Tag: Flat Warts

Warts in Kids

Nearly fifty percent of children acquire warts at some time or the other. Warts, in the real sense are benign tumors which develop when keratinocytes, a kind of skin cell, is infected by the wart virus. There are many types of warts, the most common being rough bumps which appear on fingers and hands. Others are flat warts, genital warts, plantar warts, and molluscum contagiosum. The difference is based on the types, location, and painfulness of the wart. Common warts appear on fingers and hands and usually are painless. Plantar warts appear on the soles and are sometimes painful. Periungal warts show up around the finger and toe nail. Warts which appear on the face are flat warts.

The symptoms of the common warts are that the skin develops an irregular surface and becomes rough. A dome starts to appear after a day after infection. A popular myth is that warts have roots, but they dont. They grow on the epidermis, which is the top most layer of the skin. The black portion is because of broken veins and clotted blood.

Warts come and go at various stages of life like childhood and teenage years. They usually go away by themselves. But some can be very painful, can spread quickly and some of them wont go away for many years. Such kind of warts should definitely be treated. The most common treatment among the pediatricians is cryotherapy. They will freeze the warts using liquid nitrogen. Cantharidin can also be applied, which is a painless treatment but can result in painful blisters at the end of the day. The minus point is that these treatments sometimes cause blistering and some warts wont come off in one sitting. If the warts wont still budge they are further treated with strong salicylic acid, intralesional immune-therapy, bleomycin, or a pulsed dye laser. Aldara can also be used in worst cases. Because of some treatments the warts grow to the end of the blister, which results in a bigger wart and some might even result in a scar.

Besides other common wart treatments, the most well-known home remedy is duct tape. The affected area is covered with duct tape for about six days. If within that time period, the tape peels off, it should be reapplied. After the sixth day, the duct tape should be removed and the wart should be soaked in water and a pumice stone or emery board should be used to scrap the top skin of the wart. After this, the duct tape should be reapplied again within twenty four hours and the same procedure should be repeated until the whole wart disappears. This procedure takes at least two months to get rid of the wart completely. Some kids hesitate to put duct tape on parts which are visible, like fingers and legs. They can be encouraged by making them wear colored duct tape, other than grey. Many home wart freezing and removal kits are also available in the market whose help can be taken.

Warts spread by direct contact with the wart or any material which the infected person has used like a used towel which has been contaminated. It is contagious and hence it is recommended to stay away from it at the very sight of it. All the cuts, rashes and bites should be cleaned regularly and should be kept covered. Another measure for prevention is wearing closed shoes in public places.

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Types Of Warts

Most people know that warts exist, and are quite troublesome, but not everyone knows that there are a number of varieties of warts. While they all have the same options for treatment, it is helpful to be aware of the different types, as well as their probability for occurrence. In being armed with this information, one is better able to recognize them and make an informed decision about the most suitable treatments.

Plantar warts are the kind of warts you are most likely to find on the soles of your feet. Plantar warts get their name from the plantar surface, which is the sole of the foot. When plantar warts appear in clusters, they are known as mosaic warts. But whether a cluster occurs or only one, they frequently appear small while in fact the majority of the wart is grown under the skin. The reason for this is that pressure on the foot from walking and other normal activities causes a large part of the wart to remain inside. In plantar warts there is usually a visible black dot; this is the blood supply to the warts. It can become quite painful to walk when one has plantar warts; the added pressure from wearing shoes often intensifies this discomfort.

Periungual warts are the warts which appear near the nails. These warts can range from aggravating to very painful. Periungual warts should be treated as soon as possible, or they can cause even more damage. Left untreated, the virus that caused the wart can enter the nail and cause the nail to become deformed. It can also cause the nail to develop a fungal infection. While periungual warts are most often found on toenails, they can also occur on the fingernails. Periungual warts should be treated as soon as they occur and are noticeable.

Flat warts are those which usually occur on the face in children, and in shaved areas such as legs and face in adults. They often appear in clusters. Flat warts are inclined to spread if they are not removed; but they may reappear after treatment due to the fact that the virus is still there. Although this particular type can be mistaken for other skin conditions, like any other kind of warts they are very contagious. Flat warts can be spread from contact with the infected person’s skin, or by using towels or other personal items.

Common warts, or seed warts, usually appear on the fingers, toes, and knees. Seed warts are most prevalent in older people. This type of wart is found on the upper body and face. Over-exposure to the sun increases the likelihood of seed warts; heredity also plays a role in getting this particular type of wart. The surrounding blood vessels give this type of wart its black appearance; this visible black spot is the reason why these common warts are frequently referred to as seed warts.

Genital warts are a form of sexually-transmitted disease. Approximately forty million people in the United States are currently infected with genital warts, and the numbers of diagnosed cases are increasing. They are extremely contagious, and they are spread by sexual activity. There are more than thirty different types of warts that are in this category. The Human Papilloma Virus which causes genital warts is the primary factor in causing cervical cancer. It is estimated that nearly four thousand women in the United States will die from this disease in 2007.

