Your Child’s Warts

Did you wake up one morning and discover your child was developing warts? Warts can seem to appear overnight on children. Children tend to get a lot of warts. Between the ages of 12 and 16 the likelihood of your child getting warts increases by 10% to 20%. If you have a daughter, she is more likely to get warts than your son.

The good news is warts are typically harmless. However, they are contagious. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are noncancerous skin growths. When the virus enters your child’s skin through a tiny cut or scratch, it spreads rapidly and creates a growth of cells on the outer layer of their skin.

Types of Warts

1. Common warts – typically on fingers or back of the hand
2. Palmer warts – appropriately named because they are on the palm of the hand
3. Plantar warts – on the feet (soles)
4. Flat warts – small and smooth, and grow in large numbers and are usually on a child’s face.
5. Filiform warts – face warts that protrude straight out

Preventing Warts

Preventing warts is challenging. If you’re exposed to the virus it could be months until a wart develops, so tracing it back is difficult. However, you can help by having children have their own towel. Encourage the use of flip-flops when your child walks in public places. If your child bites their nails or picks hangnails, they are more susceptible.

If you or your child discovers a wart or a group of warts, call Medical Dermatology Specialists today. Dr. Weisman works with kids to give effective treatment with the care and comfort they require as a child.