Juvenile Warts: Information & Specialists in Flat Warts

Juvenile warts are benign skin growths.

The medical term for juvenile warts is verrucae planae juveniles. They are also known as flat warts or plan warts. "Juvenile" comes from Latin and means childlike or youthful. Flat warts occur particularly frequently in children and adolescents. This is why they are called "juvenile warts."

The reason for their frequent occurrence in children is that their immune systems are usually not yet fully developed. As a result, the body cannot fight off the causative pathogens as effectively.

The cause is the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces. The virus can therefore reach the skin through contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. Through small injuries or cracks in the skin, the virus can then take hold in the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis).

A juvenile wart is a soft, round nodule on the skin. Most often, the wart is skin-colored to yellowish-gray. Rarely, these warts may also be brown.

Juvenile warts often appear on the face, and sometimes on the hands or shins. If warts form all over the body, doctors refer to this as “generalized verrucosis.”

Human papillomaviruses belong to the group of DNA viruses. Their genetic material therefore consists of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), just as it does in humans.

If HPV viruses enter the skin, a healthy immune system can fight them off. If the immune system is weakened, the viruses can establish themselves in the upper layer of the skin. There, they cause skin cells to multiply rapidly. After several weeks or months (the so-called incubation period), a wart forms on the skin.

The wart is supplied with blood via newly formed blood vessels.

The virus is transmitted through contact infection. As soon as you touch surfaces that contain the virus, it can be transferred to you. This includes sharing a towel with an infected person.

This explains why juvenile warts often appear on the hands or face: You touch contaminated objects or people with your hands—and then touch your face with those same hands.

Touching warts can also transmit the virus. This is how HP viruses often spread from one part of the body to another, leading to the repeated appearance of new warts.

The immune system plays a key role in infection with HP viruses. People with weakened immune systems are more frequently affected by juvenile warts—or warts in general. This includes, among others,

• children and adolescents,
• older adults,
• cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy,
• patients taking immunosuppressive medications,
• patients with certain chronic conditions.

Smoking can also have a negative impact on the immune system.

Children are particularly prone to juvenile warts © Irin Fierce | AdobeStock

The diagnosis is usually made by a dermatologist. After discussing the patient’s medical history, the dermatologist examines the affected area of skin. In most cases, a quick glance is enough to identify the wart and make the diagnosis.

In some cases, the doctor may examine the wart with a magnifying glass, known as a dermatoscope.

In rare cases, a visual diagnosis is not sufficient. In such cases, the doctor may order a histological examination. To do this, they take a tissue sample, which is examined under a microscope in the laboratory. Based on these histological findings, a definitive diagnosis can be made.

Juvenile warts often resolve on their own. However, this can take weeks, months, or even years. Eventually, the warts simply disappear without even leaving a scar. This is often the case with children. Once their immune system has fully developed, it can successfully fight off the viruses that cause the warts.

During the healing process, the warts often fill with fluid and swell as a result. In medical terms, this is called “edematous.” This is usually a sign that the healing process is underway.

However, if the wart is located on the face or hands, it often presents a cosmetic flaw. Added to this is the risk of infection and spread. For this reason, adults in particular want to have warts safely removed without waiting too long.

Under no circumstances should you cut off the wart yourself! This can cause bleeding, allow viruses to escape, and lead to the formation of new warts.

There are various methods available for safely removing warts. Some of them can even be done at home. Pharmacies offer various over-the-counter wart removal products for purchase.

However, to treat a wart yourself, you must be certain that it is indeed a wart. You should also know the type of wart. Self-treatment is therefore recommended only if you already have experience with this specific type of wart.

If you’re unsure, you should see a dermatologist. They can rule out other conditions and recommend the best treatment.

You’ll usually have to pay for wart treatment yourself. Health insurance plans only cover the costs of medically necessary treatments. Warts are usually just a cosmetic issue.

In addition to treating the wart, you should also strengthen your immune system to prevent further infections.

Removing juvenile warts through surgery

Surgical wart removal is rarely recommended. It is used when juvenile warts are located near the eyes. In such cases, other methods of wart removal are not an option.

Unfortunately, surgical wart removal always leaves a small scar. In addition, there are other risks, such as impaired wound healing or infections.

Cryotherapy for juvenile warts

Cryotherapy is, so to speak, a “cold burn”; it is also referred to as wart freezing.

The doctor uses a cold probe that has been cooled to -196 °C using liquid nitrogen. He presses this probe against the wart. The cold causes tiny ice crystals to form in the wart’s skin cells, which kill the cells. After a few days, the wart then falls off on its own.

Cryotherapy can also be performed using cold sprays. You can even use these yourself at home. However, there is a significant risk of damaging healthy tissue. Never use such cold sprays near the eyes or healthy mucous membranes!

Cauterization for juvenile warts

Cauterization involves burning away the wart. Salicylic acid or lactic acid is used for this purpose.

The appropriate products are available at the pharmacy. To cauterize a wart, apply the acid-containing liquid to the wart once or twice a day. It penetrates the tissue, softens it, and kills it off. The affected layer of skin then turns white and can be peeled off. As a result, the wart shrinks with each application.

Acid-based patches are also available. These can simply be applied to the wart.

You must be extremely careful when using cauterization. Do not use it to treat warts located near the eyes, for example. You must also take care to ensure that the acid does not come into contact with healthy skin, as this will cause it to die as well. To prevent this, you can apply a greasy ointment to the skin around the wart. This protective layer shields the healthy skin.

When the dead layer of the wart peels off, healthy skin may tear along with it. This creates a risk that viruses could escape and infect healthy skin areas.

If necessary, ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance on proper use.

Antiviral Medications for Juvenile Warts

There are cell-killing antiviral agents, also known as cytostatics, that are applied to the skin. They have a virus-inhibiting effect. However, this method may also fail, in which case the dermatologist will have to find another solution.

Laser Treatment for Juvenile Warts

A dermatologist can destroy the wart using a laser beam. According to experts, this is generally the last resort for treating warts.

As a rule, juvenile warts are difficult to remove with laser treatment. The method is also painful and can be very time-consuming.

The most important protection against infection with juvenile warts—and warts in general—is a healthy immune system.

You can strengthen your immune system—or your child’s—by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes

• a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables,
• enough sleep,
• enough exercise, and
• avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Stress weakens the immune system. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to do something about stress. Still, try to eliminate stressors from your life.

Alternating hot and cold showers can also stimulate blood circulation and boost your immune system.

A strong immune system is definitely beneficial, even when dealing with other illnesses. However, you can also take specific steps to protect yourself against warts. You should follow these guidelines for yourself as well as for your child!

• Never walk barefoot in swimming pools or public saunas; always wear shower shoes.
• Viruses can multiply particularly well in warm, humid environments. Therefore, dry yourself thoroughly after washing.
• Disinfect fresh wounds.
• Do not share towels or other clothing with other people. If you already have warts, wash your towels on the boiling cycle to kill the viruses.
• Do not touch your warts or apply cream to them, as this can spread the virus.
• Use condoms during sexual intercourse. Although juvenile warts usually do not develop in the genital area, it’s better to be safe than sorry.