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Warts

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Warts, multiple - on hands
Warts, multiple - on hands
Warts, flat on the cheek and neck
Warts, flat on the cheek and neck
Wart
Wart
Plantar wart
Plantar wart
Subungual wart
Subungual wart
Wart (close-up)
Wart (close-up)
Wart (verruca) with a cutaneous horn on the toe
Wart (verruca) with a cutaneous horn on the toe

Alternative Names    Return to top

Plane juvenile warts; Periungual warts; Subungual warts; Plantar warts; Verruca; Verrucae planae juveniles; Filiform warts; Verruca vulgaris

Definition    Return to top

Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin caused by a virus. They are generally harmless. However, warts can be disfiguring and embarrassing, and occasionally they itch or hurt (particularly on the feet).

The different types of warts include:

Causes    Return to top

The typical wart is a raised round or oval growth on the skin with a rough surface. Compared with the surrounding normal skin, warts may appear light, dark, or black (rare). Most adults are familiar with the look of a typical wart and have little trouble recognizing them. Unusual warts with smooth surfaces or flat warts in children may be more difficult for parents to recognize.

Common warts tend to cause no discomfort unless they are in areas of repeated friction or pressure. Plantar warts, for example, can become extremely painful. Large numbers of plantar warts on the foot may cause difficulty running and even walking.

Warts around and under your nails are much more difficult to cure than warts elsewhere.

Some warts will disappear without treatment, although it can sometimes take a couple of years. Treated or not, warts that go away often reappear. Genital warts are contagious, while common, flat, and plantar warts are much less likely to spread from person to person. All warts can spread from one part of your own body to another.

Because people generally consider warts unsightly and there is often a social stigma, treatment is often sought.

Symptoms    Return to top

Exams and Tests    Return to top

Warts can generally be diagnosed simply by their location and appearance. Your doctor may want to cut into a wart (called a biopsy) to confirm that it is not a corn, callous, or other similar-appearing growth.

Treatment    Return to top

Over-the-counter medications can remove warts. These are applied to the wart every day for several weeks. DO NOT use these medications on your face or genitals. It helps to file the wart down when damp (for example, after a bath or shower) before applying these medications.

Special cushions are available at drugstores for plantar warts. These pads help relieve any pressure and pain from the warts.

Stronger (prescription) medications may be required for removal of persistent warts. Surgical removal or removal by freezing (cryotherapy), burning (electrocautery), or laser treatment may be needed.

Immunotherapy, done by injecting a substance that causes an allergic reaction, may also be considered by your doctor.

A vaccine called Gardasil prevents infection against the strains of viruses that often cause genital warts and cervical cancer in women.

DO NOT attempt to remove a wart yourself by burning, cutting, tearing, picking, or any other method.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Warts are generally harmless growths that often go away on their own within two years. They can be contagious, but transmission from person to person is uncommon. Warts may be unsightly or cause discomfort, especially on the feet.

Possible Complications    Return to top

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call for an appointment with your doctor if:

Prevention    Return to top

References    Return to top

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Licenses New Vaccine for Prevention of Cervical Cancer and Other Diseases in Females Caused by Human Papillomavirus. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; June 8, 2006. P06-77.

Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2004:368-378.

Kasper D, Braunwald E, Fauci A, et al. Harrison's Principals of Internal Medicine. 16th edition [online version]. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005.

Gibbs S, et al. Topical treatments for cutaneous warts. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(3):CD001781.

Habif, TP. Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2004:chap 12.

Update Date: 10/28/2008

Updated by: Michael Lehrer, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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