Posted: Tuesday, Apr. 05, 2011
Q: My son, who is 7, has a wart on his knee. We tried over-the-counter remedies, but the wart did not go away. Now it looks like he is getting two new warts. Is it possible the warts are spreading? Is there any way to get rid of warts?
Warts are benign (noncancerous) growths on the skin caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV. Warts can occur at any age but are most common around adolescence. Since warts are caused by a virus, they can spread from person to person. If left alone, a wart will resolve on its own; however spontaneous resolution could take up to five years.
Several over-the-counter wart removal systems are available. The majority contain salicylic acid, which dissolves keratin in the skin and provokes an immune response to the wart itself. Such remedies are effective about 75 percent of the time.
A popular home remedy for warts is the "duct tape method." Cover the wart with a small piece of duct tape. After 6 days, take off the tape, soak the area and remove the top layer of skin with a pumice stone or emery board. After 24 hours, reapply duct tape and repeat.
In-office procedures are also available. The most common is freezing, or cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen. While uncomfortable, it's a good alternative when over-the-counter methods don't work.
The most important factor is patience. Over-the-counter remedies may take up to six weeks, and cryotherapy treatments may have to be repeated three to four times.
Keep in mind that you should seek medical care for a wart in the following situations:
a wart that is on the face or genitals
if you are unsure if the growth is a wart
a wart that is associated with bleeding, redness or pain
if your child is younger than 2.
E-mail questions for Dr. Patt to living@charlotteobserver.com; put "pediatrician" in subject line.
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