Warts Warts Warts are skin lesions caused by the human papillomavirus and occur in almost fifty percent of children at some time. The common wart is a small, hard, rough bump that usually occurs on the hands and fingers. The virus that causes warts can be spread to other parts of the body and to other people who have contact with the wart. Another type of wart is the plantar wart that occurs on the soles of the feet. These types of warts may resemble calluses or corns, but you can tell the difference because plantar warts disrupt the natural lines of the skin and may have small black dots on their surface, which are tiny blood clots in blood vessels.
Flat warts are another type of wart that usually are found on the face.
Warts usually don't cause any symptoms and do not require treatment, although plantar warts may be painful. Although there is no specific cure for warts and most will disappear on their own in a few years, if the warts are painful or causing cosmetic problems, there are steps you can take to remove them. There are many over the counter medications that contain salicylic acid that may work if used daily for an extended period of time. You can also see your doctor about freezing the warts to destroy the virus. Plantar warts are more difficult to treat.