Why Children Are Prone to Plantar Warts

Plantar warts can affect anyone, but children and teenagers are more likely to develop them than adults. Plantar warts are viruses that attack the soles of the foot.

When it comes to plantar warts, prevention is your best bet. However, if you see a plantar wart, you should see a podiatrist right away. At Precision Foot & Ankle Center, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Angela Jacob, commonly treats plantar warts in children, along with a full range of issues that affect the feet and ankles.

In this post, our experts explain how to prevent and treat plantar warts in children.

Plantar warts overview

Plantar warts are most commonly found on weight-bearing areas of the foot, such as the heels or balls of the feet. A strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is not sexually transferred like other strains of HPV, is the most common cause of plantar warts. The virus enters the foot through tears or cuts in the skin.

While children and teenagers are most at risk of acquiring plantar warts, adults with diabetes and those with impaired immune systems are also at risk.

Identifying plantar warts on your child

Look for these characteristics when checking your child for plantar warts:

• Tiny, rough growth on the bottom of their foot
• Hardened, thicker skin above the wart
• Black pinpoints, often known as wart seeds
• A group of growths on the bottom of the foot

Your youngster may also experience pain or tenderness around the plantar wart, especially when standing or walking. 

Why children and teens are prone to plantar warts

Because the virus that causes plantar warts spreads quickly in dark damp areas that children and teens tend to frequent (indoor and outdoor swimming pools, locker rooms, and areas near pools), youngsters are more prone to getting plantar warts than adults. 

Wearing shoes, such as flip-flops, and keeping their feet dry will help your child avoid contact with the virus in these circumstances. Plantar warts can also spread to other regions of the foot, so it’s important to keep their feet clean and away from abrasive materials. 

Treating and preventing plantar warts

When you bring your child to Precision Foot & Ankle Center, we give them a physical exam and prescribe a treatment based on several factors, including the type of plantar wart, how long it’s been in place, and its severity. 

Without treatment, most warts disappear in a matter of weeks or months. There are several approaches to treating plantar warts. You can rely on Dr. Jacob to discuss the recommended treatment with you.

Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is one method. We utilize liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart and remove it. Pulsed-dye laser treatments are another alternative, which use concentrated beams of light to kill specific blood arteries without harming the surrounding skin.

If your child has plantar warts, we can treat them and provide them with the relief they need. To learn more, call Precision Foot & Ankle Center to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jacob.