• Black or dark red dots in areas of rough skin

Plantar warts most commonly have a thickened appearance and often have black or red dots in the center.

Do Warts Need Treatment? 

Not necessarily! Luckily, many warts go away on their own without treatment, but this may take a long time – sometimes years. If warts are causing discomfort, spreading, or come back after initially going away, they may be worth treating. Common treatments include:

1. Salicylic acid: this medication is applied to the wart and helps remove excess layers of skin. It also helps the body’s infection fighting cells create a response to the virus. This may be prescribed by your doctor or can be obtained over the counter.
2. Cryotherapy – your doctor can use a medication to freeze the wart and surrounding skin. Typically, a blister will form and then fall off with the wart. Sometimes, more than one treatment is needed to fully remove the wart. 

If these common treatments do not work or the warts continue to come back despite initial success with treatment, your doctor may recommend different medications or consider a referral to a pediatric dermatologist.

If you have questions or concerns about warts, please contact your pediatrician to discuss the best options for your child.