Pictures of Warts

There are many types of warts that all look different. Seeing pictures of the types of warts can make it easier to identify them.

Warts are benign or noncancerous fleshy growths on the skin that can appear on any part of the body. They're caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) with 100 different strains of HPV causing different types of warts.

They are most common in children and young adults and are painless (except for plantar warts).

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

Wart on the bottom of a person's foot being treated by a medical specialist
damiangretka / Getty Images 

Warts often go away on their own but can be treated with topical medications. They can also be removed with noninvasive procedures.

This article covers the various types of warts and what they look like.

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Click Play to Learn All About Warts

This video has been medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD.

Common Wart

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An adult holds the hand of a child with a macro wart

tomczykbartek / Getty Images

Common warts are the standard type of wart that is found as lumps of skin on fingers, toes, knees, and other parts of the body. They also have rough, pebble-textured surfaces.

Warts can appear anywhere on the body. But they are most common on the backs of the hands and on fingers near the nails. Common warts often grow in areas where the skin has been broken.

Sometimes common warts are called "seed" warts because they are sprinkled with black dots that look like seeds. These actually are tiny blood clots.

Flat Wart

Plane aka Flat Warts

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.org 2023

Smaller and smoother than other warts, flat warts are slightly raised. They're the color of skin or brownish-yellow in color. These types of warts appear in clusters of a few dozen to a hundred.

Women tend to get flat warts on their legs. Men get them in the beard area. Children get them on the face. Although they aren't painful, flat warts can be difficult to treat.

Plantar Wart

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verruca on the finger wart freeze concept

Roman Didkivskyi / Getty Images 

Plantar warts get their name because they appear on the soles of the feet. They have a rough texture that causes them to resemble calluses or corns rather than warts.

Of all warts, plantar warts are the one type that can be painful. They're often tender and can cause discomfort when standing or walking. Multiple plantar warts that grow in clusters are called mosaic warts. Plantar warts can be difficult to treat.

This type of wart also can develop on the palms of the hands. When this occurs, they're called palmar warts.

Genital Wart on the Vagina

Genital warts in women most commonly develop on the labia and near the opening of the vagina. Pink, soft, and slightly raised, genital warts can vary in size and develop as clusters.

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Genital Warts On Vagina

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.org 2023

Symptoms of genital warts in women may include:

  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Tenderness around the vagina

They are spread by sexual contact. Of the more than 100 HPV strains, only about 40 can be spread through sexual contact. Genital warts are not caused by the same strain of HPV that causes common warts, and you cannot get genital warts from a common wart on the finger or any other part of the body.

Genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminata, are among the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). About one in 100 sexually active adults in the U.S. has genital warts at any given time.

Genital Wart on the Penis

Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. The warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

Genital Warts On Penis

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.org 2023

Genital warts in men develop most often on:

  • The tip of the shaft of the penis
  • The scrotum
  • The anus

Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person. Symptoms of genital warts in men may include itching, but most of the time they don’t hurt.

Filiform Wart

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removing skin wart

helovi / Getty Images 

Filiform warts look unusual. They are long, narrow columns of flesh that stick out of the skin. Filiform warts most often appear on the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and lips. They do not appear in clusters.

Despite their appearance, filiform warts are harmless. These kinds of warts usually disappear without treatment.

Periungual Wart

Periungual Wart

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.org 2023

Periungual warts develop around fingernails and toenails. They are accompanied by peeling and roughening of the surface.

Periungual warts can affect the shape of a fingernail by pushing it up or causing partial detachment. When this happens, they can cause pain and interfere with normal nail growth.

Cancerous Warts

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Verrucous Carcinoma AKA Carcinoma Cuniculatum

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Although they're usually benign, in very rare cases warts have been known to develop into a very slow-growing cancer called verrucous carcinoma. This type of cancer can grow to a large size but does not metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body. Treatment includes surgically removing the warts.

How to Prevent Warts

All warts are highly contagious. They can easily spread from one part of the body to another and from one person to another.

Warts are caused by a virus that is spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as a handshake. Warts can also be transmitted indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces or objects. 

To reduce the chance of getting warts:

  • Do not share towels, clothing, or other personal items.
  • Don't touch someone else’s wart.
  • Wear flip-flops around public pools, in locker rooms, and in public showers. 

Summary

Warts are noncancerous fleshy growths on the skin. They're caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can appear on any part of the body. There are different types of warts that can grow on your skin.

Warts are extremely contagious. You can pass warts on to other people through skin-to-skin contact. In extremely rare cases, some warts can develop into a slow-growing cancer called verrucous carcinoma. It's important to see your healthcare provider if you have a wart that bothers you or doesn't go away.

8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Vlahovic TC, Khan MT. The human papillomavirus and its role in plantar warts: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and management. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2016;33(3):337-53. doi:10.1016/j.cpm.2016.02.003

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV infection - basic fact sheet.

  4. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV and men - fact sheet.

  5. Planned Parenthood. What are the symptoms of genital warts?

  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Warts in children.

  7. Patidar S. Combination treatment of periungual wartsJ Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2008;1(1):23–24. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.41154

  8. Campaner AB, Cardoso FA, Fernandes GL, Veasey JV. Verrucous carcinoma of the vulva: diagnosis and treatmentAn Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):243-245. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20174929

By Heather L. Brannon, MD
Heather L. Brannon, MD, is a family practice physician in Mauldin, South Carolina. She has been in practice for over 20 years.