-
Warts are caused by certain strains of a viral infection called the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
There are many different kinds of warts, including:
- Common warts: These are small, raised bumps that grow on your skin. Usually as a single wart or a cluster of warts. They can have a bubbly or rough surface and most often appear around the hands, feet, elbows and knees.
- Plantar warts: Also known as verruca, these warts usually appear on the soles of your feet. You may notice a small, hard white area of skin with tiny black dots.
- Mosaic warts: These appear as a group of tightly clustered warts. They’re most common on your hands and feet.
- Flat warts: Also known as plane warts, flat warts tend to be smooth, and are usually yellow in colour.
- Filiform warts: These warts appear as a long, thin thread and most often occur on your eyelids, armpits and neck
- Genital warts: These look like grey or off-white lumps with a grainy ‘cauliflower’ appearance. Since genital warts are sexually transmitted, the penis, vulva and anus are most commonly affected. Some common types of genital warts predispose women to cancer of the cervix