5 Types of Warts You’ve Never Heard of (but should)
Warts can be a real pain in the butt–or, more accurately, the hand, the foot, the mouth, nose, or pretty much anywhere else! Warts tend to grow all around your body, and they can range from mildly annoying to downright painful. It’s important to understand what warts really are, and what causes them. Once you understand that, you can know how to deal with them!
Warts 101
Warts come in all shapes and sizes, but in the end, they’re all to be blamed on one simple virus: the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. If this virus is able to invade the outer layers of your skin (which it often will via scratches and wounds), it can cause rapid cellular growth on the skin. When the cells grow too quickly, they form small lumps, which then harden and turn into what we know as warts… all types of warts you never expected.
We’re all familiar with the common wart: rough, dome-shaped growths colored either gray or brown (or a combination of both). These warts can appear pretty much anywhere on the body. They’re not just restricted to your hands or feet, but they will show up anywhere the HPV virus is able to start the infection. They most frequently show up on your hands, and they can either grow singly or in groups or clusters.
However, there are a few other types of warts you’ve never heard of:
Flat Warts — These bad boys tend to show up around your legs, arms, or face. They’re not as large as common warts–usually no bigger than a pencil eraser. However, they will often group together in a cluster, with more than one present in a single area. They are usually light yellow, light brown, or pink, and they have flat tops (hence the name). The odd thing about this type of wart is that it is spread by shaving!
READ MORE: 10 Weird Skin Conditions That’ll Creep You Out
Plantar Warts — Plantar warts are the kind of warts that grow on your feet SPECIFICALLY. They can appear on the top, sides, or underside of your foot, and they are most painful when they grow on your soles. When your shoes rub against the wart, they develop calluses, which can become more painful as you walk more. Sometimes, the pressure from walking or standing can push the wart under the surface of your skin, and the callus will grow over it. This can be even more painful, like having a rock or pebble digging into your skin.
Genital Warts — These warts can either be flat or broad-based, with a velvety texture. They’ll show up around your genitals, both in men and women. They are an indication that you are at a higher risk of the more serious type of HPV, the kind that can lead to cervical cancer. Worst of all, they’re INCREDIBLY itchy!
Periungal Warts — These warts show up around your finger and toenails or, worse still, UNDER the nails. They look innocent–rough, irregular bumps–but they can be painful and ultimately affect the health of your fingernails and toenails.
Filiform Warts — This is a type of flat wart, but it grows around your mouth, your face, and your nose. This is an odd-looking one, with a surface that resembles a lot of little fingers. The wart will usually be skin-colored, but it will be bumpy and uneven to the touch.
How can you be sure it’s a wart and not a mole or skin tag? Warts tend to grow over the creases and lines in the skin, while other skin tags grow AROUND them.
