A wart is a benign skin change caused by a virus. It often appears as a rough bump on the fingers, hands, or soles. A wart can be harmless for a long time, but on the sole it may hurt under pressure and be confused with a callus.
Many warts disappear with time on their own. Treatment is usually considered when the wart hurts, spreads, bothers daily life, or sits where it gets rubbed.
What a wart looks like#
A typical wart is rough, skin-coloured, or slightly yellowish. The surface may be uneven, and an older wart may crack. On the sole, pressure can push the wart inward so it looks flatter but hurts when walking.
On the sole there may be tiny dark dots. A callus is more related to pressure and is usually smoother, harder, and painful in the centre.
When a wart can just be watched#
If the wart is small, does not hurt, and does not bother the person, it can often just be watched. Clearing can take a long time, and slow change alone does not mean danger.
Do not cut, pick, or dig at the wart. Broken skin is easier to irritate and can spread the virus to nearby skin.
Self-care principles#
Wart self-care usually uses products that soften and slowly thin the wart tissue, or freeze-based over-the-counter products. These need regular use and patience. One application is usually not enough.
Protect the healthy skin around the wart if the product can irritate it. Follow the package instructions closely and do not use wart products on the face, mucosa, or genital area unless a healthcare professional has specifically advised it.
Wart or callus#
On the sole, a wart and a callus can look similar. A callus develops from pressure and rubbing, while a wart comes from a virus. If the change is long-lasting or painful, it should be checked.
How to reduce spread#
The wart virus likes broken and damp skin. Drying the feet, using personal towels, and keeping the skin protected help reduce spread. In shared washing areas, sandals can be useful if warts appear easily on the feet.
When to seek care#
Seek care if the skin change is unclear, grows quickly, bleeds, ulcerates, changes unusually, or sits on the face, genital area, or mucosa. Seek care also if the wart is painful, affects walking, does not respond to self-care, or if diabetes or weakened immunity is present.
Further reading and sources#
Further reading: