Warts are common skin infections. They can affect any area of the body, but tend to happen on the fingers, hands, elbows, and bottom of the feet. Warts usually don't cause serious problems, so they may not need to be removed.
There are several types of warts, including common warts, flat warts, and plantar warts.
Without treatment, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years for a wart to go away. Ask your doctor to recommend wart removal treatments.
There's no way to prevent warts, but it's always a good idea to teach kids to wash their hands and skin often. If your child has a cut or scratch, use soap and water to clean the area because open wounds are more likely to develop warts and other infections. If a wart develops, make sure your child doesn't scratch the area.
Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date Reviewed: Jul 2, 2018