What to Do About Warts (for Parents)

en español: Primeros auxilios: Verrugas

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

Primary Care Pediatrics at Nemours Children’s Health

What Are Warts?

Warts are common skin infections. They can affect any area of the body, but tend to happen on the fingers, hands, elbows, and bottom of the feet. Warts usually don’t cause serious problems, so they may not need to be removed.

There are several types of warts, including common warts, flat warts, and plantar warts. They can be flesh-colored, or lighter or darker than the skin that surrounds them. Sometimes they have tiny black dots in them.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Warts?

Of a common wart:

• located on back of hands, around nails, and in the mouth, or at the site of cuts and scratches
• a small, firm, rough bump
• can look like cauliflower
• pink or white soft bumps in the mouth
• tiny black dots inside the wart

Of a flat wart:

• located on the face, neck, arms, or legs
• small smooth bumps with a flat top
• may be in groups of 20 to 100

Of a plantar wart:

• located on the sole of the foot
• pressed into the skin
• may be painful

What Can I Do About Warts?

Without treatment, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years for a wart to go away. Ask your doctor to recommend wart removal treatments.

Most warts can be handled at home. Here’s how:

1. Soak the wart in warm water for at least 10 minutes.
2. Remove dead skin on the wart’s surface by filing with an emery board (that’s never going to be used for nails) before applying medicine. Be careful not to file into the normal skin around the wart.
3. Apply medicine (over-the-counter or prescription) to the wart. Keep the area of the wart covered while the medicine works.
4. Wash your hands after touching the wart.

Get Medical Care if:

• a young child or infant has a wart anywhere on the body
• the wart is on the face, genitals, or anal area
• the wart becomes painful or red
• the wart is swollen, bleeding, or oozing pus

What Can Help Prevent Warts?

It’s not always possible to prevent warts. But it’s always a good idea to teach kids to wash their hands and skin often. If your child has a cut or scratch, use soap and water to clean the area because open wounds are more likely to develop warts and other infections. If a wart develops, make sure your child doesn’t scratch the area.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

Date reviewed: February 2023

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Warts and verrucas – NHS

Warts and verrucas are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years.

Check if you have a wart or verruca

Warts feel firm and rough. They can appear on palms, knuckles, knees and fingers.

Credit:

Custom Medical Stock Photo / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-common-wart-caused-by-hpv-human-papilloma-virus-12116023.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=7EEACC6C-2295-43F6-9333-40E721861FDB&p=13365&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dA8JE7M%26qt_raw%3dA8JE7M%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d0%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d

Warts are usually skin coloured but may appear darker on dark skin.

Credit:

Science Photo Library https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1129448/view

Verrucas appear on your feet. They have tiny black dots under the hard skin.

Credit:

Jankurnelius / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-wart-37478055.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=3C13F6A2-AE03-41C9-BEE8-C3CF16A42165&p=267058&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dC4Y7HY%26qt_raw%3dC4Y7HY%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d0%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d

Some warts are round, flat and can be yellow (plane warts). You can have many of them.

Credit:

CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/263358/view

Clusters of warts, spread over an area of skin (mosaic warts) are common on feet and hands.

Credit:

Oramstock / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-verrucas-on-foot-15866939.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=375FEDA2-1B7E-414C-9D46-B8334986F284&p=51005&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3Dbar%26st%3D0%26sortby%3D2%26qt%3DAPW5KT%26qt_raw%3DAPW5KT%26qn%3D%26lic%3D3%26edrf%3D0%26mr%3D0%26pr%3D0%26aoa%3D1%26creative%3D%26videos%3D%26nu%3D%26ccc%3D%26bespoke%3D%26apalib%3D%26ag%3D0%26hc%3D0%26et%3D0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3D0%26loc%3D0%26ot%3D0%26imgt%3D0%26dtfr%3D%26dtto%3D%26size%3D0xFF%26blackwhite%3D%26cutout%3D%26archive%3D1%26name%3D%26groupid%3D%26pseudoid%3D%26userid%3D%26id%3D%26a%3D%26xstx%3D0%26cbstore%3D1%26resultview%3DsortbyPopular%26lightbox%3D%26gname%3D%26gtype%3D%26apalic%3D%26tbar%3D1%26pc%3D%26simid%3D%26cap%3D1%26customgeoip%3D%26vd%3D0%26cid%3D%26pe%3D%26so%3D%26lb%3D%26pl%3D0%26plno%3D%26fi%3D0%26langcode%3Den%26upl%3D0%26cufr%3D%26cuto%3D%26howler%3D%26cvrem%3D0%26cvtype%3D0%26cvloc%3D0%26cl%3D0%26upfr%3D%26upto%3D%26primcat%3D%26seccat%3D%26cvcategory%3D*%26restriction%3D%26random%3D%26ispremium%3D1%26flip%3D0%26contributorqt%3D%26plgalleryno%3D%26plpublic%3D0%26viewaspublic%3D0%26isplcurate%3D0%26imageurl%3D%26saveQry%3D%26editorial%3D1%26t%3D0%26edoptin%3D

Warts do not cause you any harm, but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. Verrucas are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle.

