Wart Removal Treatment

What are warts?

Warts are small skin growths caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Children develop warts more frequently than adults, although they can occur at any age.

Warts vary in appearance depending on their type and location. They may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin, feel rough or smooth, and sometimes contain tiny black dots caused by small blood vessels.

Common types of warts include:

• Common warts: Rough, dome-shaped bumps often found on the fingers, hands, knees, or elbows
• Flat warts: Small, smooth, flat-topped growths that often develop on the face or appear in clusters
• Plantar warts: Warts on the bottoms of the feet that may grow inward and become painful when standing or walking
• Filiform warts: Narrow, finger-like growths that commonly develop around the mouth, nose, or eyes

How do children get warts?

The virus that causes warts can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces and objects, such as towels, bathmats, locker room floors, and shower floors.

A wart may not appear immediately after exposure. Warts tend to develop slowly, and it can take several months for one to become noticeable.

Picking, scratching, or rubbing an existing wart may also spread the virus to other areas of your child’s body. Encourage your child to leave warts alone, wash their hands after touching them, and avoid sharing towels and other personal items.

Does my child need wart removal?

Many warts eventually disappear without treatment. However, treatment may be helpful if a wart is painful, bothersome, spreading, or persistent.

Your pediatrician at Garland Pediatric Practice examines the growth to determine whether it’s a wart and recommends treatment based on its type, size, location, and your child’s needs.

You should also have a wart evaluated if it develops on a sensitive area, such as the face, or if it becomes painful, red, swollen, bleeding, or begins draining pus.

How are warts removed?

Several treatments can help remove warts. Depending on your child’s wart, your pediatrician may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription topical medication that gradually removes layers of affected skin.

Another common option is cryotherapy, an in-office treatment that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. The treated tissue gradually breaks down, allowing the wart to fall away as the skin heals.

Some warts require more than one treatment, particularly if they’re large or persistent. Because the virus can remain in the skin, warts may also return after successful removal.

Your pediatrician provides instructions for caring for the area after treatment and may recommend continued treatment at home when appropriate.

To learn more about wart removal for children and teens, call Garland Pediatric Practice or schedule an appointment online today.