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Warts

2 sourcesEvery line checked against its source

In short

Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with humanpapilloma virus, or HPV.

What it is1

  • Warts and verrucas are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life.

    NHS website

Worth knowing5

  • Warts feel firm and rough.

    NHS website

  • Warts are usually skin colored but may appear darker on black or brown skin.

    NHS website

  • Warts are not harmful, but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing.

    NHS website

  • In children, warts often go away on their own.

    MedlinePlus

  • Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus.

    NHS website

What helps2

  • You can buy creams, medicated patches and sprays from pharmacies to treat warts and verrucas.

    NHS website

  • These treatments can take up to 3 months to complete, may irritate your skin and do not always work. Do not use them on your face.

    NHS website

What to avoid2

  • Do not scratch or pick a wart.

    NHS website

  • Do not bite your nails or suck fingers that have warts.

    NHS website

See a provider if1

  • See a health care provider if you're worried about a growth on your skin; you have a wart or verruca that keeps coming back; you have a very large or painful wart or verruca; you have a wart that bleeds or changes in how it looks; you have a wart on your face or genitals.

    NHS website

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

These pages describe what the sources say. They cannot say what is going on with your skin.

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