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Description
Warts are non-cancerous skin growths, which are caused
by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. They
can appear anywhere on the skin, but they are most common
on the hands and feet. Wart colors can range from skin-colored,
pink, brown and even white. They appear as tiny, hard
bumps with a rough surface that may have a cauliflower
texture; and some can be dark, flat and smooth.
There are many different kinds of warts including:
- Common warts: usually grow around the nails, on
the fingers, and back of hands
- Foot warts: usually on soles of the feet and are
call plantar warts
- Flat warts: smaller and smoother than other warts
that grow in great numbers
- Genital warts: (condyloma) - occur on the genitalia
and anus
Cause
Warts are tiny skin infections caused by viruses of
the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. The viruses that
cause warts are passed from person to person, sometimes
indirectly. The risk of catching hand, foot, and flat
warts is small. Genital warts are more contagious, and
sexually transmitted. Some people get warts depending
on how often they are exposed to the virus.
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