Warts Usually Go Away on Their Own
A wart is a harmless, noncancerous skin growth caused by direct
contact with human papilloma-virus (HPV). The virus infects the top
layer of skin, usually entering the body in an area of broken skin. HPV
causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, resulting in a wart. Warts can
occur anywhere on the body in a variety of shapes and sizes. A wart may
appear as a bump with a rough surface, or it may be flat and smooth. Tiny
blood vessels (capillaries) grow into the center of the wart to supply it
with blood. These capillaries may appear as dark dots (seeds) in the
wart’s center. Warts are usually painless; however, a wart that develops
on a pressure point, such as the bottom of the foot, can be painful.
Warts generally go away on their own, but may take months or years.
Treatment options for warts include topical over-the-counter products.
However, some warts will need to be removed by a health care professional.
Warts that appear as an irregular patch, bleed, or are large and
growing rapidly may be a sign of something more serious and should be
immediately evaluated by your healthcare provider.