Let’s Talk About Warts

It’s school time and your kids might be feeling nervous or excited for the first day at school. Now that back-to-school season is well and truly upon us, our team wanted to reach out to you, to help you manage one of those pesky back to school illnesses – warts.

Warts are very common and harmless skin growths caused by a virus affecting around one in every five children. They can come up anywhere on the skin but are more common on the face, hands and feet.

Different types of viruses can cause Warts. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the name given to these viruses causing warts. In most of the cases, warts don’t cause any problems, so are ignored but in some instances they can be painful, especially if they are under nails or on the feet. They could potentially even cause severe health issues if left untreated.

Your child may be immune to one type of virus, but this immunity may not be life-long, and they may develop warts later or through another type of wart virus. ¹ Once infected with the virus, it may take up to a year or more before you can see the wart. They then grow very slowly over a period of months or even years.¹

There are simple ways to prevent warts and to keep them from spreading to other parts of your body if you already have one.

You and your family can follow these simple guidelines:²

Regular hand washing can slow down the virus spread, especially if you or your children were in contact with someone with warts.
Don’t pick at your warts. In most of the cases, they will disappear within two years.
Covering warts with a strong waterproof tape can prevent spreading warts between people or to the other parts of your body.
Keep hands and feet dry.
Wear shower shoes (or thongs) when in a change room or communal bathing facility.

You can leave warts untreated if they are not causing any problems/health issues. Freezing warts through liquid nitrogen can be a little painful but is effective in most cases. There are many different treatments for warts. Make sure you talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of your treatment as some can cause scarring. Warts can be stubborn, so you may need to use more than one type of treatment.

EndWarts® FREEZE is a device that is quick and easy to use. The treatment is suitable for adults and children over 4 years old.

EndWarts® FREEZE can be very efficient. It reaches the core of the wart and destroys it after just a few seconds of use.

The body rejects the wart with desquamation – the natural shedding of the skin.

One treatment may be sufficient. Old or large warts may need more than one treatment, especially if they are under the soles of your feet. ³

If after 14 days, the wart or part of it is still present, repeat the treatment. If a wart does not go away after 3 treatments, consult your doctor. Remember to leave at least 14 days between treatments. Read the instructions for use for full details.³

You can talk to one of the friendly staff here at Emslie’s Floreat Pharmacy to see what wart treatment may be most suitable for you.

Remember, we are local and are here to help!

References:
1. https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/warts
2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/wart-treatments
3. https://www.endwarts.com.au/en-au/endwarts-freeze/what-is-endwarts-freeze