Warts are a common problem that can bother people and cause discomfort. The key is to identify the types of warts you have and treat them appropriately.
In this article, learn more about the most common wart types and how to identify them!
The 6 most common types of warts
There are many different types of warts. They are caused by
strains, which can be classified into more than 100 different types according to their location on the human body.
They usually feel rough, look skin-colored, and can disappear on their own. However, some types can be more dangerous and cause health complications.
Check out the most common wart types!
Common warts
This kind of warts is more common on the hands, toes, back of the fingers, and knees. They can have rough surfaces with raised lumps that are rough, grainy, and hard.
The common wart can have a cauliflower-like appearance. Its size can range from 1 millimeter to 1 centimeter, appearing in groups or alone.
It can spread to different areas when in direct contact, but it’s mostly not dangerous for our health and can disappear on its own.
Flat warts
Flat warts appear mainly on the hands, arms, thighs, and face. They are flesh-colored like brownish, pink, and with a slightly yellow tone. These wart types usually grow in large groups, from 20 to 200.
They usually appear on areas of the skin where there is a break or a cut, from shaving, for example. The flat wart is small and has a flat top like it has been scraped and is painless. They can go away on their own without complications.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts usually affect the soles of the feet and look like small hard bumps with little black dots.
Differently from other types of warts, they don’t grow out of the skin but into it. These warts can cause pain, irritation, and minor bleeding.
It is possible to notice them as a small hole in the bottom of the foot surrounded by hardened skin. They don’t spread easily and usually disappear on their own.
Filiform warts
Filiform warts mainly appear near the lips, eyelids, and nose. They look like long and thin threads. They can also grow under the chin and the neck.
These kinds of warts are contagious and quick to grow. They can easily spread through the body. They have the same coloration as the infected person’s skin, and it appears like a small skin tag that is usually painless.
Periungual warts
Periungual warts, on the other hand, can cause a lot of discomforts since they appear around and under fingernails and toenails.
They can have a rough exterior and a cauliflower-like appearance. This kind of small wart can also grow and spread to different areas through direct contact.
Genital warts
Genital warts usually appear on the vulva, penis, and anus and are a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
This type of wart has a grainy cauliflower-like appearance and is grayish. It can cause itching, discomfort, and pain and are soft growths.
They are caused by low-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most frequent STIs. This means that every sexually active individual can be vulnerable to complications of HPV.
It can present an even higher risk for women since it can be responsible for the vulva and cervix cancer. Genital warts require treatment to deal with the infection.
What is the next step after identifying warts?
Several treatments are available for the types of warts we mentioned before, which will vary according to the location they appear and how spread they are.
To correctly identify the types of warts, you need to consult a doctor to learn more about how you can get rid of them more safely.
But if you want to get more informed about warts, keep navigating through our blog and receive our updates!