wart follow up care

Overview

Warts are small, rough growths on the skin caused by a virus. Follow-up care means watching the treated area, protecting the skin, and knowing when to see a healthcare provider again.

Yes, warts are very common. Many people get at least one wart at some point in life.

Warts can affect people of all ages, but they are most often seen in children and teenagers, and in people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• A small, rough bump on the skin
• Flesh-colored, pink, or brown growth
• Tiny black dots, sometimes called wart seeds
• Mild tenderness or pain when pressing on the wart

Symptoms in children

• Warts may not bother children at all.
• They often appear as rough bumps on the hands, knees, or around fingernails.
• The ‘wart seeds’ are tiny blood vessels and are normal, not something harmful.

Symptoms in older adults

• Warts may be less common in older adults, but the skin can be drier and slower to heal.
• Watch for any break in the skin around the wart, because older skin is easier to injure.
• Any treated area should close slowly and steadily; if not, tell your healthcare provider.

Causes

Main causes

• Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types that enter through small breaks in the skin.
• The virus makes the top layer of skin grow quickly, forming a wart.
• Warts can spread through skin-to-skin contact or by touching surfaces that have the virus, such as shared shower floors, towels, or nail files.

Risk factors

• Cuts, scratches, or biting your nails
• Using shared showers, pools, or locker rooms
• Touching a wart on yourself or someone else
• Having a weakened immune system

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• If you notice signs of infection, such as spreading redness, heat, swelling, fever, or pus
• If a wart or the skin around it becomes very painful or bleeds a lot
• If you have diabetes and develop a wart or sore on your foot

Book a routine appointment if:

• If a wart does not improve after following your provider’s treatment plan for several weeks
• If a wart changes in color, size, or shape, or bleeds without any injury
• If warts come back after treatment
• If warts appear on the face, genitals, or other sensitive areas

Diagnosis

A healthcare provider usually diagnoses a wart by looking at it and, if needed, using a small magnifying tool. Usually no tests are needed.

Tests that may be done

• Visual exam by a healthcare provider
• Sometimes a tiny sample (biopsy) is taken if the growth looks unusual

What to expect at your appointment

The provider may ask how long you have had the wart and whether it has changed. They will examine the skin and may use a light or magnifier. In most cases, diagnosis is quick and painless.

Treatment

Wart treatment depends on the location, size, and your age. The goal is to remove the wart and help the skin return to normal. Sometimes more than one treatment is needed, and the virus may still be present in the skin for a while.

Self-care at home

• Wash your hands before and after touching a wart.
• Keep the wart and the surrounding skin clean and dry.
• Gently file the wart with an emery board or pumice stone after softening it in water, and use a separate file that is not shared.
• Avoid picking, scratching, or biting the wart.
• Cover the wart with a small plaster or dressing while swimming or if it may get bumped.
• Be patient: treatments often take weeks or months.

Medical treatments

Your healthcare provider may offer treatments such as prescription creams that help the immune system clear the wart, freezing therapy (cryotherapy), laser treatment, or minor procedures to remove the wart. The choice depends on the type of wart, where it is, and how it responds to earlier treatment. Always follow your provider’s instructions and do not use leftover treatments without advice.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not usually the first choice. It may be considered if a wart is stubborn, deep, or causing pain, or if other treatments have not worked. You will be given an anaesthetic so the area is numb before any procedure.

Living with this condition

While a wart is healing, treat the area gently. Wash it with mild soap and water, pat it dry, and put on any prescribed barrier cream or dressing exactly as directed. Wear clean socks and shoes if the wart is on your foot.

Lifestyle tips

• Do not share towels, socks, shoes, or nail clippers.
• Wear flip-flops or shower shoes in public pools, locker rooms, and communal showers.
• Change socks daily and keep feet dry if the warts are on your feet.
• Keep hands moisturized to reduce cracks in the skin.
• Support your immune system by eating well, staying active, and getting enough sleep.

Diet and exercise

There is no special diet that removes warts, but eating balanced meals and staying active can help your immune system stay strong. Continue normal activities, and use waterproof plasters or gloves if you are in a public pool or gym.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Warts can sometimes feel embarrassing, especially on visible areas like the hands or face. It may help to remember that warts are common, not a sign of poor hygiene, and that treatment works. If the wart causes distress, talk with your healthcare provider about treatment options.

Prevention

You can lower the chances of getting warts by avoiding direct contact with warts, not sharing personal items, and keeping your skin clean and dry. There is no guaranteed way to prevent every wart, but these habits reduce the risk.

Vaccines

There are vaccines that protect against high-risk HPV types linked to some cancers, but they do not protect against the common wart-causing HPV types on the hands and feet. Your healthcare provider can tell you if HPV vaccination is recommended for you.

Screening programmes

No routine screening tests are needed for common warts. If you notice new or changing growths, a healthcare provider can examine them.

Complications

If left untreated

• The wart may spread to other areas of your body.
• The wart may become larger, thicker, or more painful.
• A wart on the sole of the foot (verruca) may make walking or standing uncomfortable.
• In rare cases, a wart can become infected if the skin breaks.

Long-term outlook

Most warts clear up within months to a couple of years, even without treatment. With consistent care, the chance of clearing is good. Even if a wart returns, there are more options to try. It is always okay to ask for support.

Find support

External links open third-party websites. Ruqelo Health is not responsible for external content. Listing an organisation does not imply endorsement.