Warts are skin growths that are a result of a viral infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). An underdeveloped immune system and close contact with anyone with warts can cause you to catch warts. These skin growths can occur on any part of the body – the face, hands, fingers, elbows, knees, or feet. There are different types of warts, and each has different characteristics.
Warts are a very common skin problem affecting children. In fact, they are much more common in children than adults. Let’s talk about how to treat a child’s wart.
Wart Removal for Children
The first thing to do if your child develops a wart is to see a pediatrician. These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect children, and they are highly experienced in wart removal.
In some cases, warts go away on their own. However, some types of warts, such as plantar warts, which develop on the underside of the foot, can hurt and make it difficult to ignore. The treatment a doctor uses for wart removal in a child will depend on how long the child has had it, the type and location of the wart, and the number of warts needing removal.
Pediatricians may use any of the following to treat a child’s wart:
- Salicylic acid – comes in patches, liquid, or gel form. When placed on a wart, it can irritate the skin and cause peeling. Salicylic acid as a wart treatment takes longer to achieve the desired results compared to other treatments. It may take three months of daily use before the warts are completely gone.
- Cryotherapy – a method of using liquid nitrogen delivered directly to the wart to freeze off the tissue and cause a blister to form. The blister will eventually fall off, along with the wart. Cryotherapy can remove a wart in as little as a week.
- Cautery and curettage – this method involves scraping off the wart with a tool called a curette after a local anesthetic is applied. After the removal of the skin growth, the doctor applies heat to the skin surface using an electric needle to cauterize it. Compared to surgery, this method results in less pain and tissue damage.
Warts are best prevented, as they have a tendency to return. Your pediatrician can help educate you and your child about warts and how to minimize exposure to HPV.
Wart Treatment for Kids in Tuckahoe, NY
Warts are not always painful but can be a source of embarrassment. As much as possible, seek treatment that will give immediate results to reduce the chances of warts spreading to other parts of the body.
At Village Pediatric Group, our providers regularly treat children with warts and recommend methods that produce the fastest results. For wart treatment, we either use cryotherapy or cautery and curettage. Our doctors will recommend the best treatment option for your child. To schedule an appointment with us, call our pediatric clinic today at (914) 771-7070 or use our convenient appointment request form.
