Warts

When to Call for Warts

Care Advice for Warts

1. What You Should Know About Warts:
   • Warts are common (10% of children).
   • Warts are harmless and most can be treated at home.
   • The sooner you treat them, the less they will spread.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Wart-Removing Acid:
   • Buy a wart medicine with 17% salicylic acid (such as Compound W). No prescription is needed.
   • Apply the acid once a day to the top of the wart. If there are many warts, treat the 3 largest ones.
   • Since it's an acid, avoid getting any near the eyes or mouth. Also try to keep it off the normal skin.
   • The acid will turn the wart into dead skin (it will turn white).
3. Duct Tape - Cover the Wart:
   • The acid will work faster if it is covered with duct tape. Do not use regular tape.
   • If you don't want to use an acid, use duct tape alone.
   • Covering warts with duct tape can irritate the warts. This will turn on the body's immune system.
   • Cover as many of the warts as possible. Cover at least 3 of them.
   • The covered warts become red and start to die. Once this happens, often all the warts will go away.
   • Try to keep the warts covered all the time.
   • Remove the tape once per day, usually before bathing. Then replace it after bathing.
   • Some children object to having the tape on at school. At the very least, tape it every night.
4. Remove Dead Wart:
   • Once or twice a week, remove the dead wart material. Do this by paring it down with a disposable razor.
   • This is easier to do than you think. It shouldn't cause any pain or bleeding.
   • Soak the area first in warm water for 10 minutes. Reason: The dead wart will be easier to remove.
   • Some children won't want you to cut off the layer of dead wart. Rub it off with a washcloth instead.
5. Prevention of Spread to Other Areas of Your Child's Body:
   • Discourage your child from picking at the wart. Picking it and scratching a new area with the same finger can spread warts. A new wart can form in 1 to 2 months.
   • Chewing or sucking on them can lead to similar warts on the face.
   • If your child is doing this, cover the wart. Use a bandage (such as Band-Aid).
   • Keep your child's fingernails cut short and wash your child's hands more often.
6. What to Expect:
   • Without treatment, warts go away in about 2 years.
   • With home treatment, they can usually be cleared up in 2 to 3 months.
   • There are no shortcuts to treating warts.
7. Return to School:
   • Your child doesn't have to miss any child care or school for warts.
   • There is only a mild risk that warts spread to others.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Warts develop on the feet, genitals, or face
   • New warts develop after 2 weeks of treatment
   • Warts are still present after 12 weeks of treatment
   • You think your child needs to be seen

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.