Warts and verrucas are small, rough lumps on your skin, which are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is spread through skin-to-skin contact or by touching surfaces contaminated with HPV.

Warts are common; most people have a wart at some point in their lives. They are usually harmless, although they can cause discomfort and look unsightly.

Warts can affect you at any age, although they’re more likely to appear when you’re a teenager or young adult. Around one in 10 people of all ages are estimated to have warts at any one time, rising to one in three in children or young people.

Warts can appear almost anywhere on your skin. However, warts on hands and warts on feet (verrucas) are most likely.

Warts often go away naturally. However, this can take months or years. If needed, they can usually be treated with over-the-counter or prescribed medications. Warts can also be removed by freezing (cryotherapy) or, occasionally, with minor surgery.

Warts are usually painless but can sometimes be itchy or bleed. In some cases, warts at the end of fingers can make it harder to complete fine tasks. Warts can also look unsightly.

There are several different types of warts.

Common warts

• Skin coloured, firm, raised and rough
• Small – a common wart can be anything from a pinpoint to a centimetre in diameter
• Usually on hands or knees

Plane warts

• Can develop in clusters
• Common in young children
• Round, smooth, flat and with a yellowish tinge
• Usually found on the face, neck, legs or the backs of your hands

Filiform warts

• Can develop on the neck or face
• Long and slender, finger-shaped

Verrucas

• Can be painful — often described as the sensation of standing on a needle
• Have tiny black dots under the hard skin
• Found on feet

Mosaic warts

• Clusters of warts spread over an area of skin
• Commonly found on hands or feet

Warts are contagious — they can be passed on to others through touch. However, the risk of passing on your warts is low as close skin-to-skin contact is needed. 

Your risk of being infected with warts is higher if your skin is damaged or if it is wet, softened from prolonged exposure to water and touching rough surfaces eg in communal washing areas and swimming pools.

Warts can spread from one part of your body to another eg warts on your fingers can spread to your lips and surrounding skin and around your nails if you bite or suck the affected fingers. 

If you have a weakened immune system eg due to AIDS or chemotherapy, you may develop lots of warts that don’t easily disappear.