Infections
Common warts
Common warts are harmless skin growths caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). They are very common, often go away on their own over months to a few years, and there are several treatment options that clinicians commonly discuss.
Reviewed by Raashid Haque, MD, board-certified dermatologist
For education only. This guide does not diagnose or treat any condition.
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Wart viruses spread through tiny breaks in skin on wet, rough floors, and footwear protects the soles.
Look for
- Quick-drying, waterproof material such as rubber, foam, or neoprene
- Textured sole for grip on wet tile
- Straps or a snug fit that hold well and do not rub the toes
Full details, cautions and sourcesAvoid
- Going barefoot in shared showers and locker rooms
- Sharing shoes or towels
- Storing damp sandals in a closed bag
These are products Dr. Haque has reviewed and recommends for different reasons. Unless a product is clearly marked 'Affiliate link,' it is not one. Most are not.
Food and lifestyle may play a part in Common warts too
Anti-inflammatory eating and lifestyleLearn about Common warts
Common warts (also called verruca vulgaris) are small, rough, raised growths on the skin. They are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that infect the top layer of skin. These are different from the HPV types linked to cervical cancer.
Who gets them: Anyone can. They are most common in school-age children and teens, and in people with weakened immune systems.
How they often look: A firm bump with a rough, cauliflower-like surface, most often on the fingers, hands, knees, and elbows. You may see tiny dark dots inside, which are small clotted blood vessels, not "seeds" or "roots." On fair skin, warts are often skin-colored, pink, or tan. On brown and Black skin, they may look darker brown or gray, and the skin around them can darken after treatment or irritation.
Course: Many warts clear without treatment as the immune system learns to recognize the virus. This is common in children, often within a year or two, though it can take longer. In adults, warts can be more stubborn. Warts can also return after they seem gone.
Contagious? Yes, but only mildly. The virus spreads by direct touch or through tiny breaks in the skin, and sometimes from damp shared surfaces. Many people exposed never develop a wart.
What they are not: Warts are not a sign of poor hygiene, and they are not cancer. Other skin growths can look similar, which is why a clinician should confirm one that seems unusual.
Self-care
What it is
Leaving the wart alone and letting the immune system clear it over time, while avoiding picking and spreading.
Often considered when
The wart is not painful or in a sensitive spot, especially in children, since many warts clear on their own.
Less suitable or needs caution when
The wart is painful, spreading, in a visible or sensitive area, or the person has weakened immunity.
What to watch for
New warts, pain, bleeding, or a growth that starts to look different.
How long to judge it
Often months to a couple of years; it varies a lot.
Questions to ask
- Is this definitely a wart?
- Is waiting reasonable for me or my child?
- What changes would mean I should come back?
What it is
Covering a wart with a piece of duct tape for a period of time, sometimes with gentle filing in between, in the hope of irritating the wart so the immune system notices it.
Often considered when
Some people try it because it is cheap and low risk. Early small studies suggested a benefit, but later and larger studies mostly found it was no better than a placebo cover.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Sensitive or broken skin, tape allergy, or poor circulation.
What to watch for
Skin irritation or tape allergy, and a wart that is changing despite covering.
How long to judge it
If tried, clinicians usually judge over a couple of months.
Questions to ask
- Is it worth trying given the mixed evidence?
- Could it irritate my skin?
- What should I try instead if it does not help?
Over the counter
What it is
Over-the-counter liquids, gels, and medicated pads that gradually soften and peel away the wart's thick skin. They are available in several strengths.
Often considered when
Clinicians often consider this a first step for common warts on the hands and feet in people with healthy skin and normal feeling.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Diabetes, poor circulation, numb skin, warts on the face or genitals, broken or inflamed skin, or in very young children, unless a clinician advises it. It is not suitable for uncertain growths.
What to watch for
Irritation, redness, pain, or peeling of healthy skin around the wart. Skin darkening around the area can be more noticeable on brown and Black skin.
How long to judge it
Studies suggest it often takes several weeks to a few months to judge whether it is helping.
Questions to ask
- Is this a good option for my skin and my wart?
- How should I protect the healthy skin around it?
- When would you say it is not working?
What it is
Home kits that use a very cold spray or applicator to freeze a wart. They are generally less cold than the freezing done in a clinic.
Often considered when
Some people consider them for small common warts on the hands when they want an at-home option.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Diabetes, poor circulation, numb skin, warts on the face or genitals, young children, or darker skin prone to color change.
What to watch for
Blistering, pain, and lighter or darker patches of skin after freezing, which can last for months on brown and Black skin.
How long to judge it
Judging results usually takes several weeks and may need repeats.
Questions to ask
- Would a home kit or an in-office treatment make more sense?
- What are the pigment risks for my skin tone?
- Can I combine this with other treatments?
Prescription creams and gels
What it is
Treatments that either help the immune system respond to the virus (such as imiquimod cream, or a contact-allergy approach called immunotherapy) or that damage wart cells (such as 5-fluorouracil cream).
Often considered when
Hard-to-treat, numerous, or recurrent warts, or when freezing is not a good fit.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Pregnancy, open or irritated skin, and some are not suitable for young children. Many of these uses for common warts are off-label, meaning the medicine is commonly used this way but was not specifically approved for it.
What to watch for
Redness, swelling, burning, and skin irritation or color change in the treated area.
