How to Get Rid of Warts in Children

Close shot of big wart on the pointer finger of young child, who is keeping yellow pencil.

Warts are small, hard, benign (non-cancerous) growths that appear on the skin. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Children are more likely to get warts because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, and they are at higher risk of exposure since warts easily spread through contact with infected skin or objects.

Children often get warts on their hands, feet, and face. Warts, while they usually go away on their own, are highly contagious and can spread to other children. Additionally, warts are unsightly and can make children feel self-conscious. Therefore, it is recommended that warts be treated immediately. Fortunately, warts are very easy to treat.

How Do You Get Rid of Warts?

Warts in children are best treated by a pediatrician. Pediatricians specialize in providing care to children and are highly experienced in the treatment of warts. Over-the-counter treatments are usually not as effective as the treatments a pediatrician can provide for wart removal.

Pediatricians primarily use three methods to remove warts: cryotherapy, electrodesiccation (or cautery) and curettage, and laser therapy.

Cryotherapy to Remove Warts in Children

Here’s how cryotherapy is performed by doctors:

  1. The area to be treated is first cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
  2. A small amount of liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart using a cotton swab or spray gun.
  3. The area is covered with a dressing or Band-Aid to protect it from further injury and keep the area sterile.
  4. After a few minutes, the dressing is removed and the area is allowed to dry for several hours before reapplying another dressing, if necessary.

Electrodesiccation and Curettage to Remove Warts in Children

Electrodesiccation and curettage involve using an electrical current to destroy wart tissue and scraping the tissue away with a curette, a sharp, spoon-shaped instrument. The procedure is usually performed in the doctor’s office and takes about 10 minutes. The child will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area around the wart.

  1. Once the area is numb, the pediatrician will use a small probe to deliver an electrical current to the wart tissue. This process may cause some discomfort or skin irritation.
  2. Afterward, the pediatrician will use a curette to scrape away any remaining wart tissue. The wound will then be covered with a bandage or dressing.

Laser Therapy for Wart Removal

The pulse dye laser is very effective in wart removal. The steps are as follows:

  1. The pediatrician will clean the area around the wart and numb it with a local anesthetic.
  2. Next, the doctor will aim the laser at the wart and deliver short pulses of light energy to it.
  3. This process will cause the blood vessels feeding the wart to collapse and eventually kill the wart tissue.
  4. After a few minutes, the treated area will be covered with a dressing or bandage to protect it while it heals.

Wart Removal for Kids in Tuckahoe, NY

The board-certified pediatricians at Village Pediatric Group are highly skilled and experienced in wart removal using the methods outlined above. Our child-friendly team works hard to keep your child comfortable and relaxed in our clinic. To schedule an appointment with us, call our pediatric clinic in Tuckahoe today at (914) 771-7070 or use our convenient online request form.