---
name: wart-care
description: Use when asked for general educational information about wart care — common symptoms, general self-care measures, and when to seek medical attention — for education only, not medical advice; always direct the reader to consult a doctor or health care professional.
---

# Wart Care

> ⚠️ **Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.**

Warts are small, usually harmless skin growths caused by human
papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the skin, spreading through direct
contact or contact with contaminated surfaces.

## Common symptoms

Small, rough or smooth raised bumps on the skin, sometimes with tiny
black dots (clotted blood vessels), commonly on hands, feet (plantar
warts), or other skin areas.

## General self-care measures

- Use over-the-counter treatments (such as salicylic acid) as directed,
  applied consistently over several weeks, since warts often take time
  to resolve.
- Keep the area covered to reduce spreading to other skin areas or
  other people.
- Avoid picking or scratching warts, which can spread the virus to
  other skin.
- Avoid sharing towels, razors, or shoes (especially for plantar warts)
  while a wart is present.

## When to seek medical attention

- Warts that don't respond to over-the-counter treatment after several
  weeks.
- Warts that are painful, bleeding, changing in appearance, or
  numerous.
- Genital warts specifically (a distinct HPV presentation, best managed
  by a healthcare professional rather than general skin-wart
  treatment).
- Warts in someone with diabetes or a weakened immune system, or on the
  face.

## Common pitfalls

- **Expecting rapid resolution** — over-the-counter wart treatments
  often need weeks of consistent use; giving up after a few days
  usually means not seeing the benefit.
- **Picking at or shaving over a wart** — this can spread the virus to
  new skin areas rather than resolving the original wart.
- **Treating genital warts with general skin-wart products** — genital
  warts need specific medical evaluation and treatment, not the same
  over-the-counter approach as common hand or foot warts.

## Learn more

- [[dermatology-assessment]] for related skin-condition assessment.
- [[health-care]] for general navigation of health systems.