Causes of warts
Provocative factors that can cause warts to appear on a child’s body include:
- direct contact of a healthy person with an HPV virus carrier;
- use of common household items (for example, toys);
- visiting common areas (swimming pool or gym, games room, etc.).
As you can see, the reasons for the appearance of warts in children are obvious.
But this does not mean at all that the child should be limited from contact with other children or not allowed anywhere. Even if your child has been in contact with a virus carrier, a wart may not appear.
However, under some circumstances, a neoplasm will still arise and make you worry. Such a combination of circumstances can be considered:
- a global decrease in the body’s protective functions, as well as a lack of vitamins;
- the presence of damaged areas of the skin in the form of scratches, cuts, cracks and abrasions;
- increased sweating of the lower extremities;
- incorrectly selected children's shoes.
Should I delete it?
The question often arises: “How to remove warts on a child’s hands?” In most cases, in children, these pimply formations go away on their own within a year .
They can remain for a long time in case of decreased immunity or during intensive “healing”.
In addition, this issue should only be resolved with a doctor. It is also important to remember that a wart can always develop into melanoma .
The method of removal with hair and silk thread is widely used In the first case, your hair is wrapped around the wart and tightened. It is believed that in a few days it should fall off. The second method works in exactly the same way, only silk thread is used instead of hair.
Sometimes, if a child is very worried about growths, you can try the method of suggestion . It is important to let your child know that the warts will disappear if he really wants it to.
Diagnostic tests
Before you begin removing the tumor, it is necessary to conduct diagnostic studies and establish an accurate diagnosis in order to exclude other similar formations on the skin, such as lichen planus, molluscum contagiosum, warty tuberculosis and other skin lesions of various types.
First of all, you need to:
- PCR diagnostics to determine the type of papillomavirus,
- histology of the damaged area of the skin.
Main symptoms
The incubation period for warts developing on the hands of children can take several weeks or several years.
Attention! The fact that a wart begins to form on the skin of the hands will be indicated by characteristic symptoms, represented by a change in the shade of the skin, which becomes lighter or, on the contrary, darker, as well as the disappearance of skin patterns.
The growths can develop in groups or as single elevations above the surface of the skin.
Immediately before a wart appears, this area of skin may itch, which not all children pay attention to. Over time, a growth begins to form at the location of the itching. Most often, young children experience warts. In this case, the pathology does not cause any pain.
Determining the type of wart
Before starting treatment procedures, it is necessary to determine the type of wart. To do this, you need to carefully examine the appearance of the tumor and its location. The main types are:
Common warts, which are mainly localized on the hands and fingers of children, on the elbow and knee joints. They have a rough, rough surface and discolored skin.
Flat neoplasms are yellow or pink in color and appear smooth and even in appearance. Occurs in children and adolescents during puberty.
The main place of their localization is the nasolabial triangle, so treatment requires the intervention of professionals, otherwise scars and cicatrices may remain on the face.
Plantar warts mainly affect the foot area of a child. Their surface is compacted and light beige or gray in color. When walking, the child feels discomfort.
The filiform type is characterized by damage to the mouth, nose or eyes not only from the outside, but also from the inside on the mucous membrane. Occurs infrequently.
What types of warts are most common? According to experts, these are plantar and ordinary.
Treatment of neoplasms in the clinic
Freezing with liquid nitrogen is the most common way to remove warts from a child over 4 years of age. This method is only suitable for children who can sit still during the procedure. The pain does not appear from manipulation, but after the growth thaws. In case of large formations, re-freezing is necessary.
Electrosurgery is cauterization with an electric current supplied through a special electrode. The method helps to get rid of small vulgar and plantar warts. Electrocoagulation is used in conjunction with curettage of pathological tissue. The disadvantage of this method is the unpleasant smell of burnt skin during the procedure.
Laser removal is prescribed in cases where other methods of treating warts have been ineffective. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Immunotherapy is performed on the doctor's recommendation. To activate the body's defenses, products with interferon are used.
Recourse
If a neoplasm is detected on a child’s body, you must immediately contact a specialist to determine the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Many warts resemble nevi or a certain type of lichen. Therefore, self-medication is strictly contraindicated.
