What do contagious warts look like

After you become infected, it can take weeks or even months for a wart or verruca to appear. Warts and verrucas aren't usually serious and can be treated by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist may recommend that you see your GP if required.

Most types of warts are easy to identify because they have a distinctive appearance. You should always see your pharmacist first if you have a growth on your skin you are unable to identify or are worried about.

Your pharmacist will be able to tell if it's a wart simply by looking at it. Where it is on your body and how it affects surrounding skin will also be taken into consideration. The length of time it takes a wart to disappear will vary from person to person. It may take up to 2 years for the viral infection to leave your system and for the wart to disappear. You might decide to treat your wart if it is painful, or in an area that is causing discomfort or embarrassment.

Treatment for warts is not always completely effective, and a wart will sometimes return following treatment.

Read more about how warts are treated. Warts are not usually painful, but some types, such as verrucas, may hurt. They can occasionally itch or bleed.

There are several different types of warts, all varying in size and shape. The different types are described below. It is possible to have between one and several hundred plane warts, which can develop in clusters. They are usually:. Plane warts can sometimes develop on the lower legs of women, as the human papilloma virus HPV can be spread through shaving.

Mosaic warts grow in clusters and form a "tile-like" pattern. They often develop on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Warts are caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus HPV. The virus is present in the skin cells of a wart. There are more than different strains of HPV. Different strains are responsible for different types of warts. HPV is passed on through close skin-to-skin contact. It can also be transmitted indirectly by contact with contaminated objects, such as towels, shoes, areas surrounding swimming pools, or the floors of communal changing areas.

Warts are thought to be contagious for as long as they are present on your body. The virus is more likely to spread if the skin is wet, soft or has been in contact with a rough surface.

This can cause the wart to break up and bleed, making it easier for the virus to spread. You are more vulnerable to verrucas if you have scratches or cuts on the soles of your feet.

Warts usually clear up without treatment. However, it can take up to 2 years for the virus to leave your system and the warts to disappear. The length of time it takes for a wart to disappear will vary from person to person. They tend to last longer in older children and adults. In adults and people with a weakened immune system, warts are less likely to clear up on their own or respond well to treatment.

Leaving the wart to go away by itself is one option. However, you may want to consider treatment if your wart is painful, in an awkward position, or is causing you distress or embarrassment. Everyone can benefit from a good facial cleanser, and many products are specially formulated for dry, sensitive skin. Blue lips are most often caused when something is preventing you from getting enough oxygen into your body.

Read on to discover some of the causes of…. Before, during, or after — Use lube anytime during sex. But some lubes are better than others, depending on your style. Learn which type is right for…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Person-to-person spread Body spread Surface-to-person spread Prevention Outlook Overview Warts are hard, noncancerous lumps on your skin. There are several different types of warts, including: common warts flat warts plantar warts filiform warts genital warts caused by a different type of HPV than the others All types of warts are contagious.

How warts spread from person to person. How warts spread to other parts of your body. How warts spread from a surface to a person. How spreading warts can be prevented. These openings make it easier for HPV to get inside your body. Wear flip-flops or pool shoes in locker rooms, pool areas, and public showers. HPV thrives in warm, moist areas. Shoes and flip-flops help protect your feet from the virus, which can prevent plantar warts on your feet.

Wearing flip-flops or other shoes in moist areas, such as piers, pool decks, and public showers can reduce your risk of developing warts on your feet. Make sure your children get the HPV vaccine.

This vaccine helps protect against genital warts and different cancers that could develop in the genital area. This vaccine is most protective when the person receives it before being exposed to the types of HPV that can cause genital warts and genital cancers.

Treat hyperhidrosis. This is a medical condition that causes people to sweat excessively. People who have hyperhidrosis often sweat when other people feel comfortable or even cool.

When people sweat frequently, their skin becomes damp and soft. Having damp, soft skin may increase the risk of getting HPV infection, which could lead to a wart. While you can often clear a wart at home, some warts can be stubborn. If the person has a weakened immune system, it can be difficult to get rid of warts. Sometimes, what looks like a wart turns out to be a callus or another type of growth. A dermatologist can create an effective treatment plan.

Warts: Signs, symptoms, and treatment. They're small, grainy bumps that are rough to the touch. They're usually flesh-colored, white, pink or tan.

Common warts are small, grainy skin growths that occur most often on your fingers or hands. Rough to the touch, common warts also often feature a pattern of tiny black dots, which are small, clotted blood vessels. Common warts are caused by a virus and are transmitted by touch.

It can take a wart as long as two to six months to develop after your skin has been exposed to the virus. Common warts are usually harmless and eventually disappear on their own. But many people choose to remove them because they find them bothersome or embarrassing. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus HPV. The virus is quite common and has more than types, but only a few cause warts on your hands.