A-Z Skin Warts Warts are small, rough tumors that grow on the skin and are caused by a viral infection. They are contagious and can spread on an infected person but usually are not spread to others. Children and teenagers seem to develop warts most often. This is probably because they have not yet developed an immunity to the virus .
Warts can grow anywhere on the body but usually appear on the hands or feet.
Fifty percent of warts go away on their own within two years. But many times people want to get rid of them for comfort, convenience or cosmetic reasons. Since the wart is caused by a virus, cutting it off will not kill the virus and another wart will soon appear. It is best to have a doctor look at the wart and decide on the treatment. In most cases, warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen, or removed with an electric needle, or by chemical cauterization.