Please Wait a Moment
While we log you into Lysol.com using Facebook
Warts
Warts are skin infections caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family, and they are more common in children than in adults. While they can appear anywhere, they often are found on or around small cuts or scratches, or around nails when a child bites his/her nails and skin. They are very contagious, and your child can contract warts just by touching something – like a towel or table – that was touched by someone with a wart.
Symptoms
There are different symptoms for different warts:
- Common - found on fingers, hands, knees, and elbows. A small, hard bump that's dome-shaped and usually grayish-brown, often has a rough surface with black dots.
- Flat - often on faces, but also on arms, knees, or hands. Smaller than other warts; smooth with flat tops. They can be pink, light brown, or yellow and can appear in clusters.
- Plantar - found on the bottom of the foot. Because of their location, they can make it painful to walk.
- Filiform - found around the mouth, eyes, or nose. Shaped more like fingers and are typically flesh-toned.
Treatment
If your young child has a wart, talk to his or her healthcare provider before trying to treat it yourself. A wart will often go away without treatment; this can take from approximately 6 months to two years. Or, your child's healthcare provider may decide to remove the wart if it is bothering your child or is painful (as is often the case with plantar warts).