A common condition that affects children and teens is warts, also know as varruca plantaris. Warts are caused by a virus and tend to like warm, moist environments like the feet. Our feet are enclosed in our shoes and socks all day long, creating the perfect breeding ground for warts. Additionally, gyms, locker rooms, showers, and pools are places that we may not be wearing shoes, and the environments in these places are typically warm and moist. Warts are common in children, as their immune systems are not as strong as adults. Parents often do not notice the warts until a child is limping or complaining of pain. Warts can look like any of the following: raised bumps, callouses, or red dots.

A podiatrist can tell you if the area is actually a wart. If there is a callous or hard skin over the wart, a podiatrist will trim this off to get a better look at the area. This is painless but often causes pinpoint bleeding of the very small blood vessels just under the skin. This is one of the signs of a wart. Additional signs of a wart include some or all of the following: discontinuation of skin lines, cauliflower appearance, dark spots, and pain with side to side pressure. Warts can be treated with a variety of topical medications, acids, freezing, lasers, and surgical excision. Occasionally, warts require a combination of treatments, and the treatment may take weeks or months. Warts can be prevented by keeping the feet dry: changing socks frequently, drying thoroughly after bathing, using powders or sprays to keep the feet dry, and spraying the shoes out regularly with lysol.

Dr. Bender is a podiatrist with Advanced Physical Medicine. She has 12 years of experience in private practice and has been a clinical instructor at William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine for the last 9 years. She practices at the Oak Park and Chicago/63rd St. locations. For an appointment, call 708-763-0580 or 773-776-3166.