Warts and molluscum
What are warts?
Warts are the ugly bumps some children get mostly on their hands, knees, and feet. They can be different sizes, and can be all by itself, or surrounded by several others. They are mostly skin colored with a rough texture. Sometimes small black dots can be seen that some people call seeds, but are actually the ends of little blood vessels. They mostly occur in children before teenage years, but can be seen in all ages.
What is a molluscum?
Molluscum is similar to a wart in that it’s a bump that grows on the skin that lasts for several months. The difference with molluscum is that it’s a different virus and instead of an ugly wrinkly bump it’s a smooth skin colored/white bump.
What causes warts?
Typical warts are caused by a particular virus called human papillomavirus. There are many different versions of this virus, and the warts on the hands are not from the same version that cause the sexually transmitted kind.
Why are warts more common in children?
First of all, the immune system of children is less experienced, so it doesn’t fight off the virus as quickly. Secondly, children are more likely to have cuts or scrapes, which make it easier to catch the virus. They come into contact with it more, on other children, barefoot on surfaces, or on their hands with all the other surfaces they touch. And finally, they’re more likely to pick at any warts they do have, which can spread them on their skin.
How do you treat warts?
The best thing about warts is that they will eventually go away by themselves. It can, however, take up to 2-3 years because the virus is very good at hiding from the immune system. If you don’t care to wait that long to get rid of the warts there are several treatments both over the counter and at the doctor’s. These include freezing, wart bandaids, immune modulators, and duct tape, all with varying rates of success depending on how well they are applied in the first place and how well the family keeps to anything they need to do at home (if required).
Can they be prevented?
There’s no way to prevent warts completely. You can decrease the chance of them happening by washing hands especially when there are cuts and scrapes, wearing shower shoes in communal showers or other wet areas, and not picking at any current warts.
Bottom line.
Warts are a common problem in childhood that will eventually go away on their own.
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