This image displays a large wart on the thumb.
This image displays a large wart on the thumb.
This image displays the area of a healed wart.
This image displays the area of a healed wart.
This child has two warts: one near the left nostril and another doughnut-shaped one above the upper lip. The scratch above the wart on the lip could be the entry point for the infection.
This child has two warts: one near the left nostril and another doughnut-shaped one above the upper lip. The scratch above the wart on the lip could be the entry point for the infection.
The color of common warts can vary depending upon the skin tone of the person on which they occur.
The color of common warts can vary depending upon the skin tone of the person on which they occur.
Warts often have a rough, multi-pointed surface, like this wart near the eye.
Warts often have a rough, multi-pointed surface, like this wart near the eye.
This image displays the thick and rough surface typical of a wart.
This image displays the thick and rough surface typical of a wart.
This image displays the
This image displays the "black dots" typical of warts, which are clotted, fine blood vessels in the skin.
In children whose immune systems have not yet recognized the wart infection, lesions may be numerous and even form around and under the nails.
In children whose immune systems have not yet recognized the wart infection, lesions may be numerous and even form around and under the nails.
Multiple warts are seen at the left mouth angle as well as on the chin.
Multiple warts are seen at the left mouth angle as well as on the chin.
This image displays a wart on a finger.
This image displays a wart on a finger.

Images of Common Wart (10)

This image displays a large wart on the thumb.
This image displays the area of a healed wart.
This child has two warts: one near the left nostril and another doughnut-shaped one above the upper lip. The scratch above the wart on the lip could be the entry point for the infection.
The color of common warts can vary depending upon the skin tone of the person on which they occur.
Warts often have a rough, multi-pointed surface, like this wart near the eye.
This image displays the thick and rough surface typical of a wart.
This image displays the
In children whose immune systems have not yet recognized the wart infection, lesions may be numerous and even form around and under the nails.
Multiple warts are seen at the left mouth angle as well as on the chin.
This image displays a wart on a finger.

Common Wart

Warts are growths of the skin and mucous membranes (inside the mouth or genitals) that are caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). Common warts (verruca vulgaris) are usually found on areas of the body prone to trauma, such as the elbows, knees, and hands. The virus causes thickening of the top skin layer. They are usually painless and go away on their own, sometimes taking a few months or up to a couple years to resolve.

Warts are usually acquired from person-to-person contact. The virus is not highly contagious but can cause an infection by entering through a small break in the skin. In the same way, warts can be spread to other places on the body (self-inoculation). The virus can sometimes be transferred by touching an object used by an infected person, so family members should refrain from sharing towels and other personal items.

Some other types of warts include plantar warts, flat warts, genital warts, and periungual warts (warts that grow under or along the nail).

Who's At Risk?

Warts can affect people of any age, but they are most common in those aged 12-16 years. It is estimated that 20% of schoolchildren and about 10% of the general population have warts. Warts can affect any race / ethnicity. People with organ transplants or who are on chemotherapy have a higher incidence of warts due to their weakened immune system.

Signs & Symptoms

Warts may occur singly or in groups and often have what appear as multiple small black “dots” at the surface from tiny blood vessels.

  • Common warts are rough, thick papules (solid bumps) ranging in size from 1 mm to over 10 mm, often on the hands, face, elbows, and knees.
  • Filiform warts are long and narrow, like tufts of thread, and they are usually small at the base (1-3 mm). They often affect the face, eyelids, or nose.
  • In lighter skin colors, warts may be pink, skin-colored, or light brown. In darker skin colors, warts may be pink, skin-colored, purple, brown, or gray.
  • Warts can be covered with scale, which can be whitish, yellow, brown, or gray.

Self-Care Guidelines

Because warts can resolve on their own, it is not necessary to treat all warts. Additionally, treatment of warts may not always destroy them, nor will it necessarily keep other warts from appearing. Treatment can be painful, cause scars, and might need to be repeated, so it should only be done in cases where the warts are bothersome or interfere with daily life.

  • Over-the-counter wart removers (eg, Compound W) have a high percentage of salicylic acid and work by dissolving away the layer of skin infected with the virus. This treatment needs to be used daily and can sometimes be irritating to unaffected skin around the wart.
  • Duct tape applied daily to the affected area can help remove warts. The tape should be very sticky and kept on for a few days. Some children may have a reaction to the adhesive on the tape.
  • Over-the-counter freezing medications are available but have not been found to be very effective.
  • Coupled with the above therapies, the wart should be soaked in warm water, and any loose skin should be removed every few days with a mild abrasive, like a pumice stone.
  • Family members should avoid sharing personal items such as towels.

Treatments

  • Application of cantharidin (Ycanth), podophyllin (Condylox), tretinoin (Retin-A), or acid (Tri-Chlor).
  • Destruction with freezing (cryosurgery), burning (electrocautery), or laser. These treatments are painful, though, and may be avoided in younger children.
  • Application of imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara), an immunotherapy agent, that triggers an immune reaction to destroy the wart.

Visit Urgency

Call a medical professional if your child has:

  • Painful or bleeding warts.
  • Warts on the face or warts interfering with daily life that do not improve with self-care.
  • Warts on the genital or anal area.

Trusted Links

References

Bolognia J, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

James WD, Elston D, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA. Andrew’s Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019.

Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.

Paller A, Mancini A. Paller and Mancini: Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022.

Disease Groups: Painful Skin Bumps in Children, Mouth Sores and Lip Conditions

Last modified on June 25th, 2024 at 4:12 pm

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