Warts: What You Should Know and How to Handle Them

Warts are those small, rough bumps you might see on your skin, often on your hands or feet. They’re caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). While warts are usually harmless, they can be annoying or even painful depending on their location.

How Warts Spread and Why They Appear

The virus that causes warts spreads through direct contact, which means touching someone else’s wart or surfaces that have touched a wart can pass it on. Cuts or breaks in your skin make it easier for the virus to sneak in and create new warts. This is why kids and people who bite their nails are often more prone to getting them.

Warts come in different types. Common warts usually show up on fingers and hands as rough bumps. Plantar warts appear on the soles of your feet and can feel like you’re stepping on a little stone. Flat warts are smaller and smoother, often popping up in clusters, especially on the face or legs.

Simple and Effective Ways to Treat Warts

Most warts go away on their own over time as your immune system learns to fight the virus, but this can take months or even years. If you want to speed things up or find relief, there are a few things you can try at home. Over-the-counter treatments like salicylic acid preparations help peel the wart layer by layer. Applying duct tape over the wart is an old home remedy some people swear by—it can irritate the area, prompting your immune system to respond.

For stubborn warts, a doctor might suggest freezing the wart off with liquid nitrogen or using stronger medications to clear the infection. Never cut or pick at warts, as this can spread the virus or cause infection. Keeping your skin clean and dry, and avoiding sharing towels or socks can help prevent the virus from spreading or coming back.

Dealing with warts might feel frustrating, but knowing what causes them and how to treat them makes managing them a lot easier. If a wart changes appearance, becomes painful, or multiplies quickly, it’s smart to check in with your healthcare provider to rule out other issues or get professional treatments.