How long to judge it
Often takes weeks to months to judge.
Questions to ask
- Is this used off-label for warts, and what does that mean for me?
- What reactions should I expect?
- Is this safe if I might be pregnant?
Procedures
What it is
A clinician freezes the wart with liquid nitrogen, which causes a blister and lifts the wart away from the skin below.
Often considered when
Warts that have not responded to home care, or when a person prefers an in-office option. It is often repeated over several visits and is sometimes combined with salicylic acid.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Young children who may find it painful, people with poor circulation or numbness, or those concerned about pigment change in darker skin.
What to watch for
Pain, blisters (sometimes blood-filled), and temporary or lasting lighter or darker spots. Seek care for signs of infection.
How long to judge it
Treatments are often repeated every few weeks; clinicians usually judge progress over a few months.
Questions to ask
- How many sessions might I need?
- What is the chance of color change on my skin?
- Should I combine it with a home treatment?
What it is
Options a dermatologist may discuss for stubborn warts include applying a blistering medicine (such as cantharidin), scraping or electrical removal, laser treatment, or injecting a medicine or a skin-test substance into the wart.
Often considered when
Warts that are many, large, painful, or have not cleared with simpler treatments.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Pregnancy, bleeding disorders, keloid-prone skin, or areas where scarring would be a concern. Suitability depends on the specific method.
What to watch for
Pain, blistering, scarring, and color change, especially on brown and Black skin.
How long to judge it
Varies by method; several sessions over months are common.
Questions to ask
- Which of these fits my wart and skin type?
- What is the scarring risk?
- What is the evidence for this method?
Pills
What it is
In rare, hard-to-treat cases, specialists sometimes consider medicines taken by mouth or other immune-modulating approaches. The evidence for these is limited.
Often considered when
Widespread or long-lasting warts that have not responded to several other treatments, particularly in people with weakened immunity.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Pregnancy and many other conditions, depending on the medicine. These are specialist decisions.
What to watch for
Side effects vary by medicine; a specialist would explain monitoring.
How long to judge it
Usually judged over several months.
Questions to ask
- Is a specialist referral appropriate for me?
- What is the evidence for this option?
- What monitoring would be needed?
Lifestyle and holistic
What it is
Home remedies such as apple cider vinegar, garlic, banana peel, tea tree oil, and similar items.
Often considered when
People sometimes try these hoping for a gentle option. There is little to no good research showing they work for warts.
Less suitable or needs caution when
Sensitive skin, children, or broken skin. Acidic or oily products can burn or cause allergic reactions.
What to watch for
Chemical burns, rashes, scarring, or color change, which can be harder to see or longer lasting on brown and Black skin.
How long to judge it
There is no reliable time frame, since benefit has not been shown. Any wart that clears may have cleared on its own.
Questions to ask
- Is any natural remedy worth trying for me?
- Could it harm my skin?
- What has better evidence?
Warts are caused by a virus, so "triggers" are really things that make it easier for the virus to get in or to persist:
- Small breaks in the skin: cuts, scrapes, hangnails, nail biting, picking at skin, and shaving over a wart
- Damp, shared surfaces: locker rooms, pool decks, and shared showers, especially when walking barefoot
- Close contact: touching someone else's wart, or touching your own wart and then another body area (this is how they spread to new spots)
- Frequent wet hands: for example, in food handling or meat processing work
- Weakened immunity: from medicines or health conditions, which can make warts more numerous and slower to clear
| Topic | Evidence | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Not picking or biting | Established | Picking at warts or biting nails and hangnails can spread the virus to new spots. Breaking this habit helps limit spread, though it does not cure existing warts. |
| Foot care in shared spaces | Promising | Wearing sandals in locker rooms and pool areas and not sharing towels or razors is widely suggested to lower exposure. Good studies are limited, but the steps are simple and low risk. |
| Overall immune health | Early | Sleep, stress, and general health may affect how well the immune system handles viruses, but there is no proof that any lifestyle change clears warts. Avoid restrictive diets or supplements aimed at warts. |
| Stopping smoking | Early | Smoking is linked in some research to more persistent HPV infections in other parts of the body. Evidence for common warts is limited, but quitting supports overall health. |
Read: Anti-inflammatory eating
Avoid very restrictive diets, especially for children, unless a clinician is guiding you.
Common warts ·
When to get care soon
Consider seeing a clinician soon if you notice:
- A growth you are not sure is a wart, or one that changes quickly in size, shape, or color, or does not look like other warts
- Bleeding, an open sore, or a growth that does not heal
- Signs of infection around a wart: spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or fever (redness can be harder to see on brown and Black skin, so look for warmth, swelling, and pain too)
- Warts on the face, near the eyes, in the mouth, or in the genital or anal area
- Diabetes or numb feet with a wart on the foot, since skin injury from home treatment can lead to serious wounds
- Weakened immunity (for example, organ transplant, HIV, or medicines that suppress the immune system), or many warts appearing quickly
- A wart that is painful, interferes with walking or hand use, or has not improved after months of care
- A wart in a baby or very young child
About the reviewer
Raashid Haque, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist · Charlotte, NC
- 25+ years of clinical experience
- Dermatology at University of Oklahoma - Chief Resident
- Internship at Baylor College of Medicine
- LSU School of Medicine Shreveport - Valedictorian, AOA