Skin Condition
Warts
Types, Causes & When to See a Doctor
Warts are common, harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Most are nothing to worry about and many clear on their own, but they can be stubborn, spread, or occasionally need checking. Here's a clear, honest guide to what they are — and when it's worth seeing a doctor.
What Is Warts?
A Viral Skin Growth
Warts are small, rough or smooth growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infecting the top layer of skin. There are over 100 strains of HPV, but only some cause the everyday skin warts most people get — on the hands, fingers, feet, face or elsewhere. They are extremely common, especially in children and teenagers.
Most warts are harmless and a good number disappear on their own over months to a couple of years as the immune system clears the virus. They can, however, be persistent, spread to other areas or people through contact, and be a nuisance — particularly plantar warts on the sole of the foot, which can be uncomfortable to walk on.
Know the Type
Common Types of Warts
Different HPV strains produce different warts in different places.
Common Warts
Rough, raised bumps usually on the hands and fingers, sometimes with tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels). The most familiar type.
Plantar Warts
Grow on the soles of the feet and are often pushed inward by walking, so they can be flat and tender. Sometimes mistaken for a callus.
Flat Warts
Smaller, smoother and flatter, often appearing in clusters on the face, forehead or legs — more common in children and young adults.
Filiform Warts
Long, thread-like or finger-shaped warts that tend to appear around the eyes, nose and mouth.
Causes & Triggers
Why Warts Appear and Spread
Warts are caused by HPV entering the skin, usually through a tiny cut or break. They spread easily:
- Skin-to-skin contact — touching someone else's wart, or your own and spreading it
- Shared surfaces — communal showers, pool areas and gym floors (a common route for plantar warts)
- Broken skin — cuts, scratches and areas around bitten nails let the virus in more easily
- Weakened immunity — warts are more common and more stubborn when the immune system is compromised
Because warts are viral, picking or scratching them tends to spread the virus to nearby skin, which is why they sometimes appear in clusters or lines.
🩺 When to See a Doctor
When to Get a Wart Checked
Most warts are harmless and can be left alone or managed with over-the-counter salicylic acid preparations. However, it's worth seeing a doctor in certain situations, both to confirm it really is a wart and to discuss removal if it's bothering you:
- The growth is painful, bleeding, changing in colour or appearance, or you're not sure it's a wart
- Warts on the face or genitals — these should always be assessed by a doctor rather than self-treated
- Warts that keep coming back, spread quickly, or won't clear with home treatment
- You have diabetes or reduced sensation in your feet, or a weakened immune system
- Any new or unusual growth in an adult — a doctor can rule out anything more serious
How Skin Bliss Can Help
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
The most useful first step with any persistent skin growth is a correct diagnosis — confirming that it is a wart and not something else that looks similar. A doctor can examine it, advise whether it needs treating at all, and discuss the options if it's uncomfortable or spreading.
At Skin Bliss, Dr. Sania Khan can assess skin growths at our Islamabad and Karachi clinics and advise on the right course of action for your situation.
Book a ConsultationFAQs
Warts — Common Questions
The common skin warts most people get are harmless (benign) and not a cause for alarm. They can be a nuisance and spread, but they are not dangerous in themselves. Warts on the genitals are a different matter and should always be assessed by a doctor, as should any growth you are unsure about.
Often, yes. Many warts clear by themselves over several months to two years as the immune system fights off the virus — this is especially common in children. However, they can be persistent, and some people prefer to have them treated if they are painful, spreading or bothersome.
Yes. Warts are caused by a virus and can spread through direct skin contact or via shared surfaces like pool areas and communal showers. Picking or scratching a wart can also spread it to nearby skin, which is why they sometimes appear in clusters.
No. Cutting, pulling or burning a wart yourself risks infection, scarring and spreading the virus, and it won't remove the root of the wart. If a wart needs removing, it should be done or advised by a doctor.
Because the underlying virus can remain in the skin even after a wart is treated, warts can recur in the same place or nearby. Stubborn or recurring warts are worth discussing with a doctor, particularly if home treatments haven't worked.
See a doctor if a wart is painful, bleeding or changing, if it's on your face or genitals, if it keeps returning or spreading, if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, or if you're simply not certain the growth is a wart.
Not Sure What That Growth Is?
If a wart or skin growth is bothering you or you'd like it checked, book a consultation with Dr. Sania Khan at Skin Bliss Islamabad or Karachi for an accurate diagnosis.