Warts on the big toe
A wart (also known as verruca) is generally a small, rough tumor, typically on hands and feet but often other locations, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. Warts are common, and are caused by a viral infection, specifically by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects used by an infected person. They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can recur.
Warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus or HPV. There are approximately 130 strains of human papilloma viruses. Types 1, 2, and 3 cause most of the common warts.
Types of wart
A range of different types of wart have been identified, varying in shape and site affected, as well as the type of human papillomavirus involved. These include
- Common wart (Verruca vulgaris), a raised wart with roughened surface, most common on hands and knees;
- Flat wart (Verruca plana), a small, smooth flattened wart, flesh coloured, which can occur in large numbers; most common on the face, neck, hands, wrists and knees;
- Filiform or digitate wart, a thread- or finger-like wart, most common on the face, especially near the eyelids and lips;
- Plantar wart (verruca, Verruca pedis), a hard sometimes painful lump, often with multiple black specks in the center; usually only found on pressure points on the soles of the feet;
- Mosaic wart, a group of tightly clustered plantar-type warts, commonly on the hands or soles of the feet;
There are many different treatments and procedures associated with wart removal. One review of 52 clinical trials of various cutaneous wart treatments concluded that topical treatments containing salicylic acid were the best supported, with an average cure rate of 75%, compared with 48% for the placebo in six placebo-controlled trials including a total of 376 participants. The reviewers also concluded that there was little evidence of a significant benefit of cryotherapy over salicylic acid or duct tape.
One complicating factor in the treatment of warts is that the wart may regrow after it has been removed.