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Warts

Warts

Warts are small, rough skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and while they’re usually harmless, they can be stubborn, contagious, and, depending on their location, uncomfortable or embarrassing. Common, plantar, flat, and genital warts are all caused by different strains of HPV and often call for different treatment approaches. At Genesis Dermatology in Jupiter, FL, board-certified dermatologists treat warts of all types and help prevent them from spreading further.
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What Are Warts?

Warts form when HPV infects the outer layer of skin, causing cells to grow rapidly and create a rough, raised bump. There are over 100 types of HPV, and different strains tend to cause different types of warts: common warts (usually on the hands), plantar warts on the soles of the feet, flat warts (smaller and smoother, often on the face or legs), and genital warts, which are sexually transmitted.

Warts spread through direct or indirect contact, meaning they can pass from person to person or from one area of your own body to another, particularly through breaks in the skin or shared surfaces like locker room floors and public showers.

How to Detect a Wart

Warts vary in appearance depending on type and location:
  • Common warts: rough, raised, grainy bumps, often on the hands or fingers
  • Plantar warts: flat growths on the sole of the foot, sometimes with tiny black dots (small clotted blood vessels), that can grow inward and become painful when walking
  • Flat warts: smaller, smoother, slightly raised, often appearing in clusters on the face, arms, or legs
  • Genital warts: small, flesh-colored or grayish, sometimes clustered in a cauliflower-like pattern; not always accompanied by pain or itching
  • Warts that persist for months, multiply, or don't respond to over-the-counter treatment

When Should You See a Doctor?

See a dermatologist if:
  • A wart hasn't gone away after several months, or is spreading despite home treatment
  • A wart is painful, particularly a plantar wart affecting how you walk
  • You're developing new warts in multiple areas
  • A wart is located near the eyes, mouth, or genitals, areas that are more challenging to treat and carry a higher risk of complications if self-treated
  • You have any suspected genital warts, which should always be professionally evaluated

What Happens If Warts Are Left Untreated?

Many warts do eventually resolve on their own, sometimes over a period of months to a couple of years, but leaving them untreated in the meantime carries real downsides. Warts are contagious, so an untreated wart can spread to other parts of your body or to other people through direct contact or shared surfaces. Plantar warts, in particular, can grow deeper and larger the longer they’re left alone, sometimes becoming painful enough to affect walking.

Genital warts deserve particular attention: while most are caused by lower-risk HPV strains, certain related HPV types are associated with a higher risk of malignancy, particularly in immunocompromised patients, which is one more reason any genital wart should be professionally evaluated rather than self-treated or ignored.

The Genesis Dermatology Process

Wart treatment is chosen based on type, size, location, and how long the wart has been present:
  • An exam to confirm the diagnosis and identify the type of wart you're dealing with
  • In-office treatment options, including cryotherapy (freezing), topical prescription-strength treatments, or minor procedures for warts that haven't responded to other approaches
  • A tailored plan for stubborn or recurring warts, since treatment failure and recurrence are more common in certain cases and may require a combination approach
  • Extra caution and specialized care for warts near sensitive areas like the eyes or genitals
  • Guidance on reducing spread to other parts of your body or to others while a wart is being treated

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Stubborn or spreading warts respond best to professional treatment rather than repeated over-the-counter attempts. Schedule a consultation with the board-certified dermatologists at Genesis Dermatology in Jupiter, FL, to get rid of them for good.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Are warts contagious?
Yes, warts spread through direct or indirect contact with the virus that causes them, including from one part of your own body to another. Covering warts and avoiding scratching or picking at them helps reduce the spread.
Many warts do eventually resolve without treatment, sometimes taking months to a couple of years, but there’s no way to predict which ones will and which will persist or spread in the meantime, which is why treatment is often worthwhile.
Because they’re on a weight-bearing part of the foot, plantar warts can be pushed inward with pressure from standing and walking, sometimes growing deeper and becoming painful, unlike warts on the hands or other non-weight-bearing areas.
No, most genital warts are caused by lower-risk HPV types. However, other HPV strains are linked to increased cancer risk, which is one reason any genital wart should be evaluated by a professional rather than assumed to be low-risk.
It varies significantly by wart type, size, and how long it’s been present. Some clear after one or two in-office treatments, while stubborn or recurrent warts may need a series of visits.
OTC treatments can work for some simple, small warts, but they’re less effective for larger, deeper, or long-standing warts, and using them on a growth that isn’t actually a wart can do more harm than good. A dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis first.