Warts

Warts are common. They are caused by a virus and are not serious. You can treat warts two ways:

• with over-the-counter medicines such as Compound W^® and Duofilm^® (follow package instructions)
• with duct tape:
• Wrap the tape around the wart snugly, but not too tight that it cuts off the blood supply.
• Leave the tape on for one week, then wash the area, scrub the wart, dry the skin and replace the duct tape for another week.
• Continue this cycle until the wart is gone, in about four to six weeks.

Warts will eventually go away by themselves. If your child is not bothered by the wart, it does not need to be treated.

If your child has a wart that is painful or has lasted more than two years, make an appointment with your health care provider. A variety of treatments are available.