Warts: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Warts?
A dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin conditions, is the specialist most often seen for warts. Your regular health care provider can also look at a wart and treat it. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What are warts?
Warts are small growths on the skin. They are usually painless, and most of the time they are harmless. A virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV, causes them. Some types of warts are spread through sex.
Many warts go away on their own, but this can take from a few months to years. Treatment can clear them faster.
Symptoms
Warts look different depending on the type. Most warts are raised and have a rough surface. They may be round or oval.
- A wart may be lighter or darker than your skin.
- Some warts have smooth or flat surfaces, and some cause pain.
Doctors name warts by where they grow:
- Common warts often appear on the hands, but they can grow anywhere.
- Flat warts are usually found on the face and forehead. They are common in children.
- Plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet. They can be very painful.
- Genital warts usually appear on the genitals and in the pubic area.
Causes and who gets it
HPV causes warts. There are many types of HPV, and some, but not all, cause warts. The virus can get into your skin through a cut, scrape, or other break in the skin.
You can pick up the virus by touching a wart on someone else. You can also pick it up from an object that carries it, such as a towel, a locker room floor, or a pool deck. A wart usually takes a few months to grow large enough to see.
All warts can spread from one part of your body to another. They can also spread from person to person by contact, especially sexual contact.
Warts are common in children and teens, but anyone can get them. You are more likely to get a wart if you:
- Bite or pick at your nails.
- Walk barefoot in a pool area, communal shower, gym, or locker room.
- Have a weakened immune system, such as from an organ transplant, cancer, or AIDS.
How doctors diagnose it
Your provider can usually diagnose a wart by looking at it. A dermatologist may do a skin biopsy if a wart is growing rapidly, looks like an open sore, or does not clear with treatment. A biopsy can show whether the growth is a wart or another skin condition, such as skin cancer.
Treatment
Most warts are harmless, and many go away on their own. Your provider can treat a wart if you do not like how it looks or if it is painful. Do not try to remove a wart yourself by burning, cutting, tearing, or picking it.
Salicylic acid is a common treatment. It works by stripping away the layers of the wart. It can irritate or sting the skin. Do not use over-the-counter wart medicines on your face or genitals. Warts in those areas need to be treated by your provider.
A dermatologist can offer other treatments:
- Cryosurgery, which means freezing the wart with a very cold substance. The wart scabs up and falls off.
- Electrosurgery and curettage, which means burning the wart off and scraping it. The area will be sore and swollen.
- Excision, which means cutting the wart out. The wart is removed right away, but a scar may form as the wound heals.
Warts can come back after treatment, even if they seem to go away. Genital warts are treated in a different way than most other warts.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have bleeding that will not stop.
Contact your provider if you have signs of infection, such as red streaking, pus, discharge, or fever.
See a dermatologist if you have warts on your face or genital area, many warts, or a wart that is changing, hurts, itches, burns, or bleeds. Also go if home treatment has not worked or you have doubts that it is a wart. Tell your provider if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and develop warts.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can look at a growth, talk about treatment choices, and refer you to a dermatologist if you need one.
Common questions
Are warts contagious?
Yes, warts can spread from person to person by contact. They can also spread from one part of your body to another.
Do warts go away on their own?
Yes, many warts go away on their own, but it can take a few months to years. Most often, warts are harmless growths that go away within 2 years.
Can I remove a wart myself?
Over-the-counter wart medicines are available, but do not try to burn, cut, tear, or pick a wart off. Do not use these medicines on your face or genitals.
Does the HPV vaccine prevent warts?
It helps against genital warts but not other types of warts. The HPV vaccine protects against genital warts and cancers linked to HPV. It cannot lower your risk of getting other types of warts.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Warts
- American Academy of Dermatology - Warts: Diagnosis and treatment
- American Academy of Dermatology - Warts: Causes
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
