Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0

DESCRIPTION

• Warts are raised, round, rough-surfaced growths on the skin.
• They occur most often on the hands.
• They are not painful unless they are on the bottom of the foot (called plantar warts).
• Unlike a callus, a wart has brown dots in it and has a clear boundary with the normal skin.

CAUSE

Warts are caused by papillomaviruses.

EXPECTED COURSE

Warts are harmless. Most warts disappear without treatment in 2 or 3 years. With treatment they are usually gone in 2 to 3 months.

HOME TREATMENT

1. Wart-removing acids

   Ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter acid for removing warts.

   Put the acid on the wart once a day, enough to cover the entire wart. The acid will work faster if you cover the wart with adhesive tape or duct tape after you put the acid on the wart. Keep the lid on the acid container closed tightly so the acid won't evaporate. Make sure that you don't get any of the acid near your eyes or mouth.

   The acid will turn the top of the wart into dead skin (it will turn white). Once or twice a week, remove the dead wart material by paring it down with a razor blade. If that is hard for you to do, rub the dead skin off with a washcloth instead. The dead wart will be softer and easier to remove if you soak the area first in warm water for 10 minutes. If the cutting causes any pain or minor bleeding, you have cut into living wart tissue.

2. Cover the wart

   Cover the wart with a piece of adhesive tape or duct tape. Warts deprived of air and sun exposure sometimes die without the need for treatment with acids. Remove the tape once a week and wash the skin. After it has dried thoroughly, reapply the tape. The tape treatment may be needed for 8 weeks.

3. Contagiousness

   Do not pick at the warts because this may cause the warts to spread. If you have a tendency to chew or suck the wart, cover the area with a Band-Aid and change it daily. Give up this habit because chewing on warts can cause warts on the lips or face. Warts are not very contagious to other people.

CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:

• Warts develop on your feet, genitals, or face.
• New warts develop after 2 weeks of treatment.
• The warts are still present after 8 weeks of treatment.
• You have other concerns or questions.