Overview

What Are Warts?

Warts are harmless skin growths that can appear anywhere on the body. They can be caused by more than 100 varieties of the human papillomavirus. Warts come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, depending on their type and part of the body on which they appear.

The six major types of warts are:

• Common warts: Found mainly on the hands
• Filiform warts: Found on the face and neck
• Flat warts: Form in clusters on the face, hands and legs
• Genital warts: Form on the genitals
• Periungual warts: Form around the fingernails
• Plantar (foot) warts: Found on the bottom of the foot

A wart on one part of the body can be spread to another part of the body. They are more likely to spread if the skin has been cut or injured. Warts are more commonly found in children and teenagers than adults. They are easily spread with skin-to-skin contact or through sharing personal items, such as towels and clothing.