What Do Warts Look Like?

If you have warts, it is important to know why they appear, the way they look like and what you should expect. There are a lot of different types of warts, so it is crucial to know what the different types are and what they look like so that you can figure out what you have. Treatment methods will depend on on their correct identification.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology there are really three main types of warts to be aware of, and knowing what they look like will help you diagnose the particular variety that you have.

Common Warts
A common wart is the most standard kind of wart. These warts grow on the fingers generally around the nails and on the backs of people’s hands. They are known for growing where the skin is broken, like where you bite your nails. These warts have the appearance of a cauliflower, and they have black dots inside them that are actually the blood vessels of the warts. That is how you can tell if you have a common wart.

Plantar Warts
The plantar wart is generally found on the soles of the feet, which is the plantar area, hence the name. They generally grow in clusters and don’t really stick up above the surface like the other kinds of warts do. The reason for this is that when you are walking on the soles of your feet, the pressure pushes them back into the skin; for this reason they are generally painful. These warts also have black dots that show where the blood vessels are.

Flat Warts
The flat wart is a smaller wart than the other kinds, it is also generally smooth. But, what these warts do is grow in clusters, so one may be small but when you have 20-100 of them at a time, which is generally how they grow, it will be apparent that you have flat warts. In children, these warts are found on facial areas. In adults, they can be found on women’s legs and the beard area for men.

It is very important to know what the three types of warts are, and what they look like. This way, you know what you are dealing with and you are able to properly treat your warts.