Only a doctor can tell you what treatment is necessary and recommend the appropriate medications. In addition, some types of warts disappear on their own as the child grows older. When the lesion is localized in a visible place, such as the face, immediate professional help is required.
Folk remedies
Sometimes it is possible to remove a wart from a child using folk methods. Their effectiveness is lower compared to pharmaceutical products, so the duration of use is much longer.
- Lubricate the wart with fresh celandine juice 2 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
- Compress from aloe or Kalanchoe leaves - grind the plant leaf using a blender. Apply the paste to the sore spot overnight, cover with cellophane and tie with a bandage. To achieve the best effect, the wart must first be steamed in a soda solution. This treatment is carried out for 2-3 weeks.
- Potato compress - grate a small piece of raw potato with peel and apply the compress overnight.
- Garlic compress is made in the same way.
Treatment methods
An experienced dermatologist will help determine methods for treating or removing warts for children. The most commonly used and effective methods are the following:
- use of medicines
- laser removal
- using self-hypnosis (hypnosuggestive therapy)
- electric shock
- cryotherapy
In some cases, it is quite possible to do without intervention, leaving the warts alone. But if you experience pain, discomfort, the appearance of new warts or a change in color, you must immediately take effective measures. The main types of warts in children are presented in the photo.
Methods for treating warts on a child’s finger
Usually, in children, warts are only observed and radical treatment - destruction - is not resorted to. But if there are special indications, the doctor may advise removing the growth. This can be done using gentle instrumental methods, as well as influencing the tumor with medications. In certain cases, traditional medicine recipes also prove effective.
Removing warts on children's fingers
Removal of warts on a child’s finger is carried out on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. For treatment, only gentle and minimally invasive methods are used, after which no marks are left on the skin of children. The following methods of destruction of growths are popular:
- Laser removal . It is considered one of the most preferred methods for destroying warts on a child’s finger. The laser beam evaporates the liquid from the growth and cauterizes the blood vessels. Thus, bleeding is excluded, and the wound healing period is short and painless. After such treatment, scars almost never appear on the epidermis. The price of laser removal is 800-2300 rubles in Russia and 300-750 hryvnia in Ukraine.
- Radio wave surgery . Another gentle procedure in which there is no direct contact of the instrument with the surface of the skin. The wart is exposed to a radio wave, which destroys the structure of the growth. Vessels are also coagulated. The risk of complications or relapses after such treatment of a wart on a child’s finger is minimal. The cost of radio wave removal is 2000-3100 rubles in Russia and 500-1300 hryvnia in Ukraine.
- Cryodestruction . One of the classic methods for removing unwanted benign growths. The wart is exposed to liquid nitrogen, which freezes the top of the formation, as well as its roots. The disadvantage of this method of eliminating build-up is that the doctor is not always able to determine the required depth of exposure to the refrigerant. Because of this, one procedure is not enough to completely eliminate the tumor. Also, after this manipulation, scars may remain if the liquid nitrogen penetrates too deeply. The price of cryodestruction is 600-1300 rubles in Russia and 220-500 hryvnia in Ukraine.
- Classical surgery . An ordinary scalpel is used to excise a wart on a child’s finger. Typically, this method is used if the tumor is injured, too large, or there is a risk of its oncological degeneration. The procedure is traumatic and fraught with complications - an inflammatory process, a long period of wound healing, and can also leave scars. The cost of removing a wart with a scalpel is 600-900 rubles in Russia and 210-350 hryvnia in Ukraine.
Electrocoagulation is rarely used on children's skin, since electric discharges can cause thermal burns. In addition, this is a painful manipulation. Therefore, it is not recommended for the treatment of warts on a child’s finger.
- See also wound care rules after wart removal
Medications against warts on a child’s finger
The photo shows medications for warts on a child’s finger
For single tumors, the doctor may prescribe topical medications and not resort to radical treatment. Some medications are ways to painlessly and effectively rid a child of a skin defect.
