Warts are common among children, teens, and adults. These benign skin bumps appear on the face, hands, and feet, and while painless, they can cause considerable self-consciousness. Also, while many warts disappear on their own, others need treatment. In fact, the most stubborn and widespread require care from a pediatrician or dermatologist.
Here’s more to consider about warts and your kids.
The Cause of Warts
Warts develop due to exposure to the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus spreads by skin-to-skin contact and also can develop on various sites on the body. Warts may begin on the hands and spread to the face, or they may start on the soles of the feet and end up forming on the nail beds of both the feet and the hands.
In other words, this viral skin infection is highly contagious, and while warts are typically small and gray to brown in color, they can end up numbering as many as 100, especially on the feet. So, because of how prolific warts can be and how easy the virus is to catch, children can need professional evaluation and treatment for their warts.
How Your Pediatrician Will Treat Your Child’s Wart
Simple visual inspection helps the doctor identify the kind and location of warts. The doctor will consider the size and number of warts, too, and also determine if at-home medications, such as topical salicylic acid, or in-office treatments would be best.
In-office treatments can include:
- Laser removal
- Cryotherapy or treatment with liquid nitrogen
- Electrodessication with a heated needle
- Scalpel removal
- Topically applied chemicals in prescription strength
In most cases, your pediatrician is the best person to see regarding warts. She knows you and your family well and understands the impact various procedures and medications have on young skin and how your child may tolerate the treatment.
Additional Reasons to Visit Your Pediatrician for Warts Treatment
Don’t delay in visiting your child’s doctor for wart treatment if:
- You are not certain the skin bump is a wart
- A wart oozes, bleeds, or hurts
- Your baby or toddler has a wart
- Warts are spreading quickly to other sites on the body
Also, your pediatrician will give you and your child hygiene tips on quelling the spread of warts. Examples include:
- Good handwashing techniques
- Keeping warts covered until they drop off
- Never touching warts on other parts of the body
- Never touching someone else’s warts
- Not picking at or itching warts
- Not sharing towels or other personal hygiene items
- Wearing flip-flops in locker rooms and showers and around pools
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.
