Warts: Causes, Removal, Types, Remedies, Treatment & More

Symptoms of Warts

There are several types of warts that you can contract & your symptoms will vary depending on the type of wart you have. Here are some common symptoms that warts are characterized by:

• Grainy, rough texture
• Brown or yellowish in color
• Bumps on the skin
• Surrounded by black pinpoints

Types of Warts

The type of wart you have depends on the location of the wart, the thickness of the skin in that area of the body, & the appearance of the wart. Most warts have been classified into five main types.

• Common Warts: In most cases, common warts, medically termed verruca vulgaris, are found on toes, fingers, knuckles, elbows, & knees. They have a rounded top, a grainy texture, & often take the shape of a cauliflower. Common warts which cause clotted blood vessels to appear on the skin are known as seed warts. 

• Plane Warts: Plane warts, medically termed verruca plana, are characterized by a flat, round, & smooth appearance. They may be skin-colored, brownish, or yellowish. They are most commonly found on areas of the body that are often exposed to the sun such as the face, arms, & thighs. Plane warts appear in large numbers but are also most likely to subside & disappear quickly without any treatment. 

• Plantar Warts: Plantar warts are most commonly found on the sole of the feet & grow into the skin as opposed to protruding out of it. They are characterized by a hole in the skin in the center surrounded by hardened skin. They can be extremely difficult to clear. 

• Filiform Warts: Long & thin in shape, filiform warts commonly grow around the mouth, nose, on the neck, or under the chin. They are skin-colored with a thread-like & spiky texture, & they grow fast. 

• Periungual Warts: Periungual warts are found under and/or around fingernails & toenails. As a result, they often adversely affect nail growth & can cause pain. 

When to see a doctor for warts?

Warts are usually not a cause for concern. However, you should go see a doctor if:

• The wart is causing pain and/or disrupting your daily activities.
• Home remedies & medical treatments have failed.
• The wart has grown or spread.
• Numerous warts have started to appear in a short amount of time.
• The wart has become infected. Infected warts may contain pus or you may notice scabbing around the wart.

Causes of Warts

Warts can be caused by any virus strain belonging to the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. HPV viruses accelerate the growth of keratin, a hard protein, on the top layer of the skin which results in the formation of warts. The strain of HPV virus infecting your skin also determines the type of wart that will appear. 

HPV viruses can be transferred through skin-to-skin contact which makes warts extremely contagious. You may even get infected with an HPV strain by coming in contact with shared or personal objects such as the towels or shoes of an already infected person. 

The virus spreads through breaks in the skin & can spread through your body if:

• You bite or scratch a wart.
• Suck your fingers.
• Bite your fingernails.
• Shave the skin near the wart.

Risk Factors of Warts

Whether coming in contact with an HPV virus leads to a wart depends on how strong your immune system is & whether it can ward off the virus. This is why not everyone that gets infected with an HPV virus develops a wart. However, there are some groups that are more susceptible to developing warts including:

• Children are at a greater risk of developing warts since their immune system has not fully developed.
• People on immunosuppressive drugs are at a higher risk. 
• People with HIV/AIDS have weakened immune systems, thus, are at a greater risk. 

Other risk factors for warts include:

• Having damaged skin
• Having wet skin
• Coming in contact with rough surfaces
• Pre-existing skin infections
• Nail biting
• Hands or feet that often sweat profusely
• Scratching existing warts
• Coming in contact with other people’s warts