Not all warts are created equal. Some warts are rough and raised while others are flat and barely noticeable. Some you might not even recognise as a wart until after it has spread to other parts of your body. While most are generally harmless, they can be persistent and cause discomfort or self-consciousness.
One key trait that warts share is that they’re caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 200 strains of HPV, some of them creating the range of warts that we often see on our skin.
Each type of wart comes with its own distinct personality. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of warts and what distinguishes them.
Common Warts (Verruca Vulgaris)
What they look like
Common warts often range from 1 millimetre to 1 centimetre or larger. They have a rounded top with a slightly more grey or yellow appearance than the surrounding skin. They are rough and bumpy in texture and sometimes contain a cluster of tiny black dots, which are clotted blood vessels within the wart.
Where they most often appear
Hands, feet, knees, and elbows are the most common areas but they can also appear elsewhere on the body.
Common cause
Warts are caused when HPV enters the body through tiny cuts or scrapes and can spread via skin-to-skin contact. They often develop after minor skin injuries, which is why they’re commonly found on fingers and toes. People who bite their nails or pick at scabs tend to be more prone to them.
Did you know?
Verruca vulgaris is the most common type of wart, making up somewhere between 33-50% of all wart cases.
Plantar Warts (Verruca Plantaris)
What they look like
Flat, rough growths, most easily identified as a small hole surrounded by tough, calloused skin.
Where they most often appear
Soles of the feet, especially the heels or balls of the feet, where pressure is highest while walking.
Common cause
Commonly picked up after walking barefoot in warm, damp environments, like the floors of locker rooms, swimming pools, and public showers.
Did you know?
Unlike most warts, plantar warts don’t grow outward. Instead, your body weight forces them inward, making them more painful. It’s often described as feeling like ‘walking on a pebble’.
Flat Warts (Verruca Plana)
What they look like
Smooth, slightly raised warts with a flat top. They’re flatter and smaller than other warts, and often appear in clusters, growing in groups of 10 to 100 or even more.
Where they most often appear
Face, forehead, backs of the hands, and legs.
Common cause
Flat warts spread especially easily through shaving, which is why they often appear in beards and on legs.
Did you know?
Flat warts are the most common wart type in children and teenagers, due to their still-developing immune systems. This is why they’re often nicknamed ‘juvenile warts’.
Filiform Warts
What they look like
Longer, thinner protrusions than other warts. Usually growing individually rather than in clusters, these protrusions can appear finger-like or like tiny, jagged crystals.
Where they most often appear
Face, neck, and chin. They prefer thin, delicate skin, which is why they’re often found on eyelids and around the lips.
Common cause
Filiform warts are particularly prone to irritation. They thrive on high-movement areas like the mouth, nose, and eyes, where they’re more likely to get irritated by scratching, rubbing, and even facial expressions.
Did you know?
While many warts can take weeks or months to develop, filiform warts grow rapidly and can appear almost overnight. This sudden onset can make them particularly alarming compared to other wart types.
Periungual Warts
What they look like
Thick, rough, and irregularly shaped. Periungual warts can begin as minuscule, shiny pinheads and eventually grow around the fingernail, causing clusters that look like tiny heads of cauliflower.
Where they most often appear
Around fingernails and toenails, often near the cuticles.
Common cause
Since they often occur around fingernails, biting your nails or picking at your cuticles increases your risk of periungual warts. People who frequently have their hands in water – for instance, if you wash dishes at a restaurant – are also at an increased risk.
Did you know?
Periungual warts can even grow underneath the nail, lifting and distorting the nail, becoming painful and making everyday tasks – especially trimming your nails – much more difficult.
Genital Warts (Condyloma Acuminatum)
What they look like
Soft, flesh-coloured bumps that can appear individually or in clusters and cause itching and discomfort.
Where they most often appear
It’s all in the name! Genital warts most often appear around the genitals and anus, but can also appear around the mouth or in the throat after oral contact with another person’s infected area.
Common cause
These warts are usually sexually transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, even when the warts are too small to be seen.
Did you know?
Some strains of HPV associated with genital warts are linked to cervical, anal, and throat cancer, which is why it’s so important to seek medical advice as soon as you see them appear.
Treating Different Types of Warts
While some warts can sometimes clear up on their own, many can grow in size, become uncomfortable, and spread to other parts of the body. Recognising the different types of warts can help you spot them early.
To prevent its spread, it’s best to seek treatment as soon as a wart appears. Home remedies are unreliable, and over-the-counter treatments can often be ineffective. Specialists like Australian Wart Clinic can help you diagnose and remove the wart before it grows or spreads. We use SWIFT™ microwave treatment, a non-invasive and highly efficient method of wart removal that, unlike other treatments, doesn’t damage the surrounding skin tissue. Contact us or book an appointment if you want to explore treatment options before your wart becomes a bigger problem.
