Common warts and mollusca warts are most commonly found on children. These warts are caused from being exposed to either the human papilloma virus or molluscum contagiosum virus. Neither warts are life threatening and are easily treated by your dermatologist.
Common or Plantar Warts
Verruca, another name for the common or plantar wart, is caused by the human papilloma virus. These warts are rare in infants but rise during school years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 10 percent of children between 2 and 12 years of age have common warts. Common warts are most commonly found on the hands or feet, and sometimes dark pinpoint spots can be seen in these warts. The virus infects the epidermis cells from a breach in the skin barrier. Common warts and plantar warts may reappear in one or two years.
Molluscum Contagiosum
Warts caused from molluscum contagiosum are most common in young children who have not developed immunity to the virus. Mollusca warts are small flesh-colored growths that become red or inflamed. They may appear shiny and have a small white core. Mollusca is caused when a poxvirus enters the skin through small breaks in the skin barrier. After the incubation period, growths appear and may develop anywhere on the skin. It is usually found in areas of skin that touch each other or can also be found in clusters on the abdomen, chest and buttocks. A person who has this type of wart can spread the virus to other parts of the body by rubbing or scratching the wart and then touching other parts of the skin. It can also spread by touching a towel, toy or clothing that the virus has come into contact with. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there have also been reports of contracting this virus from a swimming pool or gymnastic mat. A mollusca wart will go away on its own without leaving a scar, but some doctors recommend treating this type of wart so that it will not spread to others.
Treatment of Warts on Children
Treatment for both the common wart and the mollusca wart found on children includes freezing the growths with liquid nitrogen, using various acids or blistering solutions or treating the wart with an electric needle and scraping off the wart. All of these treatments can be performed in a dermatologists office. Treatment may need to be done every three to six weeks or until the growth disappears.