You can treat warts if they bother you, keep coming back or are painful.

A pharmacist can help with warts and verrucas

You can buy creams, plasters and sprays from pharmacies to treat warts and verrucas.

These treatments can take up to 3 months to complete, may irritate your skin and do not always work. You should not use these treatments on your face.

Your pharmacist can give you advice about the best treatment for you.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• you’re worried about a growth on your skin
• you have a wart or verruca that keeps coming back
• you have a very large or painful wart or verruca
• a wart bleeds or changes in how it looks
• you have a wart on your face or genitals

Information:

Genital warts can be treated at a sexual health or GUM clinic.

Find your nearest sexual health service

Treatment from a GP

A GP may be able to freeze a wart or verruca so it falls off a few weeks later. Sometimes it takes a few sessions.

Check with the GP if the NHS pays for this treatment in your area.

If treatment has not worked or you have a wart on your face, the GP might refer you to a skin specialist. Other treatments include minor surgery and treatment with laser or light.

How to stop warts and verrucas spreading

Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus. They can be spread to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You’re more likely to spread a wart or verruca if your skin is wet or damaged.

It can take months for a wart or verruca to appear after contact with the virus.

Do

• wash your hands after touching a wart or verruca

• change your socks daily if you have a verruca

• cover warts and verrucas with a plaster when swimming

• take care not to cut a wart when shaving

Don’t

• do not share towels, flannels, socks or shoes if you have a wart or verruca

• do not bite your nails or suck fingers with warts on

• do not walk barefoot in public places if you have a verruca

• do not scratch or pick a wart

Page last reviewed: 14 October 2020
Next review due: 14 October 2023

What happens if you tear off a wart? Removing any type of wart is very simple and painless!

Warts are benign epidermal neoplasms, the formation of which occurs as a result of the activation of the human papillomavirus, which can be in a latent state in the patient’s body for a long time.

Characteristic growths on the skin appear due to atypical cell division of the epidermis. The possible localization of warts is so diverse that sometimes it causes significant discomfort to its owner, being an unpleasant cosmetic defect. Removal of warts requires an exclusively professional approach, as well as a mandatory preliminary consultation with a specialist. We will try to figure out what will happen if you tear off a wart, and what actions should be taken in such a situation.

Can warts be cut off?

Being a benign skin neoplasm, a wart has a so-called “root”, which is not only responsible for intensifying the growth of skin cells, but can also lead to autoinoculation, spreading the pathological process to healthy tissues of the body. It is not difficult to understand what will happen if you cut off the wart, given the fact that it is impossible to remove the root of the formation on your own. As a result, not only will there be a growth of a new defect at the site of the former neoplasm, but generalized wartiness (EVLL) may also develop.

Independent mechanical removal of warts does not bring the expected effect primarily due to the fact that the main cause of the formation of such epidermal growths is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which, after cutting the wart, does not disappear from the patient’s body, but, on the contrary, is activated. It should also be borne in mind that the growth of a primary neoplasm is always provoked by a decrease in immunity and its susceptibility to the development of various pathologies, which also does not improve the patient’s condition after cutting out the wart.

In addition, self-removal of warts can lead to the following unpleasant consequences:

• Heavy bleeding . Such a reaction to mechanical traumatization of warts and papillomas is due to the wide growth of blood vessels and capillaries that feed the body of the neoplasm. Sometimes it is quite difficult to stop the bleeding on your own, which can lead to significant blood loss.
• Spread of the virus to healthy skin. As mentioned above, warts are prone to growth, which can be triggered by the ingress of infected blood onto the surface of healthy epidermal structures. Subsequently, skin cells begin to actively divide, forming child warts.
• Scar formation . To understand what will happen if you tear off a wart on your face, just look at a huge number of photos on the Internet that show scars and scars after self-removal of epidermal growths.
• Wound surface infection . An open wound, against the background of a weakened immune system of the wart owner, is prone to infection, which can be manifested by the development of an inflammatory process, swelling, hyperemia and suppuration of the wound, and can also provoke a systemic infectious process that is dangerous to human life and health.

