a wart is a harmless skin growth caused by some types of the virus called the human papillomavirus (hpv). there are more than 100 known types of hpv. hpv infects the top layer of skin usually entering the body in an area of broken skin. the virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly forming a wart. most warts go away on their own within months or years. warts can grow anywhere on the body. they are most common among children and young adults. there are five kinds of warts. they look different and form on different parts of the body. common warts grow most often on the hands but they may be anywhere on the body. they are rough shaped like a dome and gray-brown in color. plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet. they look like hard thick patches of skin with dark specks. plantar warts may cause pain when you walk and you may feel like you are stepping on a pebble. flat warts usually grow on the face arms or legs. they are small (usually smaller than the eraser on the end of a pencil) have flat tops and can be pink light brown or light yellow. filiform warts usually grow around the mouth nose or beard area. they are the same color as your skin and have growths that look like threads sticking out of them. periungual warts grow under and around the toenails and fingernails. they look like rough bumps with an uneven surface and border. they can affect nail growth. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what are warts and what causes them?