How do I treat warts on my private parts?

Genital warts are a very common type of wart spread during skin-to-skin sexual contact. You can treat genital warts with prescription creams (like imiquimod or podofilox ) that you apply yourself at home. It’s also possible to have genital warts removed by a healthcare professional in a medical office procedure by: Freezing Burning Laser Minor surgery While treatment may remove the warts, it won’t get rid of the virus that causes them. That’s because there’s no cure for HPV infection — yet. So genital warts can (and often do) recur after treatment.

What can be mistaken for warts?

Warts are usually pretty easy to identify. But sometimes they can look similar to other skin growths, like moles or skin tags . Some types of skin cancer, like squamous cell carcinoma , can also look like warts. If you have a skin growth and you’re not sure what it is, it’s best to have it checked out by your dermatologist to get the right diagnosis.

Yes, warts can feel itchy. But not all warts will itch, and most don’t have any symptoms at all.

6 Pictures of Warts and How to Treat Different Types

Key takeaways:

Warts are common skin growths caused by a virus. They usually form rough skin bumps and are pretty easy to identify.
There are a few different types of warts: common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts. Warts can look different depending on where they are on the body.
Most warts will go away on their own over time. But many people prefer to treat them to get rid of them faster.

Warts are common skin growths that can pop up anywhere on the skin. They usually affect children, but people of all ages can get them. Warts are harmless — and, most of the time, they don’t cause many symptoms.

But warts can have different shapes and appearances depending on where they are on the body. And sometimes they can be hard to identify. Here are pictures to help you identify warts, so you can start treating them.

What are warts?

Warts are skin growths caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). When the virus infects the skin, it causes the top layer of skin cells to grow faster than the surrounding skin. This creates a bump.

Warts are contagious and can spread from person to person through direct contact. It’s also possible to develop a wart after touching a surface that came in contact with a person’s wart (like a towel or the floor). Some people are more likely to get warts than others, such as:

Children and teenagers
People with a weakened immune system
Those with a cut or skin damage
People who bite their nails or pick at their hangnails

Types of warts

There are a few different types of warts. Here are some of the most common types:

Common warts (called verruca vulgaris) are raised and rough. They usually grow on the fingers and hands. You can have just one or develop several separate ones at once. They can also have tiny black or red dots, which represent small blood vessels in the wart.
Foot warts (called plantar warts) are flat and rough. They usually grow on the soles of the feet. They can cause pain while walking, depending on where they are on the foot and how big they are. They tend to grow in clusters. Like common warts, they can have tiny black or red dots where the blood vessels are. Plantar warts can sometimes be mistaken for corns.
Flat warts are flat and smooth. They’re also smaller than other warts. They’re common on the face (especially the beard area) and legs (from shaving). They tend to appear by the dozen.
Filiform warts are long, skinny growths. They can look like common warts but with finger-like growths that grow out from the skin.

No matter which type of wart you have, the color can vary depending on you and your underlying skin tone. Warts can be any color — from white and pink to tan and brown.

Pictures of warts

Here are some pictures of warts to help you identify the different types of warts.

Common warts (verruca vulgaris)

Several common warts of different sizes on the back of the hand.

Close-up of several common warts on the back of the hand.

Common warts can grow around and under the nails.

Close-up of common warts on the fingers and around the nails.

Plantar wart pictures

Close-up of plantar warts on the side of the foot.

Small black and red dots are commonly seen in plantar warts.

Close-up of warts on the bottom of the foot with tiny red and black dots.

Flat wart pictures

In darker skin tones, flat warts can be lighter in color than surrounding skin.

Close-up of the forehead with many light-colored flat warts.

Flat warts are common in the beard area, and are spread by shaving.

Close-up of the beard area with many small flat warts.

How do you treat warts?

There are many different ways to treat warts. For over-the-counter (OTC) options, look for medications that contain salicylic acid. These are available in gel, liquid, and patch forms. These medications are usually applied daily for best results.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

Home remedies for warts: Learn some at-home treatments that may be effective for warts.
Plantar warts can be painful. Three people share how they finally got their plantar warts to go away.
The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes genital warts. Find out more about symptoms, prevention, and treatment of this common condition.

For warts that are harder to get rid of, your dermatologist may use one or more of these stronger treatments:

Cantharidin liquid, which causes a blister to form under the wart
Freezing (cryotherapy) or scraping it
Removing it with a minor surgery
Laser treatment
Immunotherapy (using a cream to cause a mild allergic reaction around the wart)

Can warts go away on their own?

Yes, warts can eventually go away on their own even without treatment. For some people, this can take up to 2 years. Treating warts can help them go away faster, although you may still have to be patient and persevere.

Frequently asked questions

If your wart is causing significant symptoms, it may be time to get professional help. You should see a dermatologist or other medical care professional if your wart is:

Painful
Burning
Getting bigger
Not responding to treatment
Looks infected (has redness, discharge, or crusting)

The bottom line

Warts are common skin growths that are usually harmless. They’re most common in children and teenagers, but they can affect anyone at any age. There are a few different types of warts. Common warts affect the hands, plantar warts affect the feet, and flat warts affect the face or legs. Most warts go away on their own, but you may have to be patient. The best treatment for warts is salicylic acid, and this can help get rid of warts faster.

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Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).

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