Wart Symptoms and What They Mean for Your Skin Health

Types of Warts

Warts can appear in different forms depending on where they grow and the strain of HPV causing them. While the same virus causes all, their size, shape, and location can vary.

• Common warts: Rough, raised bumps often found on hands and fingers.
• Plantar warts: Grow on the soles of the feet, and may be painful when walking.
• Flat warts: Smaller and smoother, typically on the face, arms, or legs.
• Filiform warts: Long, narrow growths around the mouth, eyes, or nose.
• Periungual warts: Develop around fingernails and toenails, and may affect nail growth.
• Genital warts: Transmitted sexually, appear in the genital or anal areas.

Common Causes of Warts

Warts are caused by direct exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters through minor cuts or broken skin and may spread through various forms of contact:

• Direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person
• Contact with surfaces contaminated by HPV (e.g., gym floors, showers)
• Weakened immune system
• Biting nails or picking at skin

Symptoms and Wart Triggers

Certain habits and conditions can increase your chances of getting warts. People with regular exposure to infected surfaces or with weakened immunity are at higher risk:

• Are children or teenagers
• Have cuts, scrapes, or hangnails
• Use public pools, locker rooms, or showers barefoot
• Have a suppressed immune system
• Share personal items like razors or towels

Associated Symptoms of Warts

Warts are usually painless, but they can become bothersome or uncomfortable depending on their type and location. Some features are standard to most types of warts:

• Hard or grainy texture
• Black dots (clotted blood vessels)
• Pain or tenderness (especially plantar warts)
• Bleeding when picked or scratched
• Clustering of multiple warts in one area

When to See a Doctor for Warts

While many warts are harmless, medical attention is needed if they change rapidly or cause pain or spread extensively.

Urgent Signs

• Warts that bleed, grow rapidly, or change color or shape
• Painful warts that interfere with daily activities
• Warts in the genital or anal area

Non-Urgent but Concerning Signs

• Persistent warts that don't improve with treatment
• Spreading of warts to other areas
• Frequent recurrence after removal

Diagnosis and Tests for Wart Identification

Doctors typically diagnose warts by looking at them. However, in some cases—especially when a wart is unusual or doesn't respond to treatment—further testing may be needed:

• Physical Exam: Most warts are diagnosed visually by their appearance.
• Dermatoscopy: May be used to examine warts more closely.
• Biopsy: Rarely needed unless the wart looks unusual or fails to respond to treatment.

Treatment Options for Wart Removal

Warts often go away independently, but some may need treatment for discomfort or cosmetic reasons. A range of methods can be used based on the type and severity:

• Over-the-counter topical treatments (salicylic acid)
• Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
• Laser therapy or electrosurgery
• Prescription creams for genital warts
• Surgical removal in severe or resistant cases

Self-Care and Wart Prevention Tips

Preventing warts involves avoiding contact with the virus and maintaining healthy hygiene habits. If you already have warts, you can reduce their spread by following these steps:

• Avoid picking at or touching warts
• Keep warts covered with a bandage
• Don't share towels, razors, or footwear
• Wear sandals in public showers or pool areas
• Wash your hands thoroughly after touching a wart
• Strengthen immune function with a healthy lifestyle