Conditions
Warts
Happily, the days are long gone when people thought warts were something you caught off toads or that they meant you were a witch! Warts are actually caused by a virus and half of all children will get them at some point. They can be different shapes, sizes and colours and can occur anywhere on the body. (Verucas are warts on the feet.) Typically though, warts are little lumps of raised, hardened, darkened flesh of anything between a couple of millimetres and a centimetre. Warts are not harmful but they can be annoying and inconvenient, and they are also contagious. So what’s the best way to deal with them?
Though warts can last for anything between a few weeks or months to more than a year, most will eventually clear up by themselves. However, if your child’s warts are painful, itchy, on a particularly awkward part of the body such as the hands or fingers, or if your child is particularly self-conscious, there are a number of ways you can get rid of them.
Your chemist will have a number of non-prescription creams, though these should not be used on the face. Salicylic acid treatment kits are also available over the counter and your doctor or nurse can perform a simple freezing operation. This may take several sessions and involves killing off the infection with liquid nitrogen. A comparatively recent innovation in the treatment of warts involves strong adhesive tape. Simply cover the wart with Duct tape or something similar for six days. Then soak the wart in warm water for five minutes and scrub it gently with a pumice stone. Leave the wart uncovered overnight and then repeat the procedure for as long as necessary. The ‘tape test’ may get rid of warts within a month.
Often, of course, kids just aren’t that bothered about warts. Because the condition is contagious however, don’t let them scratch the area, cover warts with a plaster if they go swimming and make sure they wear flip-flops to prevent verucas, and always prevent them from touching anyone else’s warts.
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I am 13 and have a wart like thing on my middle finger, its so embarrassing! I have had it for almost a year and have used different creams. We now have something to freeze it with, I hope it works, if not I'm back to stage 1 again, any suggestions on a speedier recovery?
Hi my son has a number of veruccas on his toes. We tried the baruka stuff and he hates it. They don't hurt, but he is self conscious of them. Shall we just leave them and they disappear. Someone suggested putting clear nail vanish on them. ? would that help Thanls
I have a wart on the side of my hand.It it so embarrassing because i know people stare at it when i use my left hand.It is a light brown color and i want it gone.Any idea?...thanks
I'm 13 and I've had an wart on my 2nd finger and i hate it, i've had it ever since i was 8 i've tried everything. Now all i do is put plasters over it for months its getting smaller but not gone all together, but i dont want it taken off at the doctors because it apparently really hurts any ideas please?
I have 4 verrucas on the bottom of one foot, they hurt when I walk and I have had loads of treatments on them but they all seem to make it worse, when I had them frozen I only had 3 then a couple of days later another one appeared. I have had them for some time and they come and go over the years but it's really embarrassing around my friends :( I'm a 14 year old girl
Hi my little girl is 2 and a half and she has little white warts like things all up the left side of her body look horrible I just spotted there spreading round her back and under her armpit ? Any clue if and when they will go ? Really frustrating me now :-(
I have had a verruca on my foot for about 11 years now, and nothing at all seems to have got rid of it. I have tried the removal gels, but it always comes bag slightly bigger, I have also tried the tape test and putting banana peel over it, but nothing has worked. I also have a wart on my thumb for about a year and a half, and it seems almost untrealtable as it is partly covered with my thumbnail. I really need help as they are extremely embarrassing. I am 14 years old.
My 12 year old daughter has what look like small white rings with holes in the middle on the soles of her feet and some between her toes. She has over 20 of these. We have been to the doctors and had 2 different opinions! Please can anyone advise us. Many thanks
I have a verruca on the bottom of my big toe. It isn't painful or annoying but I was just wondering, will it heal naturally?? Thanks. :-)
My 1 year old has 2 verrucas on her left foot my and my partner have no idea how she's got them as she hasn't been swimming in a good few months and have only just appeared 1 is. On her heel and causing some discomfort but not a lot the other is on the arch of her foot Is there any thing we can do to get of them at such a young age
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