Dr Phil Kieran: My son has developed warts on his back and thumb

Warts can be stubborn to remove and if you're not careful, can even spread to other parts of the body

Scratching the wart or the surrounding skin can cause it to enlarge or spread to new areas. Picture: iStock

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026 - 02:00

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Dr Phil Kieran is a full-time GP practising in Cork. He previously presented RTE's 'You Should Really See a Doctor' and 'How Long Will You Live?'.

My 12-year-old son has developed small warts on his left thumb and some tag-like warts on his back. I’ve no idea where he picked them up, but it could be connected to the swimming pool we use regularly. He’s careful to wear rubber shoes when walking around the pool area. What would you suggest?

Warts are often tricky to deal with. Also, trying to figure out where he may have picked them up is nearly impossible, as the incubation period for warts is typically between two and six months, but can be as long as 12 months.