Warts are small, hard, benign (non-cancerous) skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. Warts are typically skin-colored and feel rough to the touch. They can also appear as dark, flat and smooth on the skin. The appearance of a wart depends on where on the body it is growing.

Warts that develop on the soles of one’s feet are known as “plantar warts.” Normally, plantar warts don’t stick out above the skin surface like other warts due to the pressure of walking, which typically flattens the wart and pushes it back into the skin. In some cases, these warts have been reported to cause pain when walking or exercising.

How do you get warts?

Since the cause of warts is due to a HPV virus, warts are contagious and can be passed from person to person, sometimes indirectly. The truth is, the risk of catching hand, foot, or flat warts from another person is relatively small.

Why do some people get warts and others don’t?

Everyone’s body reacts differently to different things. Some people are just more prone to warts than others. Also, some individuals get warts depending on how often they are exposed to the virus. Wart viruses tend to occur more frequently and easily if the skin has been damaged in some way. This explains the high frequency of warts in small children who have a habit of biting their nails or pick at hangnails. Individuals with a weakened immune system are much more prone to a wart virus infection than those with an average immune system.

What to do if you think you have a wart?

The best thing to do, if you believe you have developed a wart, is to visit our office in Greenbrae and have one of our board-certified dermatologists evaluate it. We will be able to discuss the treatment options available to you and help you most effectively treat the wart.