What Is Warts?
Warts are small, rough skin growths caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and different strains tend to cause warts in different locations — common warts on the hands and fingers, plantar warts on the soles of the feet, and flat warts on the face or legs.
Warts are benign and, in most people, eventually clear on their own as the immune system controls the virus — though this can take months to a couple of years. They're extremely common, especially in school-age children.
Causes
- Direct contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV), usually entering through a small break or crack in the skin
- Touching another person's wart, or contact with surfaces the virus can survive on (locker rooms, pool decks, shared towels)
- A weakened immune system, which can make warts more persistent or widespread
- Biting nails or picking at skin, which creates entry points and can spread warts to new areas
Symptoms
- Small, rough, raised bumps, often with a grainy or cauliflower-like surface
- Tiny black or brown dots visible within the wart (small clotted blood vessels)
- Plantar warts can feel like a hard lump when walking, sometimes mistaken for a callus
- Warts can appear singly or in clusters, and may multiply if scratched or picked at
Treatment Options at Dermatology of Seattle
- In-office cryotherapy (freezing) to destroy wart tissue
- Topical prescription medication to gradually remove the wart
- Minor in-office procedures for stubborn or resistant warts
- Guidance on when watchful waiting is reasonable, since many warts resolve on their own over time
When to See a Dermatologist
See a dermatologist if a wart is painful, spreading, not responding to over-the-counter treatment after several weeks, or if you're unsure whether a growth is actually a wart. Anyone with diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system should have foot warts evaluated professionally rather than treated at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are warts contagious?
Yes. Warts spread through direct skin contact or contact with surfaces that carry the virus, such as pool decks or locker room floors. Avoiding picking at warts and not sharing towels or razors can help limit spread.
Will a wart go away on its own?
Many warts do eventually clear on their own as the immune system fights off the virus, but this can take months to a couple of years, and warts can spread or multiply in the meantime — which is why many people choose to have them treated rather than wait.
Are over-the-counter wart treatments effective?
Over-the-counter salicylic acid treatments can work for some warts with consistent use over several weeks, but plantar warts and stubborn cases often respond better to in-office cryotherapy or prescription-strength treatment.