All these unpleasant consequences can be completely avoided by consulting an experienced specialist in time, who will first of all help determine the type of neoplasm. The fact is that sometimes warts can be confused with such manifestations as calluses, syphilitic formations, lichen planus, etc. In the case of an incorrect diagnosis, self-removal of the defect can have severe consequences for the body.

What should I do if I accidentally tore off a wart?

It is not uncommon for a patient to have accidentally torn off a wart. The doctor will also tell you what to do in such a situation, however, before contacting a medical facility, you should definitely disinfect the injury site and try to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Actual imposition of a tight bandage.

Removal of warts is a complex medical task, which today involves the use of such hardware techniques as laser destruction , electrocoagulation and cryodestruction. Highly qualified specialists of the NEOMED clinic, who care both about the health and the aesthetic condition of each patient, will help you decide what is the best way to remove warts, with a laser or nitrogen.

Find out the cost of the procedure “Removal of neoplasms”

How to remove warts at home using simple means

09/08/2022 at 18:28

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Warts are a nuisance that can overtake anyone. They are quite harmless, but, to put it mildly, they do not color the skin. Rough to the touch, they have a pattern of tiny black dots that represent clogged blood vessels. We will show you how to get rid of these growths, and which method to use – everyone can decide for himself.

Photo: atlascompany\Freepik.

Causes of warts

Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is quite common and has more than 150 types, but only a few cause warts on the hands and other parts of the body. It can take two to six months for a wart to develop after the skin has been exposed to the virus.

Some strains of HPV are transmitted sexually. However, most forms are spread by casual contact with the skin of an infected person or through shared items such as towels, tissues, or washcloths. The virus usually spreads through breaks in the skin, such as hangnails or scratches. Biting your nails can also lead to warts on your fingertips and around your nails.

Each person’s immune system reacts differently to HPV, so not everyone who comes into contact with HPV develops warts. Most often, the virus simply does not take root on the healthy skin of a person with strong immunity, but exceptions still occur.

Treatment of warts with folk remedies

Exfoliation with pumice stone. One of the easiest and most effective ways to remove warts is to exfoliate them with a pumice stone. Pumice stone is naturally abrasive and is well suited for scraping or sanding warts, especially those found on the feet, so-called plantar warts, which form thick layers of calluses.

Pumice stone is an inexpensive way to remove warts from the surface of the skin, but be aware that warts have “roots”. Therefore, after exfoliating most of the wart with a pumice stone, you need to apply a composition that will destroy the roots and prevent their growth. It is best to apply a drop of salicylic acid.

Before using a pumice stone as an exfoliator, soak the surrounding skin in warm water for about 15 minutes to soften it. Be very careful when using a pumice stone on genital warts due to their increased sensitivity and thinner skin. People with diabetes or peripheral neuropathy should not use a pumice stone because they have reduced sensitivity and may damage surrounding tissue.

Acid dissolve

Another method for removing the fleshy part of the wart that is protruding from the surface of the skin is to use an over-the-counter salicylic acid preparation, which is widely available in pharmacies. Most warts are treated with a 17% salicylic acid solution or a 40% salicylic acid patch.

Salicylic acid is a type of keratolytic, which means that it dissolves the keratin (protein) of the surface of the wart and any calluses that may cover the growth from above. Getting rid of a large wart with salicylic acid can take several weeks, so patience is key.

Apply a little salicylic acid directly to the wart to dissolve it. Do it twice a day, morning and evening. Before applying salicylic acid, moisten the surrounding skin so that the medicine can better penetrate the roots of the wart. Remember that keratolytics irritate healthy skin, so be careful not to damage healthy tissue. The growth will gradually disappear within 1-2 weeks.

Cryotherapy method

Try the cryotherapy method to freeze the wart and remove it. Cryo (Greek kryos – cold, frost, ice) is a component of words denoting a connection with cold, professional dermatologists often use this procedure to get rid of warts. However, there are some over-the-counter nitrogen products available in pharmacies in liquid or aerosol form that you can use at home. The application of liquid nitrogen initially causes a blister to form around the wart, and after about a week, both the blister and the wart simply fall off. Usually it is required to apply such a tool at least twice in order to avoid that a new one does not grow in place of the fallen “beauty”.

This technique is virtually painless and causes only mild discomfort, but care must be taken – liquid nitrogen can leave a slight scar on very fair skin or cause dark spots on people with dark skin, so be careful when applying it to a wart.

Although it is considered a folk remedy to use real ice to remove warts, by no means try to freeze warts with ice cubes from refrigerator molds or taken from the street! It is practically ineffective, and you can just freeze your skin.

