$Unique_ID{PAR00181}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Warts}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Warts Rough raised growths skin virus viruses viral infection spread
scratching Plantar wart foot feet cuticle cuticles fingernail nails eyelid
eyelids face callus mosaic warts acid acids podophyllin liquid nitrogen solid
carbon dioxide phenol electric cauterization cauterizing curet curetting}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Warts


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOM
     - Rough, raised growths anywhere on the skin

     HOME CARE
     - As a rule, leave warts alone.
     - With the approval of your doctor, you can use an appropriate commercial
       product to safely remove most warts other than those on the eyelids or
       face.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - No treatment is successful in all cases, and warts may spread during
       treatment or recur afterward.
     - At home, do not treat warts on the eyelids or face or warts that
       involve the cuticles or extend under the nails.
     - If the surrounding skin becomes red or painful, discontinue home
       treatment.
     - Most warts are harmless unless they are annoying, bleed often, or
       become infected.


     A wart is a growth on the skin caused by a specific virus.  Although
warts may differ in appearance, they are caused by the same type of virus.
     Warts can be spread by direct contact or by scratching.  Plantar warts,
which appear on the soles of the feet, can be contracted by walking barefoot
where someone who has them recently walked.
     In most cases, warts disappear spontaneously within two or three years;
in almost all cases, they are gone within ten years.  Still, some warts must
be treated.  Plantar warts usually require treatment because they cause pain.
Warts that extend under the nails may produce permanent deformities if they
are not treated.  Warts on the face and eyelids are removed for cosmetic
reasons.  Most other warts are harmless and can be ignored unless they are
annoying, bleed frequently, or become infected.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The common wart is a rough, raised growth that ranges in size from
one-eighth inch to one inch in diameter and occurs anywhere on the skin.  A
juvenile wart is a small (one-sixteenth to one-fourth inch in diameter),
smooth, pinkish wart that is common on the hands.  Plantar warts may be
pressed into the foot (sometimes to a depth of a quarter-inch or more) and are
often surrounded by a callus.  Groups of plantar warts are known as mosaic
warts.  Many warts are unmistakable, but some are not.  When they are tiny,
plantar warts may be mistaken for small brown splinters on the sole of the
foot.  Also, you may not be able to see them if they are surrounded by a
callus.

HOME CARE

     As a rule, leave warts alone.  If they have to be removed, it is safest
to have a doctor do it or instruct you in the use of an appropriate
medication.  Usually, treatment must continue for many days or weeks.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If excessive pain or redness occurs on the surrounding skin, stop
     treatment.
  -  Do not treat any warts on the face or eyelids at home.
  -  Warts that involve the cuticles or that extend under the nails should not
     be treated at home.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     No treatment is successful in all cases.  Treatment may even spread
warts, or they may recur after treatment.  In general, your doctor will remove
warts by application of acids, podophyllin, liquid nitrogen, solid carbon
dioxide, or phenol or by electric cauterization (burning away) or curetting
(surgical removal).

RELATED TOPIC:  Viral infections