Plantar warts are skin growths that develop on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus and are common among children. If your child has a plantar wart, she may experience pain when she walks, depending on the size of the wart. You can try a few home remedies to remove her plantar wart, but be sure to discuss natural treatments with your doctor prior to trying them.
Step 1
Ignore it. Pediatrician Bob Sears states on his website that warts often go away without any treatment. If your child has no pain from his plantar wart and you think he may respond negatively to treatments, some of which can be painful, you can try ignoring the wart. A plantar wart can take one or two years to go away if left untreated.
Step 2
Use duct tape. If you want to try a home remedy and avoid a doctor's visit, Sears suggests treating plantar warts on children using duct tape. Cut a piece of duct tape big enough to cover your child's plantar wart and apply the tape directly over the wart. Leave the tape in place for one week, then soak the foot to remove the tape. Rub the wart with a pumice stone, then apply a new piece of duct tape over the wart and repeat the process until the wart is gone. MayoClinic.com states that duct tape may be more effective in removing warts than medical treatments such as freezing.
Step 3
Use an over-the-counter wart remedy. Purchase a wart treatment that includes salicylic acid and apply the treatment to your child's wart once or twice a day. Buff the wart with a pumice stone between applications and repeat the treatment until the wart is gone. Be prepared to repeat the treatment for several weeks before the wart is completely gone.
Step 4
Visit a doctor. If your child has a stubborn or painful plantar wart, take him to a dermatologist. Ask your dermatologist to freeze your child's wart using liquid nitrogen. It may take a few office visits before freezing completely removes your child's plantar wart.
Tips and Warnings
- Freezing can be a painful process. Consider your child's feelings towards doctor visits and pain tolerance when deciding which treatment option is best for her. Help your child prevent future plantar warts by encouraging him to wear shoes at all times and change into clean socks daily.
