Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin or mucous membranes. Viruses that cause warts belong to a “family” called human papillomavirus (HPV). The appearance of a wart depends on where it is growing. Warts are usually skin colored and feel rough to the touch, but can be dark, flat or smooth.
There are several different types of warts. The first one I am going to tell you about is called common warts. Common warts grows around the nails, on the fingers and on the backs of the hands. They are more common where skin has been broken, for example where fingernails are bitten or hangnails picked.
The second type of warts are foot warts. Foot warts are usually on the sole of the feet and they are called plantar warts. When plantar warts grow in clusters they are known as mosaic warts. Most plantar warts do not stick up because the pressure of walking flattens them and pushes them back into the skin. These warts often have black dots that are actually blood vessels.
The third type of warts are called flat warts. Flat warts are smaller and smoother than other types of warts. They tend to grown in great...