Warts are harmless growths that can appear on your skin or inside your mouth. They are caused by a virus called HPV, which has more than 100 different strains, but only a few of them can lead to warts on specific parts of the body.
Warts are usually not dangerous, but they can be annoying or even hurt sometimes.
Healthcare professionals sort warts based on how they look, which type of HPV causes them, and where they appear on the body.
Common Warts
Common warts usually form on the hands.
They look like rough bumps and can have small dark spots, which are tiny blood vessels that have dried up. They can be as small as a pinhead or as big as a pea. These warts are caused by HPV types 2 and 4, but also by types 1, 3, 7, 27, 29, and 57. You can also check Wart Removal in Singapore for more detailed information about wart removal.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are found on the bottom of the feet.
They might be flat or grow inward, and they can have black dots. These warts can grow large and hurt when you walk or stand. They are caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27, and 57.
Mosaic Warts
Mosaic warts are small and white, often appearing on the ball of the foot or under the toes.
They can spread and cover more of the foot, but they are flatter than plantar warts and are usually not painful when walking. They are caused by HPV type 2.
Flat Warts
Flat warts appear anywhere on the body.
They are smaller and smoother than other warts and often come in large groups. They are caused by HPV types 3, 10, and 28.
Filiform Warts
Filiform warts look like thin, thread-like growths.
They often appear on the face, like around the mouth, eyes, or nose. They are caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, 27, and 29.
Genital Warts
Genital warts affect the genital area and rectum.
They are a type of sexually transmitted infection that spreads through skin-to-skin contact. These warts are small, hard, and rough. They are mostly caused by HPV types 6 and 11.
Butcher’s warts develop on the hands of people who work with raw meat or handle wet, cold environments.
They are caused by HPV type 7.
Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia
Focal epithelial hyperplasia, also known as Heck’s disease, is a rare condition where warts grow inside the mouth.
They look soft and white or pink, and are caused by HPV types 13 and 32.