The following tools have proven themselves well:
- Viferon (ointment) . The active component of this ointment is interferon. This is a synthetic protein similar to human protein. This protein is able to stimulate a local immune response and has an antiviral effect. The product has no age restrictions and can be used to treat warts on the finger of a child from 1 year of age. The price of Viferon is about 450 rubles. An analogue of this remedy is Panavir ointment (from 350 rubles).
- Mountain celandine (balm) . This product is based on extracts from plants: celandine, gentian, string, poop, rhododendron. This balm is prescribed to children aged 5 years and older. The product is applied pointwise to the affected areas of the skin. Usually, 7-10 days of course treatment is enough for the wart on a child’s finger to completely disappear. The cost of Mountain Celandine is about 450 rubles. An analogue of the drug is Superchistotel (about 150 rubles).
- Tea tree oil . This is a herbal medicine that is sold in pharmacies in different concentrations. To eliminate growths, it is necessary to choose oil with 100% concentration. In order to get rid of growths on the hands of children, it is recommended to dilute it with aloe gel in a 1:1 ratio. Warts should be treated several times a day for a week. The price of tea tree oil is from 200 rubles. An analogue is Calendula ointment (from 100 rubles).
- Salipod patch . This is a convenient remedy, since you can cut out a piece of plaster of a suitable size and seal a wart on a child’s finger without restrictions on his physical activity. In this case, there is no need to carry out procedures several times a day. The Salipod patch is applied for 1-2 days, after which it is removed. The wart underneath should soften - this indicates that it is being destroyed. It can be cut off with sterile nail scissors. If necessary, apply another piece of plaster until the growth is completely destroyed. The cost of the product is from 70 rubles. An analogue is Salicylic ointment (about 30 rubles).
If there is extensive damage to the child’s hands with warts, the doctor may recommend taking a course of immunomodulatory or antiviral therapy. These groups of drugs include various tablets, injection solutions and suppositories. They stimulate the immune system and suppress viral activity. Children are allowed to take the following medications: Kipferon (about 600 rubles), Genferon (about 350 rubles) and their analogs - Gepon (about 1,200 rubles) and Isoprinosine (about 650 rubles).
Folk remedies for warts on the fingers of children
If the wart on a child’s finger is small and only one, then it makes sense to try to eliminate it using simple folk remedies. Over centuries of folk healing practice, many effective recipes have accumulated. Let's look at safe ways to get rid of warts at home:
- Garlic compresses . A small clove of the plant must be grated or squeezed through a special device. The paste is applied to the wart and secured with a bandage and plaster. It is advisable to carry out this procedure at night. Usually, several applications of this compress are enough to get rid of the growth.
- Celandine juice . A long-standing folk herbal remedy for eliminating various types of warts. It is enough just to break the stem of the plant and wait for the bright yellow drops of juice to appear. This liquid should be used to lubricate a wart on a child’s finger several times a day.
- Raw potato compress . You need to grate the potatoes and place the pulp in a gauze bag. We fix the latter on the wart overnight with a bandage and plaster. Alternatively, you can use a piece of freshly cut potato skin. The procedure should be carried out several nights in a row.
- Aloe or Kalanchoe juice . A freshly cut leaf of a particular plant should be applied to the new growth for several hours. You can also make compresses from the pulp of these plants.
Various herbal remedies for oral administration help get rid of warts on a child’s finger. They stimulate the immune system, saturate the body with vitamins and nutrients, and therefore help fight viruses. Decoctions of rose hips, eucalyptus, mint, calendula, sea buckthorn, and ginger root have proven themselves to be excellent.
Photos of warts in children
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Prevention measures
You can prevent warts from appearing in your child by following the following preventive recommendations:
- It is necessary to accustom a child to personal hygiene as early as possible, because careful daily toileting is protection against many diseases;
- if there is an infected person in the child’s circle, you must try to limit contact with him and undergo treatment;
- it is also necessary to take measures to strengthen the immune system - ensure that the child’s nutrition is adequate, engage in sports and hardening;
- promptly treat any infections;
- try to avoid injuring the skin of your hands, and if abrasions and cuts appear, treat them with a solution of iodine or brilliant green.
These simple recommendations will help keep your child healthy and avoid lengthy treatment procedures.