By: Carolena Steinberg, MD & Diana H. Lee, MD, PhD, FAAP
Warts are small, firm bumps on the skin caused by viruses from the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. Warts are common among school-aged children, but can affect people of any age.
What do warts look like and how do they spread?
Common warts
Skin warts are bumps with a rough surface and a yellow, tan, black, brown, or gray color. They can appear anywhere on the body. However, they are most often found on the hands (including near or under the fingernails) toes, face and around the knees.
Plantar warts
When they are on the bottom of the feet, doctors call them plantar warts. Plantar wars are often flat and painful. Your child may say they feels like they are walking on a pebble. The warts may have tiny red or black dots on them, which are actually tiny, swollen or dead blood vessels.
Human papillomaviruses are spread by close contact through direct touch or sharing objects. The virus often gets into the body through breaks in the skin.Warts on the bottom of the feet may happen from walking barefoot in locker rooms or around pools.
Genital warts
Warts on the genitals, also called condyloma, are usually spread sexually during genital, oral and anal sex with a partner who is infected. However, skin warts can also be spread to genital areas from warts on the hands or by caregivers who have warts on their hands.
How are warts treated?
Warts often go away on their own without treatment. But they can become painful if they are bumped, and some children are embarrassed by them. Your pediatrician can give you advice on treating warts, such as applying an over-the-counter medicine containing salicylic acid to the warts.
If any of the following develops, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist:
Multiple warts in many places
A wart on the face or genital area
Large, deep, or painful plantar warts
Warts that keep coming back after treatment
Warts that are particularly bothersome to your child
Treatment options for warts include:
Over-the-counter or prescription topical products
Duct tape (which can be used alone, or with salicylic acid)
In-office procedures
Liquid nitrogen-based solution or spray (freezing with cryotherapy)
Surgical removal by scraping or cauterizing
Laser treatment
Local injection with certain medications
Will the warts ever go away?
Many warts last for months or years and then go away on their own. Warts often will go away with the treatments above, but sometimes a treated wart will come back. If a wart comes back, simply treat it again the way you did the first time, or as directed by your pediatrician.
Will the wart leave a scar?
Some wart treatments may leave a mark or scar. Patients with darker skin may be more likely to have color changes to the skin where a wart was treated. This discoloration will go away with time, but speak to your provider about the risks and benefits of each treatment.Genital warts that are spread sexually are a risk for
certain types of cancer and require long-term follow-up monitoring. These situations should be discussed with your health care provider.
Can warts be prevented?
Washing hands after being in public places and wearing shoes when outdoors and in public places will make it less likely to get a wart. Everyone in the family should use their own towel.
To limit warts from spreading, it is best to avoid touching the wart to other parts of the body or picking or biting at the warts.
HPV vaccination prevents genital warts and might also help to prevent common warts. The HPV vaccine is recommended for children 11 years old and older, but it can be administered as early as 9 years old.
When to call your pediatrician
Let your pediatrician know if your child develops a wart on her face or genitals. If warts persist or spread or if they are painful, ask your pediatrician for medical advice.
More information
About Dr. Steinberg
 Carolena Steinberg, MD, is a medical resident in the University of Miami Health System who earned her medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her strong interest in pediatric dermatology was furthered as a PeDRA Fellow and Emerging Investigator at Stanford University, where she researched targeted therapies for and quality of life implications of pediatric vascular anomalies.
|
About Dr. Lee
Diana H. Lee, MD, PhD, FAAP, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Dermatology, is a board-certified pediatric dermatologist and is Associate Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine.
|