Warts are benign bumps that viruses in the HPV group cause on the skin. They are common at school age and are usually harmless; some of them disappear on their own over time.

How They Spread

They can spread through direct contact and through shared surfaces. Walking barefoot in damp places such as the poolside, the shower and the changing room is a frequently reported factor for foot warts.

A child scratching or picking at a wart can cause new warts to appear on that same child.

What They Look Like

Type Appearance
Common wart Firm, rough bump on the backs of the hands and on the fingers
Plantar wart Grows inward, can be painful to stand on
Flat wart Small, slightly raised and numerous, on the face and the backs of the hands

Approach

The treatment decision is made according to where the wart is, how many there are, whether it causes pain and how old the child is. Some warts are monitored, others are treated with methods applied by a doctor.

Cutting, burning or removing them with scissors at home should not be attempted; this leads to spread and infection.

Prevention

  • Wearing slippers at the pool and in the shower
  • Not sharing towels and socks
  • Not picking at the wart and reducing nail-biting habits
  • Keeping the feet dry