Patient education: Skin warts (The Basics)

What do skin warts look like? — Skin warts are raised round or oval growths. They can be lighter or darker than the skin around them. Some warts have tiny blood vessels that look like black dots in them. Warts can appear alone or in groups.

Different types of warts affect different parts of the body:

●Common skin warts can show up anywhere on the skin (picture 1) but most often affect the fingers, hands, knees, and elbows (picture 2A-C).

●When common warts are found around the fingernails, they are called "periungual" warts (picture 3).

●Plantar warts are found on the soles (bottoms) of the feet (picture 4).

●Flat warts are usually found on the back of the hands, face, and lower legs (picture 5).

What causes skin warts? — Warts are caused by viruses. You can get infected with the virus that causes warts by touching another person's wart. You can also get infected by touching objects that have the virus on them. For instance, people can catch warts by walking barefoot around pools, locker rooms, or gyms.

Should I see a doctor or nurse about my wart? — See a doctor or nurse if:

●You are not sure that what you have is a wart.

●Your wart does not go away with home treatment.

●You would like to use home treatment, but are not sure which treatment is right for you.

Not everyone needs treatment for warts. Some warts go away on their own within 2 years. But warts can also get bigger or spread, so many people decide to treat their warts.

Is there anything I can do on my own to get rid of warts? — You can try something called "salicylic acid." This is a mild acid that you put on warts. It is sold in pharmacies and comes in different forms, such as a liquid, patch, or stick. If you try salicylic acid, follow the directions on the label. But do not use this treatment if you have a form of nerve damage called "neuropathy."

How do doctors and nurses treat warts? — Doctors and nurses have a few ways to treat warts. They often suggest combining the treatments they use with an at-home treatment, like salicylic acid.

A doctor or nurse can treat warts by:

●Freezing the wart off with a special fluid that gets very cold (called liquid nitrogen)

●Prescribing a skin cream that helps the body get rid of warts

●Treating the wart with a medicine that helps your body fight the virus that causes warts, or a medicine that destroys warts

●Shaving the wart off with a special blade (after numbing the skin)

If you have one of these treatments, ask your doctor or nurse what to expect. That way, if your skin starts to hurt or turns red, you will know if it is normal. If you have any new skin symptoms that concern you, call your doctor or nurse right away.

More on this topic

Patient education: Corns and calluses (The Basics)

Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics)