Since children often engage in activities that involve close contact with surfaces and other children, they often expose themselves to human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes warts.
Usually, warts are harmless and tend to resolve on their own. However, if your kids’ warts are causing significant discomfort or are spreading and if your child feels embarrassed about their appearance, it is best to seek the treatment of warts.
Let’s discuss what you, as a parent or caregiver, need to know about warts and what can be done about your child’s warts.
Things You Need to Know About Child’s Warts
As a parent or caregiver, you need to equip yourself with the right knowledge about warts, their types, the mode of transmission of human papillomavirus, and warts symptoms. Understanding warts in children will help you choose the right treatment for your child.
Warts in children can have many types: plantar warts, flat warts, filiform warts, and genital warts. All these diverse types are caused by different strains of the HPV virus. HPV virus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact as well as can also be transmitted indirectly from contaminated objects or surfaces.
A child is more likely to get an HPV infection if their skin is wet or damaged. In some children, warts spread from one part of the body to another when a child touches, picks at, or scratches warts on one part of the body and then does the same to another.
When it enters the skin, the virus causes excess production of a hard protein in the epidermis called keratin. The excessive production and accumulation of keratin and keratinized cells give warts their appearance and texture. Generally, warts have a rough raised surface due to the buildup of these keratinized cells. They can develop singly or in clusters and may vary in appearance.
Managing Warts at Home
Warts in kids have a tendency to proliferate. So, when you notice warts on your child’s skin, treat them as soon as possible. There are several over-the-counter methods and home remedies out there that can help remove your kids’ warts. The most common method is over-the-counter salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, when applied as directed on warts, gradually dissolves warts and removes them. You can also apply duct tape on your kids’ warts to remove them.
Warts can be managed with natural treatments or remedies, such as apple cider vinegar, castor oil, tea tree oil, garlic, pineapple, and orange peel. However, before applying any of these to your child’s warts, consider your child’s age and comfort. This is because some natural treatments, such as tea tree oil, may irritate children’s skin and make them uncomfortable.
Consult a Pediatrician
Consulting a pediatrician is one of the best ways to understand your child’s unique warts type and find a permanent solution to the warts. With advanced education, training, and skill, a pediatrician can comprehensively evaluate your child’s unique warts type and recommend the best course of treatment. They can provide guidance on finding the best at-home treatments for your child’s warts and offer several effective warts removal methods.
Cryotherapy is one of the popular methods pediatricians offer to treat warts in children. Another quick procedure is cautery, which involves heating the unsightly growth with an electrified needle. The cautery method only takes a few minutes to complete and is performed in the pediatric exam room. Your child’s pediatrician can also use today’s most advanced method, called laser therapy, to remove your child’s warts.
Children’s Warts Treatment in Tuckahoe, NY
At Village Pediatric Group, we use advanced and cutting-edge methods to remove children’s warts. Our highly trained and board-certified pediatricians can provide you with the necessary guidance and information on ways to prevent warts from occurring in the first place and spreading to other parts of the body. We also offer a full range of pediatric services to our patients in Tuckahoe, NY, and the surrounding area.
If you would like to set up a consultation with our pediatricians, contact our friendly staff today at (914) 771-7070 or fill out our convenient online appointment request form.
