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Basics
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Research
Resources
For You
Summary
Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with humanpapilloma virus, or HPV. Types of warts include :
- Common warts, which often appear on your fingers
- Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
- Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Flat warts, which appear in places you shave frequently
In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you, or if they multiply, you can remove them. Chemical skin treatments usually work. If not, various freezing, surgical and laser treatments can remove warts.
Specifics
- Common Warts (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris) (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
- Plantar Warts (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Images
- Common Wart (VisualDX)
- Flat Wart (VisualDX)
- Plantar Wart (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Warts
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Children
- Common Wart (VisualDX)
- Flat Wart (VisualDX)
- Warts (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- What's Up with Warts? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Cryotherapy for the skin (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Warts (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.