Types of Warts and How to Treat Them

Warts are commonly found skin conditions of small skin growths caused by the highly contagious agents. Warts can be painful and unsightly, but they are usually harmless and can be treated with over-the-counter medications, surgical procedures, and home remedies, including treating with FDA-listed natural mole products.

When discussing warts, it can be quite confusing as there are many types - and they all look different. There are several types of warts, including common, plantar, and flat warts. Common warts are typically found on the hands and fingers, while plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet. Flat warts are smaller and smoother than other types of warts, and they are often found on the face and legs. 

The Big Question: Are Warts Cancerous?

In most cases, warts are not cancerous. Warts are caused by a comment and highly contagious agents that can affect the skin. While some types of wart infection can become malignant growth, the types that cause warts do not typically lead to any serious complications. However, it's always important to check any unusual growths on your skin by a healthcare provider to rule out any potential problems. If you are concerned about a wart or any other skin condition, it's best to talk to a healthcare provider for advice. However, they are highly contagious and can be transmitted through direct skin contact.

Common types of warts

There are several different types of moles, including:

1. Common Warts

Common warts are also known as seed warts their official name is verruca vilgaris. These tiny skin bumps are usually found on the hands, and they have a rough surface with a minute cauliflower appearance. They will gradually grow larger and thicken, lasting four to six months. They are unlikely to cause any discomfort. You may be able to see small black dots, which are clotted blood vessels.

2. Filiform warts

These are also known as facial warts, and they have the official name of verruca filiformis. They usually appear on the lips or eyelids with a narrow and long appearance and can be flesh-colored, brown, yellow or pink.

3. Periungual warts or subungual warts

These normally grow around the fingernails and toenails. When they first appear, they are very small and just the size of a pinhead. They are translucent, smooth, and barely visible. Within a few weeks, they can grow to the size of a pea with a rougher and cauliflower appearance. Irregular bumps can also appear around the wart, affecting the growth of the nails and even causing them to separate from the nail bed. As they grow, they can expand in different clusters and cause fungal infection beneath the nail plate. 

4. Plantar warts

These are often known as verrucas and appear under the soles or toes of the feet. When they first appear, they are small with black spots before growing to a cauliflower-like form with a brownish color. A blood clot will appear in the center. Plantar warts can become especially painful and uncomfortable as they grow inwards. When we walk on them, the weight of our bodies is passed down to our feet, applying pressure to warts. They will need to be treated to avoid pain and discomfort. Plantar warts are easily spread when we visit public areas such as swimming pools and shower rooms, with the agents thriving in warm and moist environments.

5. Flat warts

These warts are also known as plane warts or juvenile warts, with the official name of verruca plana. Flat warts are small, just the size of a pinhead, with the top flat. They mostly appear in children and teenagers. They usually appear on the face, the forehead, or on the back of the hands, the neck, and on the arms. These tiny bumps grow in clusters or groups, sometimes as many as one hundred. They are skin colored or pink, light brown or yellow, and smooth to the touch.

6. Mosaic warts

Also known as recalcitrant plantar warts, these warts form clusters in a mosaic way on the feet and are often mistaken for calluses. They can be painful when walking or standing. Like many other types of warts, they have tiny spots, broken blood vessels.

7. Body warts

Body warts can appear anywhere in many shapes and sizes, including on the genitalia, where they are gray, white, or skin-colored with a cauliflower-like appearance. Highly contagious, this type of wart is transmitted through sexual intercourse. The symptoms are bleeding and constant itching.

It can be difficult to accurately diagnose a wart by comparing it with pictures of wart. Warts can look similar to other skin conditions, such as moles or skin tags, so it's important to have them evaluated in person by a healthcare provider. A provider can examine the growth and perform tests, if necessary, to determine if it is a wart and what type it is. It's also important to note that self-diagnosis and treatment of warts can be risky, as some treatments may cause irritation or scarring if used incorrectly. Talking to a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment is best.

I have a wart; what do I do?

If you think you have a wart, it's best to check it with a healthcare provider. They can accurately diagnose the growth and recommend the best course of treatment. In the meantime, try not to pick at or scratch the wart, as this can cause it to spread to other parts of your body or to other people. You can also try using over-the-counter wart removers or home remedies, such as applying salicylic acid or covering the wart with duct tape, to help eliminate it. However, these treatments may not work for everyone, so it's important to talk to a healthcare provider for advice.

How can you naturally tackle warts?