Warts are benign skin or mucosal growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This page covers common wart types, how they spread, practical prevention steps and which medical specialists can assess them.
Warts result from an HPV infection and vary by appearance and location. Typical categories include common warts (rough, raised lesions), plantar warts on the soles of the feet, flat warts (smaller, smoother lesions), and genital warts. They can appear singly or in clusters and differ in texture and color depending on location.
Warts spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated surfaces. Factors that increase risk include cuts or breaks in the skin, shared wet environments (public showers, pools), nail-biting or picking at lesions, and a weakened immune system. Children and adolescents are more frequently affected because their skin barrier and immune responses differ from adults.
Reduce transmission by keeping skin clean and dry, avoiding sharing towels, socks or shoes, and wearing protective footwear in communal wet areas. Do not pick, scratch, or attempt to cut warts, as this can spread the virus and create new lesions. HPV vaccination protects against some HPV types; discuss vaccination and prevention with a health professional.
Most warts are diagnosed by visual examination. A dermatologist (Dermatology and Venereal Diseases) is the specialist commonly consulted for persistent, painful, or atypical lesions; family physicians can perform initial assessment and refer as needed. Seek urgent medical evaluation or emergency services if lesions show rapid growth, continuous bleeding, severe pain, fever, or signs of a spreading skin infection.
Hello ❤️
Write your complaint
Let's answer in seconds
Tanitedavi.com is a Bogazici Teknopark project. BETA