Common Warts

Fact Checked

Common warts refer to grainy growths of the skin that usually occur on the skin of the fingers and your hands. Common warts are tiny growths that may also cause some black dots on the skin as a result of small clots in blood vessels, causing the skin to feel rough.

Common warts are contagious and are transferred through touch. Common warts occur due to a virus and are more likely to occur in children and young adults as they have relatively weaker immune systems. Common warts often go away on their own by some people may opt to removing the warts because they may find them to be embarrassing or annoying.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of common warts include:

  • Small grainy skin bumps
  • Bumps are fleshy, white, tan or pink
  • Bumps cause the skin to feel rough

Common warts normally occur on the hands and the fingers. They may occur as individual bumps or a pattern or bumps. Warts can be cut or picked and they usually contain black dots resembling seeds, as a result of clotted vessels underneath the skin.

When to seek medical attention

Most cases of common warts do not call for medical treatment however, there are some people who may find common warts to be embarrassing or troublesome because they can be easily transmitted from person to person, therefore, they choose to get the warts removed.

Treatment

Most cases of common warts do not require any medical treatment because they tend to disappear with time. Usually common warts disappear within two years; however, new ones may develop afterwards. You may see your doctor if the condition is embarrassing you or to prevent transmission of the virus. Home treatment can be considered for treating common warts as well.

Many people remove their warts using the following methods:

  • Over-the-counter wart medication. These are available at most drugstores and they can be effective home treatments for common warts. Find a patch or solution consisting of 17 percent salicylic acid and use daily for a few weeks. Allow the wart to soak in warm water for about 10 to 20 minutes prior to applying the patch or solution. Use a nail file or pumice stone to file off any dead skin.
  • Duct tape. Whether or not duct tape is an effective treatment for removing warts still needs further scrutiny.  Some studies that obtained negative results used a clear form of duct tape however; most studies show that gray duct tape is more effective in treating warts. The idea is to cover the affected region or wart with duct tape for 6 days, followed by a soak in warm water for some minutes. After soaking, use pumice stone or emery bone to rub the affected region and repeat the whole process for two months or as required.

Make sure you see a doctor if home treatment does not work within a year or two.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • All trainingfirstaid.ca content is reviewed by a medical professional and / sourced to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

  • We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable websites, academic research institutions and medical articles.

  • If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact us through our contact us page.

The information posted on this page is for educational purposes only.
If you need medical advice or help with a diagnosis contact a medical professional