Dermatologist or Podiatrist?

[aidensmom73]

DS7 has a plantar wart on his foot. We treated it for a few weeks at home with Compound W and it doens't seem to be going away and he is complaining that it hurts.

Which type of doctor is best to see?

 

[MEM]

DS7 has a plantar wart on his foot. We treated it for a few weeks at home with Compound W and it doens't seem to be going away and he is complaining that it hurts.

Which type of doctor is best to see?

Podiatrist, but be aware that the treatment could range from digging out the wart to just covering it with duct tape.

 

[PrincessParty]

We used gorilla tape.

 

[Hannathy]

I would start with your pediatrician or family Dr. Most warts can be taken care of by them and let them refer you if you need more specialized care. Plus I'm sure you will get into them quicker than a specialist.Insurance may want that also.

 

[aidensmom73]

I did read an article that duct tape is ofetn used as a treatment. Isn't there a procedure where they are frozen off as well?

 

[aidensmom73]

I would start with your pediatrician or family Dr. Most warts can be taken care of by them and let them refer you if you need more specialized care. Plus I'm sure you will get into them quicker than a specialist.Insurance may want that also.

We do not need a referal for a specialist. Honestly, I didn't realize that the pediatrician could treat it in the office.

 

[robinb]

I would see your regular pediatrician. My DD is on swim team and warts go with the territory. She has had them removed from her toes and fingers by her regular doctor who uses "bug juice" (cantharidin - a kind of acid made from beetles) and liquid nitrogen to freeze them off. The liquid nitrogen hurts more than the "bug juice" but it usually works the first time.

ETA: I have also heard that duct tape works well, but is impractical for my DD who is in the water 4-5 times per week and band aids are not allowed in the pool.

 

[aidensmom73]

I would see your regular pediatrician. My DD is on swim team and warts go with the territory. She has had them removed from her toes and fingers by her regular doctor who uses "bug juice" (cantharidin - a kind of acid made from beetles) and liquid nitrogen to freeze them off. The liquid nitrogen hurts more than the "bug juice" but it usually works the first time.

ETA: I have also heard that duct tape works well, but is impractical for my DD who is in the water 4-5 times per week and band aids are not allowed in the pool.

I called the pediatricians office and spoke with one of the nurse practioners. She said no need to come in, since they do not treat them. She said to see a podiatrist. In most cases, they need to be dug out (which sounds painful). I am going to call one and make an apt for a consultation.

A co-worker suggested Vitamin A and then a band aid. I may try that in the meantime.

 

[nolenurse2000]

my mother 30 yrs ago had hers cut out. but actually I just sent one of my patients (i am a NP) to a podiatrist in DE and they are using laser as well as cutting, taping, cryo, and meds.
BTW...idea of the duct tape is to keep it moist, I thought it was odd when I first heard it too!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We have used duct tape on 2 different children and it takes time but is pain free and it does work.

 

[junebugs]

I treated my daughter with duct tape. It took a long time - maybe 2 months - but it was painless. She was only 3 or 4 years old at the time so it was a much better option.

 

[aidensmom73]

We have used duct tape on 2 different children and it takes time but is pain free and it does work.

So you put a small piece right on the wart? Is the stuff in the duct tape the same as what is in Compound W?

 

[aidensmom73]

my mother 30 yrs ago had hers cut out. but actually I just sent one of my patients (i am a NP) to a podiatrist in DE and they are using laser as well as cutting, taping, cryo, and meds.
BTW...idea of the duct tape is to keep it moist, I thought it was odd when I first heard it too!

I am glad to hear there are other options than cutting. When making the apt, should I ask ahead of time what methods they use?

 

[robinb]

I called the pediatricians office and spoke with one of the nurse practioners. She said no need to come in, since they do not treat them. She said to see a podiatrist. In most cases, they need to be dug out (which sounds painful). I am going to call one and make an apt for a consultation.

That was a good idea to call! No reason to go there if the doctor can't help you. I had one dug out and frozen out many, many years ago by a podiatrist. It was on the bottom of my foot and it hurt A LOT.

You could probably google the duct tape cure. IIRC you put the duct tape on and then cover it with a band aid.

 

[mousetravel]

I took my DD to her pediatrician for this just a couple of weeks ago. The doctor used the tool to "freeze" it (the same thing you can buy at the store). She told me to purchase "Duofilm" and for DD to use it for a couple months. It is a medicine and you put a drop of it on the area, let it dry, then put a small bandage over it. I had a hard time finding Duofilm, though. The doctor said they'd have it at WalMart, but WalMart said they don't carry it anymore. I tried CVS, and they didn't have it. Walgreens DID have it, and it was $9.99. It does say on the package that it takes a couple months of usage for results.

 

[princessmom29]

Be aware that plantar warts are different than regular warts. They have a deep core that penetrates well in to the sole of the foot, and can often require a procedure to remove the core before they will completely go away. Dh had one just after we met, and the duct tape, freezing ect would take care of it for a while, but if kept coming back. The doctor explained that if the core is not killed by the treatment, it will just regrow. I owuld try the noninvasive treatments first, but go into in with the knowledge that it may have to be cut out, depending on how deep the core is. Dh's was about 2cm-3cm into his footbed.

 

[aidensmom73]

Be aware that plantar warts are different than regular warts. They have a deep core that penetrates well in to the sole of the foot, and can often require a procedure to remove the core before they will completely go away. Dh had one just after we met, and the duct tape, freezing ect would take care of it for a while, but if kept coming back. The doctor explained that if the core is not killed by the treatment, it will just regrow. I owuld try the noninvasive treatments first, but go into in with the knowledge that it may have to be cut out, depending on how deep the core is. Dh's was about 2cm-3cm into his footbed.

That is good to know. I said plantar because I thought they were all plantar on the foot. I am going to try a few at home remedies first and see what happens.

 

[jel0511]

Both of my kids had this from camp this summer. I took both of them to the podiatrist. He shaved off some of the wart, then put on a medication which over a few weeks, turned it into a blister. It took both of them about a month to get rid of them and they had no pain whatsoever.

 

[amez]

we took my six year old for several treatments to a podiatrist-who just gave us a medicine to put on it and would scrap at it. Our insurance would not cover it. It was getting expensive and really not working any better then the compound w. We decided to buy an over the counter freezing type wart remover. I think it was about $17 (much cheaper then the weekly office visits) The canister held maybe 7 treatments and it took just three-first one probably doesn't count cause my husband was trying to determine how to work it and wasn't sure he did it long enough. My daughters toe is perfectly normal now and no pain at all.

 

[pickleo]

According to Dr. Oz, put a piece of duct tape on it...removing all the air, and leave on for 3 days. This will kill the wart.