Types of Warts

Warts are benign tumors of the skin, caused by viruses in the human papaloma virus family. They may take weeks or months to grow before they can become visible, and are contagious. In many cases, warts can be treated through home remedies and over the counter medications. However, in some cases warts must be treated by a professional.

There are four main types of warts: common warts, flat warts (also known as juvenile warts), plantar warts (warts on the feet), and genital warts. The first three types of warts are treated similarly. Genital warts typically require professional medical treatment, and can cause serious health problems if not treated quickly.

Most types of warts are not typically threatening to the overall health of the patient. When warts are bothersome or embarrassing they can be treated at home through over the counter medications. However, recurrences may happen later. If the warts continue to be bothersome, professional medical treatments may be sought.

Common Warts

Common warts appear as thickened bumps, sometimes called papules. They can appear somewhat like a mole, but are rougher on the surface. Small black dots also may appear due to clotted blood vessels.

Common warts often appear on the hands, knees, and elbows. Like all warts they are contagious, and can be spread to others with low immunity to the human papaloma virus family. Warts can also be spread to other areas of the body through touching or shaving.

Flat Warts (Juvenile Warts)

Flat warts are similar to common warts in that they appear on the hands, knees, arms, and face. They are also contagious, and can be spread to other areas of the body or other people. Flat warts are also called juvenile warts because they are most commonly found in children and young adults.

Flat warts appear as small bumps, about the size of a pin head, with a smooth flat top. They can be the color of the skin or may appear yellow or brown. They are not very large, but can form in clusters of as many as one hundred warts in one small area of the body.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts occur on the bottoms of the feet. They are especially common in people with diabetes. Plantar warts can be very painful if left untreated, especially if they appear in a weight bearing area of the foot.

Plantar warts can sometimes be mistaken as corns or rough spots on the feet. They are typically rough and spongy in texture. Plantar warts are usually yellow, gray, or brown, causing the confusion with corns or other rough spots on the feet.

Genital Warts

Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted disease. They appear as the color of the skin in most cases. They can be found anywhere in the genital area. In women they can actually spread to the walls of the vagina and the cervix itself.

Unlike other types of warts, genital warts can cause serious health conditions if left untreated. Treatment for genital warts must come from a professional. This type of warts cannot be treated at home.

The human papaloma virus has been found to actually cause cancer of the cervix. This is due to the rapid cell growth induced by the virus. There are over sixty strands of the virus, but only about four of them have been found to cause cervical cancer. However, the threat is very real, and should be addressed with professional medical attention as soon as they are noticed.

How to Deal with Juvenile Warts

Juvenile warts require more than the simple treatment that is required for warts on adults. Children can, unfortunately, be cruel. They also find it hard to leave warts alone. Therefore, additional remedies may be required to deal with juvenile warts.

Juvenile warts are actually flat warts. They are often called juvenile warts because they occur most often on children and young adults. These warts may appear white, brown, or yellow. They can be itchy or sting slightly if touched often. They are called flat warts because they have a flat top.

Juvenile warts are caused by the human papaloma virus. There are actually sixty strains of the virus, and it is contagious. Many children will experience juvenile warts because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight these viruses. However, some children may go their entire lives without having a single wart.

Because juvenile warts are contagious there are steps that must be taken to protect the child as well as other children. The warts may spread to other parts of the body if touched frequently. Since juvenile warts are often seen on the face or hands, it is easy to spread them to other areas of the body, or to other children.

To protect the child and other children, the warts should be covered. Covering with a band aid is not recommended, however. Warts thrive in warm, damp places on the body. A cluster of warts may occur if the original wart is covered with a band aid, which will insulate the wart and cause the virus to spread within that area.

There are many over the counter medicated treatments available for juvenile warts. These treatments involve a small, round, band aid like covering. The pad of the covering contains medication with acids that eat at the wart and cause it to disappear faster. The covering also helps the child to leave it alone, and prevents other children from touching the wart.

Juvenile warts cause more than physical discomfort. When juvenile warts are present, children often feel ugly, and their self worth drops considerably. Other children may compound these feelings with teasing and harmful remarks and pranks.

Covering the wart can help prevent some of these feelings and events. However, it is important to let the child with juvenile warts know that they are not less than they were simply because they have juvenile warts. Helping the child understand where the warts come from and that they are easily treated can provide a lot of comfort for the child with juvenile warts.

To further the advocacy of these children, some type of education about juvenile warts should take place with all children. Many schools are beginning to require health classes for older students, where issues such as juvenile warts are discusses. This education will likely limit the number of children teased mercilessly on the playground for their wart problems.

Parents should also make siblings aware of the facts about juvenile warts. This will help cut down on teasing and self esteem issues within the home. It will also keep the other children from touching the warts and getting them themselves.