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A parent’s guide from Bayshore Podiatry Center in South Tampa.

Quick take

  • Many warts and early ingrown nails can be managed at home, but not all should be.
  • The goal is to treat early enough to avoid pain, infection, and missed activities.
  • “Digging it out” at home is one of the fastest ways to make an ingrown nail worse.

Image of Plantar Wart

Table of contents

  • Plantar warts: what parents should know
  • Wart treatment options and realistic expectations
  • Ingrown toenails: early care vs when a procedure helps
  • Red flags for infection
  • Prevention tips
  • FAQs
  • Sources

 

Plantar warts: what parents should know

Plantar warts are caused by a virus and tend to show up on pressure areas of the foot.

 

What parents notice

  • A rough spot on the sole that can feel like stepping on a pebble
  • Pain with squeezing side-to-side more than direct pressure
  • Sometimes small dark dots (clotted capillaries)

 

What’s worth knowing

Warts can be stubborn. Some resolve on their own. Others persist and spread, especially in active kids who are barefoot in communal wet areas. We recommend treating them early because they have a propensity to spread and enlarge making them more recalcitrant to treatment

 

Wart treatment options (and what to expect)

Over-the-counter salicylic acid

This can work, but it requires consistency. Many families stop too early.

 

Cryotherapy

Freezing can help some warts, but plantar warts can be resistant and may require multiple treatments. We have not had great experience with cryotherapy in our office and thus do not offer it. 

 

Other office-based options

There are several approaches depending on age, pain tolerance, and wart burden. The best plan balances effectiveness with your child’s comfort and ability to stay active. Our two favorite options are compounded wart medication or the new revolutionary swift microwave therapy with highest success rates of any treatment. You can read about swift here! 

 

When to be seen for warts

  • The wart is painful and changing how your child walks
  • Multiple warts are spreading
  • Home treatment has been inconsistent or ineffective
  • You’re unsure if it is a wart (some calluses mimic warts)

 

Ingrown toenails: early care vs when a procedure helps

Ingrown toenails often show up in older kids and teens, especially with:

  • Tight shoes
  • Aggressive corner trimming
  • Repetitive sports pressure

 

Early home care (mild cases)

  • Warm soaks
  • Keep the area clean and dry
  • Avoid tight toe-box shoes
  • Stop digging into the corner

Irritated Ingrown Toenail

When a procedure becomes the best option

If your child has recurrent ingrowns, significant swelling, or ongoing drainage, an in-office procedure can be a straightforward way to solve the problem rather than repeating the same painful cycle. We offer both procedures and a simpler fix when appropriate called onyfix which is painless and corrects the way your childs nail grows. You can read more about onyfix here. 

 

Red flags for infection

Seek evaluation if you see:

  • Spreading redness
  • Significant swelling and heat
  • Drainage that persists
  • Increasing pain
  • Fever (rare, but high-stakes)

Infected Ingrown Toenail

Prevention tips

For warts

  • Wear sandals in communal wet areas (locker rooms, pool decks)
  • Don’t share shoes or socks
  • Treat early lesions to reduce spread

 

For ingrown nails

  • Trim nails straight across
  • Avoid “rounding” the corners deep
  • Choose shoes with a comfortable toe box for sports and daily wear

 

FAQs

Are plantar warts dangerous?

Usually no, but they can be painful and contagious.

 

Can I cut an ingrown nail corner out at home?

We do not recommend it. It often worsens inflammation and infection risk.

 

Will my child need antibiotics for an ingrown nail?

Not always. Treatment depends on the severity and whether there is true infection.

 

When to book an evaluation

If your child is limping from a wart or dealing with recurring ingrown nails, we can help you choose the most efficient, least disruptive treatment plan. Book your appointment here! 

 

Bayshore Podiatry Center serves families across the Tampa Bay area conveniently located in South Tampa near Hyde Park!

 

Medical disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. No medical advice is given and no patient doctor relationship is being formed. Please use the advice at your own discression and seek immediate medical care if you are concerned. 

Sources

  • Bristow I. Paediatric cutaneous warts and verrucae: an update.
  • Pediatric ingrown toenail treatment outcomes references
Saleena Niehaus
Saleena Niehaus
Board Certified Podiatrist in Tampa Florida