June 28, 2025
Warts are common skin growth that many people encounter at some point in their lives. Warts might not be dangerous, but they can be annoying, embarrassing, and sometimes painful. You may have a wart on your finger, foot, or even near your eye. While often harmless, they can be unsightly, uncomfortable, and sometimes persistent. Understanding what causes warts, how you can get them removed safely, and whether warts are contagious or not, can empower you to take effective action.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about this common skin issue in a clear and easy-to-understand way.
A wart is a small skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the skin through a tiny cut or scratch, leading to extra skin cell growth. This creates the raised bump called a wart.
These growths can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp, nose, near eye, and even eyelid. Warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact or shared surfaces.
Some people refer to warts as verrucae. So, if you hear the term “wart and verruca”, it’s often describing the same thing, just in different locations.
The main reason for warts is HPV infection. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and different types cause different kinds of warts. You might get the virus by:
Yes, warts are contagious, but they don’t spread like common cold or influenza. It usually involves broken skin and direct contact for transmission.
Not all warts look the same. Here’s how to identify a wart based on their sites and behavior:
| TYPE OF WART | APPEARANCE | COMMON SITES | NOTES |
| 1.Common Warts | Rough, raised bumps, often with black dots | Hands, fingers, knees, elbows, or any parts of the body | Usually asymptomatic |
| 2.Plantar Warts | Hard, grainy growths | Soles of the feet or between the toes | May hurt while walking Should be differentiated from callus |
| 3.Flat Warts or plane wart | Small, smooth, skin colored, flat-topped lesions | Face, dorsum of the hand | Usually affects children |
| 4. Filiform Warts | Long, thin, thread-like projections | Face, around the eyes and mouth | Grow quickly Should be differentiated from skin tags |
| 5. Periungual Warts | Rough, irregular growths | Around fingernails and toenails | Can cause pain and nail damage |
| 6. Genital warts | Grayish small papules or pediculated grayish cauliflower mass (condyloma acuminatum) | Vulva, vagina, Cervix in female Glans and penis shaft in male | Transmitted through sexual contact Sexual partners of genital warts patients should be examined and followed for 2 years. Complications: Condyloma acuminatum of the cervix could be huge and obstruct normal delivery, leading to cesarean section. Genital warts of the cervix could lead to intraepithelial neoplasm, which is a premalignant condition. |
Warts, especially genital warts, should be evaluated by a dermatologist as soon as possible to mitigate their growth and get the proper wart treatment.
Most warts are harmless, but they can cause:
There are various methods for wart treatment, ranging from home remedies to professional treatments:
| Method | How It Works | Used For | Pros | Cons / Risks |
| 1. Cryotherapy | Liquid nitrogen freezes wart tissue | Warts on fingers, hands, feet, and joints | Effective, minimal downtime | Blistering, discomfort, and multiple sessions may be needed |
| 2. Laser Removal | Laser cuts the blood supply to the wart, destroying the tissue. | Stubborn or recurring warts (e.g. wart under nail) | Highly precise, fast, lower recurrence risk | Expensive, possible scarring or pigment change |
| 3. Electrocautery | Burning the wart tissues until it is destroyed | All types except those needing cryotherapy | Immediate result | Possible scarring |
| 4. Chemical cautery | Doctor-applied blistering agent causes the wart to peel off in 1–2 weeks. | Kids, common warts, plane wart | No cutting, painless during application | Blister discomfort, may need multiple treatments |
Warts and skin tags are both skin bumps, but they’re not the same.
Skin tags are soft, harmless skin flaps and are not contagious, nor are they caused by a virus. They are benign overgrowths of skin. They’re more common in people with diabetes, obesity, or hormonal changes.
| Treatment Option | Used for Warts | Used for Skin Tags |
| Cryotherapy | Yes | Sometimes used for small skin tags |
| Surgical Excision | No | Yes, it offers quick removal |
| Chemical cautery | Yes | Not typically used for skin tags |
| Laser Removal | Yes, especially for stubborn or facial warts | Yes – effective for hard-to-reach skin tags |
Preventing warts starts with simple habits:
Warts are common, but you don’t have to live with them forever. With the right wart treatment, you can take control. There are plenty of options available. Book your appointment with our top dermatologists in Abu Dhabi at Reem Hospital now to receive your tailored wart treatment plan that caters to your special case.
Understanding what causes warts and how to treat them with the right wart care, and wart wart-top-notch doctor can help you finally say goodbye to warts for good.
Always remember warts are contagious, so acting early helps protect both you and those around you.
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