Warts are incredibly common in children and teenagers – especially on the hands, feet, and fingers. Caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), these small growths often spread easily through contact in shared environments like schools, changing rooms, and sports clubs. While many warts clear on their own, some persist, become painful, or affect a child’s confidence – especially if they grow larger or spread.
At City Dermatology Clinic, wart removal is regularly performed by specialists including Dr Jana Torres-Grau, who sees many young patients, and Mr Parviz Sadigh, an experienced plastic surgeon. With safe, well-tolerated options available, early treatment can prevent discomfort and stop warts from spreading further.
Why Warts Are More Common in Children and Teens
Children and teenagers are more prone to developing warts for several reasons:
- Immature immune systems may not fight off the virus as effectively
- Close physical contact at school or sports activities increases the chance of spread
- Skin injuries or biting nails can provide an entry point for the virus
- Barefoot walking in communal areas (e.g. swimming pools, gyms) raises risk of plantar warts (verrucae)
Warts are contagious, and once one appears, it’s not uncommon for more to follow – either on the same person or within a household.
When to Consider Wart Removal
Many warts go away without treatment, but others may linger for months or even years. You should consider removal if:
- The wart is painful or bleeds, especially on the feet
- It’s growing in size or spreading to other areas
- There’s more than one wart, or they’re clustering together
- It’s impacting your child’s confidence, especially if it’s on the face or hands
- Home treatments haven’t worked after several months
At our clinic, we often treat children who have been previously advised to “wait it out” – but persistent or painful warts usually respond better to professional removal.
Safe and Effective Treatments at City Dermatology Clinic
Wart removal for children and teenagers is safe and well-tolerated. We offer treatments tailored to the child’s age, skin type, and the wart’s location.
Common options include:
- Cryotherapy (freezing) – Quick and effective, suitable for many ages
- Electrocautery – A gentle burning technique used under local anaesthetic
- Topical treatments – Applied in-clinic or prescribed for home use if needed
- Minor surgical removal – In some cases, especially for large or stubborn warts
Booking a consultation allows our team to assess the best option based on the wart type, duration, and your child’s needs.
