Warts in children: causes and treatments

Warts are small lumps that appear on the skin as a result of a dermatological condition. There are several possible causes, and there are

also treatments to combat warts on children’s bodies. Keep reading. Warts are small skin lumps caused by an infectious dermatological disease, the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. Although they are not harmful, they are quite contagious

and have an unsightly appearance that can affect children psychologically. That is why it is advisable to treat them as soon as possible.

The most common areas where different types of warts appear in children are the hands, including palms, nails and surrounding areas, the feet, including toes and soles, and even the face. Causes of warts in children. The appearance of all types of warts has several causes. The Human Papillomavirus, HPV, is the main cause of warts. They are easily spread through simple physical contact. A weak immune system makes children more likely to catch these small lumps. How can contagion of warts in children be prevented?

Some key measures include regular and correct hand washing.

Children should wear flip-flops in certain

• public spaces, such as changing rooms or swimming pools, and should not walk barefoot, in order to avoid plantar warts.
• They should not bite their nails or pick at hangnails, as this may
• open wounds that favour the appearance of subungual and periungual warts on the hands. Do not share towels or other hygiene items.

Avoid physical contact with warts, including your own.

It is also recommended that boys and

• girls aged 11 to 12 are vaccinated
• against the Human Papillomavirus, although the vaccine may be given from the age of 9. Treatments for warts in children. There is a wide variety of treatments to combat warts in children. Cryotherapy is the most conventional treatment and consists of freezing the wart so that it detaches from the body.
• Cryotherapy should be carried out in children over 4 years of age. There are products that allow it to be done at home, but always with medical approval. Cauterisation is different from cryotherapy because the wart is burned.
• This method is not as advisable because it can damage children’s skin.
• Medicines against warts may also be used under medical prescription. It is advisable to keep the wart covered while the medicine acts.

Surgical removal is a fairly safe treatment and is used for deeper warts. Laser treatments are the future of wart treatment because they are fast, safe and have few risks. However, more than one third of warts fall

off by themselves within six months of appearing.

When should you contact a specialist?

• With regard to warts, you should visit your paediatrician when a wart appears on any part of the body, when more warts continue to appear over time, or if symptoms such as discomfort, pain, inflammation, bleeding, discharge or redness appear. At Farmaciasdirect, we have a pharmaceutical team ready to advise you on the most suitable treatments for the type of wart that appears on your child. Do not hesitate to contact us.