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Warts and verrucas Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2009.

Answers to questions about warts and verrucas

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

I've found a wart-like lump on my skin, but could it be something else?

Warts are generally harmless and usually go away without treatment. But if your wart changes shape, colour, bleeds or oozes discharge you should visit your GP immediately.

Explanation

There are many different types of wart caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They can appear on your hands, feet, face, eyelids, neck or lips. Most warts cause little discomfort and usually disappear without treatment within two years.

Sometimes warts and verrucas can be confused with other similar skin conditions.

  • Common warts are firm, raised pink or skin-coloured lumps that can be found on your hands, elbows and knees, but other skin conditions can look similar. A type of genital wart called molluscum contagiosum, moles and skin tags can all resemble the common wart.
  • Verrucas are small (1 to 10mm) with a rough surface and are found on the soles of your feet. They can sometimes be mistaken for corns or calluses.

If you're worried about your wart, and especially if you have a weakened immune system, you shouldn't expose the wart to direct sunlight and should seek advice from your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Warrell DA, Cox TM, Firth JD. Oxford Textbook of Medicine. 4th ed. Vol 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005:883-884
  • Warts (including verrucas). Clinical Knowledge Summaries. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 11 July 2008
  • Guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts. British Association of Dermatologists, 2000. www.bad.org.uk, accessed 11 July 2008
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Are there any alternative therapies I can try to help get rid of my warts/verrucas?

There are a number of alternative therapies you could try to help treat your warts or verrucas, but you should talk to your GP about whether these will be useful.

Explanation

If you don't want to use over-the-counter or prescribed medicines to treat your warts or verrucas you could try some alternative or complementary therapies. However, there is no evidence that these work.

Garlic has anti-viral properties and has been shown to treat warts and verrucas successfully in some people and prevent the warts returning.

Applying duct tape to the affected area may help to get rid of the wart or verruca.

  • Cover the wart or verruca with duct tape for six days.
  • After six days soak the wart or verruca in warm water.
  • Rub the wart or verruca with an abrasive board or pumice stone.
  • Leave the wart uncovered overnight and re-apply duct tape in the morning.
  • Repeat the cycle.

It can take a couple of months for the wart or verruca to disappear using this method. It's an alternative treatment that is worth trying, but there isn't much evidence that it works.

You could also try hypnosis as an alternative wart treatment. Some evidence suggests that hypnosis is more effective for curing warts than no treatment at all.

These treatments may help to get rid of your warts, but if your symptoms change at any time you should seek advice from your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Lipke MM. An armamentarium of wart treatments. Clin Med Res 2006; 4:273-293. www.clinmedres.org
  • Warts (including verrucas). Clinical Knowledge Summaries. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 11 July 2008
  • Warts (non-genital). BMJ Clinical Evidence. www.clinicalevidence.com, accessed 11 July 2008
  • Guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts. British Association of Dermatologists, 2000. www.bad.org.uk, accessed 11 July 2008
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I have warts on my hands. Can these spread to other parts of my body? For example, could I develop genital warts?

If you have warts on your hands, they can be spread to other areas of the body, apart from the genital area. Genital warts are caused by a different type of wart virus, and you can only catch genital warts if you're in close sexual contact with someone who has them.

Explanation

Warts and verrucas are caused by different types of the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Warts on your hands and feet are caused by types 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57. If you have warts on your hands there is a chance you could develop warts on your legs, face or elbows or verrucas on your feet, as these are all caused by similar strains of the virus.

However, if you have warts on your hands or other areas of your body these won't spread to your genital region to produce genital warts. This is because genital warts are caused by different types of HPV than warts on your feet and hands. There are more than 35 types of HPV that cause genital warts, but you can only catch genital warts if you have sex with, or are in close sexual contact with, someone who is already infected with them.

If you suspect you have genital warts you shouldn't try to treat them yourself and should visit your GP or a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic as soon as possible.

Further information

Sources

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Related topics

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: June 2009

 

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