What it is
Warts are small, usually harmless skin growths caused by HPV. There are many types of this virus, and different types tend to affect different parts of the body, such as the hands, fingers, feet, or other areas of skin.
The virus generally enters through tiny breaks or scratches in the skin, which you may not even notice. Once inside, it can cause skin cells to multiply, which is what creates the rough or raised bump people recognize as a wart.
The virus can spread through direct skin contact or by touching surfaces that an infected person has touched, such as damp floors or shared towels. Whether someone develops a wart can depend on many things, including skin condition and how the immune system responds, so two people with the same exposure may have different outcomes. Some warts also go away on their own, while others stay or return. Results vary.
Not every bump is a wart. A growth that is changing, bleeding, itching, irregular in shape or color, or not healing should be checked by a dermatologist for skin cancer, and it should not be self-treated.
How it’s traditionally been approached
Over time, people have approached warts in several ways. Some choose to watch and wait, since warts sometimes resolve without treatment. Others look into options that clinicians or pharmacies offer.
Over-the-counter products, such as those containing salicylic acid, are commonly available and are used by many people for common warts on the hands. People with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy, or a weakened immune system should ask a provider before treating warts at home, especially on the feet. Over-the-counter wart products are not meant for the face or genital area. Cutting, burning, or digging out a growth at home is not advised.
In a clinic, providers have traditionally used approaches such as cryotherapy (freezing) or other in-office procedures, and sometimes prescription topical products. Whether any option is appropriate is a decision for a licensed clinician after an evaluation. No approach is guaranteed to remove a wart or prevent it from coming back, and warts can return.
How the right provider may help
A licensed clinician, such as a dermatologist, podiatrist, primary care provider, or sexual-health provider, may be able to look at a growth and help tell whether it is a wart or something else. That step matters, because other skin conditions, including skin cancer, can look similar. This page cannot diagnose you or tell you what you need.
A visit generally begins with questions about how long the growth has been there, whether it has changed, and any health conditions you have. The provider will usually examine the area, and may talk through options, including waiting, at-home care, or in-office approaches, if they are appropriate for you.
Questions you might ask include: Is this definitely a wart? What are my options, and what are the pros and cons of each? Is home care safe for me given my health history? Could it come back? How can I lower the chance of spreading it to others? For concerns about HPV or genital warts, a provider can also discuss HPV vaccination and how partners may wish to talk with their own provider, in a private and non-judgmental way.
The whole-person view
Body, mind, and stress affect each other. Many people feel self-conscious about visible warts, and ongoing stress or poor sleep can leave a person feeling run down. Caring for your overall well-being is one part of looking after your health, alongside any skin care a provider suggests.
If worry or embarrassment about your skin is weighing on you, support is available. Somatic Experiences offers body-based support for stress and tension, and Therapists.plus can connect you with talk therapy if you'd like to work through difficult feelings. These are optional sources of support, and neither replaces an evaluation by a licensed clinician.
Somatic Experiences: nervous system regulation →Therapists.plus: anxiety panic and ocd →
Keep in mind
- Warts.ai is educational only and does not give medical advice; a licensed clinician should evaluate any growth.
- A spot that is changing, bleeding, itching, irregular in shape or color, or not healing should be checked by a dermatologist for skin cancer. The ABCDEs of melanoma are only a general guide, not a way to diagnose yourself.
- No treatment is guaranteed to cure warts or HPV, and warts can come back; results vary from person to person.
- For emergencies call 911; if you are in emotional crisis, call or text 988.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes warts?
Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the top layer of skin and causes it to grow more than usual. The virus typically gets in through tiny breaks in the skin. Many different HPV types exist, and they tend to affect different areas of the body.
Are warts contagious?
Yes, the virus that causes warts can spread through direct skin contact or through shared surfaces like towels or damp floors. Not everyone exposed develops a wart, though. A provider can talk with you about ways to reduce spreading it.
Do warts mean I have poor hygiene?
No. Warts are caused by a common virus and are not a sign of being unclean. Anyone can get them, and there is no reason to feel ashamed.
Can warts go away on their own?
Sometimes they do, and sometimes they stay or come back. It varies from person to person and is hard to predict. A licensed clinician can help you decide whether to wait or explore options.
Is it safe to treat a wart at home?
Over-the-counter options exist for common warts on the hands, but they aren't right for everyone. People with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy, or a weakened immune system should ask a provider first, especially for the feet. Never cut, burn, or dig out a growth, and avoid over-the-counter wart products on the face or genital area.
When should I see a doctor about a wart?
See a licensed clinician if you aren't sure the growth is a wart, or if it changes, bleeds, itches, looks irregular in shape or color, or won't heal, in which case a dermatologist should check it for skin cancer. It's also wise to ask a provider if the growth is painful, spreading, or on the face or genital area, or if you have a health condition that affects healing.
Educational resource. Warts.ai shares general information and connects people with independent providers. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.