Warts are small lumps that often develop on the skin of the hands and feet. They vary in appearance and may develop singly or in clusters.
Most people will have warts at some point in their life. They tend to affect children and teenagers more than adults.
Source: dermnetnz.org
Source: dermnetnz.org
Warts are caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV).
There are lots of different strains of HPV and these cause different types of warts.
HPV causes too much keratin (a hard protein) to develop in the top skin layer (epidermis). The extra keratin produces the rough, hard texture of a wart.
HPV is passed on through close skin-to-skin contact. It can also be passed on indirectly by contact with contaminated objects like:
You’re more likely to get infected if your skin is wet or damaged.
Warts can also be spread to other parts of your own body. You can spread the virus if you:
After you become infected, it can take weeks or even months for a wart or verruca to appear.
Warts and verrucas aren’t usually serious and can be treated by a pharmacist.
Your pharmacist will give you advice about the best treatment for you.
There are several different types of warts. These vary in size and shape.
Source: dermnetnz.org
If you have a common wart, it will:
You may develop one common wart or several.
Source: dermnetnz.org
Filiform warts are long and slender in appearance. They often develop on the neck or face.
Mosaic warts grow in clusters and form a ’tile-like’ pattern. They often develop on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Source: dermnetnz.org
Periungual warts develop under and around the fingernails or toenails. They:
Source: dermnetnz.org
It’s possible to have between one and several hundred plane warts, which can develop in clusters. They are usually:
Plane warts can sometimes develop on the lower legs of women. This is because the human papilloma virus (HPV) can be spread through shaving.
Verrucas usually develop on the soles of the feet. The affected area of skin will be:
Verrucas can sometimes be painful if they’re on a weight-bearing part of th
Warts usually clear up without treatment.
The length of time it takes for a wart to disappear will vary from person to person. It can take up to 2 years for the virus to leave your system and for warts to disappear. Warts tend to last longer in older children and adults.
Leaving the wart to go away by itself is one option. But, you may want to consider treatment if your wart is:
A wart will sometimes return following treatment.
Common ways to treat warts and verrucas include:
Surgery is not usually recommended for warts.
There are steps you can take to lower your chances of getting warts, and prevent them spreading to others.
Last updated:
07 March 2024