It sounds like your daughter may have a plantar wart (caused by HPV) or possibly a small puncture/foreign body on her sole. The black dots are often tiny blood vessels in a wart, and the pain when walking is typical, especially on weight-bearing areas. Since she has a dance recital tomorrow, the priority is pain relief and protection, not permanent removal. Here’s what you can do quickly:
Immediate Steps Tonight
- Clean the area
- Wash her foot gently with soap and water. Pat dry.
- Protect the sore spot
- Cut a small piece of moleskin or soft foam and place it around the wart/black-dot area, not directly on it.
- Apply a bandage or blister pad to reduce pressure while dancing.
- Pain relief
- If she’s in significant pain, you can give an age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen (follow dosing instructions).
- Avoid anything harsh like liquid nitrogen or salicylic acid tonight — they can worsen pain before improvement.
- Avoid extra pressure
- Have her wear soft-soled shoes or dance shoes with cushioning if possible.
- Make sure the shoe doesn’t rub directly on the spot.
What not to do
- Do not try to cut, burn, or poke the black dots tonight — risk of infection and more pain.
- Avoid using home wart removers immediately before dancing — they can cause severe discomfort.
After the Recital
- Schedule a visit with a pediatrician or podiatrist for proper wart removal or treatment if it is a plantar wart.
- If the black dots are from a puncture or splinter, a doctor can remove it safely.
If the pain worsens, she can’t walk, or the area becomes red/swollen, see a doctor tonight — it could be infected or a foreign object.
I can also give you a super-fast “dance-safe” wrap you can do tonight to let her perform with minimal pain. Do you want me to show that?
