Question 1. Where is the wart located?
Yes. Depending on where the wart is located on the body, the wart may be one of the following: genial warts (located on or around genitals); plantar warts (located on the feet - commonly on the bottom of the foot); common warts (located on hands, arms, legs - commonly grow individually or in small groups); flat warts (located on the face, neck, cheeks - commonly grow as small smooth flat lesions); nail warts (located around the nail bed - commonly described as rough growths); toenail warts (located around the toenail bet - commonly described as rough growths). More Information
No. Wart location and physical description is important to understanding what type of wart exists.

Question 2. Is the wart raised or flat?
Yes. Flat warts are named according to their physical description - they are flat on top. They appear more commonly in children than teens or adults. The face and forehead are commonly flat wart locations. Raised warts, depending on physical location, may be Common, Plantar, Genital, or Nail warts. More Information
No. The wart may not be a wart. Other skin lesions may appear similar to warts.

Question 3. Is the wart smooth or rough?
Yes. Flat warts are generally smooth. Common, Plantar, and Nail warts are generally rough. Genital warts may appear smooth. More Information
No. Warts are typically smooth or rough. If the wart is neither, the wart may not be a wart.

Question 4. Is the wart single or many?
Yes. Common warts typically appear individually or in a small group with clear individual borders. Flat warts may appear in greater number on the face, cheeks or neck, however, they are also maintain clearer individual borders. Genital warts typically appear in "clusters" of consolidated patches. Plantar and nail warts are typically rougher with less well-defined individual borders. More Information
No. Warts are either individual or in groups. If the wart is neither, the wart may not be a wart.

Question 5. Is the wart painful?
Yes. Skin can itch in response to viral or bacterial infections. Skin itch can also accompany chronic illnesses. If you think you have been ill or are ill see a physician. More Information
No. The skin itch may or may not be directly related to an illness. If in doubt see a physician.

Question 6. Does the wart look infected?
Yes. If the wart appears infected: is red, painful to the touch, oozing, smells, or has red streaks radiating away from broken skin see a physician immediately. More Information
No. The wart is probably not infected. Always monitor for signs of infection. If warts heal from removal the wart it is probably not infected.

Question 7. Do you feel sick? (nauseous, headache, weak, fever, ache, stiff neck, short of breath, body ache)
Yes. See a physician immediately. More Information
No. It is probably not a major illness associated with infection. If in doubt See a physician immediately.

Warts: Introduction

Warts are common neoplasms of the skin and mucus membranes. Warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The warts virus is transmitted from person to person contact, usually through infected objects. After warts invade the epidermis, the virus proliferates. Typical incubation time, between time of infection and appearance is 3 to 8 months, however, longer periods are possible.

Scientists believe there are multiple factors that influence why some people get warts and others do not. Several variable include: the quality or strength of the virus, the degree and type of contact, and the immune health of the exposed individual. Differences in "cell immunity" may explain differences in severity and duration of wart infection.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV is a warts virus that is only found active in humans. There are at least 65 different HPV types identified by by differences in cellular structure. Certain types of warts show a preference over the location of site infection based on the type of wart. Non-genital common warts in the general population are HPV types 1,2,3, or 4 where as genital lesions usually are types 6,11,16 or 18. Most warts are considered benign neoplasms, however, certain types have malignant potential. These are HPV types 16 and 18 in genital wart infections. Specific wart virus identification is accomplished by DNA analysis. It is not possible to tell one genotype from another by clinical appearance alone. If concerned about what type of HPV genital virus you may have contracted see your physician.