Taping and tying with threads

Many people believe that applying ordinary duct tape to warts is an effective method of removing them, although how this works is largely a mystery. Most likely, the tape imperceptibly pulls the fibers out of the wart and removes its layers one by one, gradually reaching the roots. You just need to cover the wart with silver duct tape in the morning and change it every 2 days. When only a stain remains at the site of the wart, it also needs to be sealed for a couple of days to remove the roots. Due to its low cost, ease of use and lack of risk, the method is definitely worth a try.

It is impossible to ignore the well-known “grandmother’s” method, which consists in tying a tight-tight wart with threads at the very base. Thus, it loses its blood supply, gradually dries up and disappears after a while. However, there is no guarantee that a new one will not grow in this place.

Herbal remedies for warts

Garlic . Garlic is a well-known home remedy that has been used for many ailments since antiquity. In the twentieth century, it was found that its antimicrobial properties are associated with the chemical allicin, which can kill various microorganisms, including viruses, including human papillomaviruses.

Raw minced garlic or a store-bought extract can be applied directly to warts a couple of times a day for a week or two. After you have applied it, cover the area with a bandage for several hours. It is best to do this in the evening before going to bed so that allicin can be deeply absorbed into the wart and reach its roots. A 2005 scientific study found that garlic extract completely healed warts in a few weeks and no recurrence was noted even after 4 months. Alternatively, if less effective, garlic dry extract capsules or fortified garlic oil capsules can be taken orally if you are confused by the prospect of “smelling” garlic.

Thuja oil

Thuja oil contains compounds that can stimulate certain cells of the immune system to effectively cleanse the skin and kill viruses or virus-infected cells, which is useful for removing warts. Apply thuja oil directly to the warts, let it soak in for a few minutes, then cover with a bandage for 2-3 hours. Repeat the procedure twice a day for two weeks.

This oil is obtained from the leaves and roots of red cedars and is effective in many diseases and conditions due to its strong antiviral properties. But keep in mind that thuja oil is quite potent and can irritate sensitive skin. Therefore, it makes sense to dilute it with mineral oil or cod liver oil.

However, thuja oil is often recommended for old warts that are resistant to other treatments. Significant results are usually seen with 1-2 months of daily use.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is an antimicrobial agent that is excellent for boosting immunity. It can help eliminate the human papillomavirus and prevent it from re-infecting. Treatment for topical treatment of warts can be started with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil applied to the wart 2 times a day for at least 3-4 weeks. This oil has been a popular natural anti-inflammatory for many centuries in Australia and New Zealand, and in recent decades has become widely used throughout the world.

However, it is worth knowing that it can cause both irritant and allergic skin reactions in some particularly sensitive people, although these are extremely unlikely. An important point: never take tea tree oil orally, as it can be poisonous.

Should I see a doctor about warts?

If you have tried to get rid of warts and they don’t go away, see a dermatologist at your local clinic or visit a private clinic. But remember that warts are not considered a serious medical problem and you may not be offered any treatment unless they look suspicious or cause pain – sometimes warts go away on their own. Still, sometimes it makes sense to make an appointment with a dermatologist. Perhaps he will suggest an effective method of getting rid of this problem.

You should definitely consult a doctor if you have a lot of warts and they interfere with your daily life. Sometimes these growths can develop in large clusters on the arms and legs, making it difficult to do daily activities. If this happens, talk to your doctor about treatment options that may help in this particular case.

It is best to seek medical attention if warts are painful, ooze fluid, or change appearance or color. Initially, you should not worry, but this may be a sign that a person has a more serious disease than just a wart. It is necessary to visit a doctor for a skin examination in order to get the correct diagnosis.

It is also worth talking to a doctor if multiple warts of different colors and sizes suddenly appear on closed areas of the body. This may be a sign that the immune system is not working properly. If the immune system has failed, the doctor must find out the cause of this condition. For example, it can be a serious infection that requires treatment, or an autoimmune disease, which also cannot be ignored.

Expert opinion. Regina Lukovnikova, doctor:

– It has been observed that warts most often appear on skin with a rough and grainy texture. From my point of view, the best procedures for their removal are home cryotherapy or the application of salicylic acid in high concentration. I note that a 40 percent concentration has proven to be the most effective in the treatment of warts.

However, this does not mean that you should immediately jump to the maximum strength dosage. It is best to start with lower percentage doses and gradually increase every four weeks to a higher concentration if needed.

If your skin becomes red, irritated or starts to peel, stop using this product and consult a dermatologist. Laser cryotherapy may be used in the doctor’s office.