Children and people with immune system abnormalities are particularly vulnerable. Among the 150 strains of HPV, about 10 cause cutaneous (skin) warts, including common, plantar, and flat warts (see 'Common types of skin warts,' below).Īll of us come into contact with HPV repeatedly - when we shake hands or touch a doorknob, for example - but only some of us develop warts, and that's hard to explain.
Warts occur when skin cells grow faster than normal because they are infected with the human papillomavirus ( HPV). (Some, like those on the face, may be smooth and flat.) The center of a wart may be flecked with dark dots these are capillaries that supply it with blood. A typical wart has a raised, rough surface. Warts grow in the epidermis, the upper skin layer. Wart removal can be a challenge, but fortunately, the most effective treatments are the least invasive.
And some, like those found on the soles of the feet, can make walking and exercise painful. Warts are generally harmless and often disappear on their own over time, but they're unsightly.
