Cause and history
In 1907 Italian physician Giuseppe Ciuffo inoculated skin with a filtered extract of wart tissue and produced warts, showing a filterable virus was responsible; it was later identified as human papillomavirus (HPV). Common warts on hands and feet are mostly HPV types 1, 2 and 4, entering through tiny cuts or moist skin. People with weakened immunity or damaged skin barriers, as in atopic dermatitis, are more susceptible.
Types and look-alikes
Common warts favor fingers and hands, plantar warts grow inward under body weight, and flat warts appear in clusters on the face. Molluscum contagiosum, common in children, is caused by a poxvirus, not HPV. Plantar warts are often confused with corns; tiny black dots (clotted capillaries) after paring suggest a wart.
Treatment and prevention
About two-thirds vanish on their own within two years, but spreading or painful warts are treated. Liquid-nitrogen cryotherapy and topical salicylic acid are the mainstays; a 2012 Cochrane review found the best evidence for salicylic acid. Don't pick them, wear sandals in pools and communal showers, and don't share towels.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
FAQ
- Are warts contagious?
- Yes—through direct contact or shared towels and floors, so avoid touching or picking them.
- Why do warts come back?
- Virus can persist in surrounding skin, so recurrence is common and repeat treatments may be needed.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Sterling, J. C., et al. (2014). British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts 2014. British Journal of Dermatology, 171(4), 696–712.
- Kwok, C. S., et al. (2012). Topical treatments for cutaneous warts. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD001781.
- 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털. (2024). 사마귀.