Warts are infectious growths on the skin caused by human papilloma virus, or HPV. They can appear individually or in clusters anywhere on the body.

Causes

• Direct contact with human papilloma virus
• Sharing personal items like towels, razors and so on of a person with warts
• Having unprotected sex

Symptoms

• Hard, rough grayish brown bumps with black dot inside, generally on fingers, hands, knees and elbows
• Pink, light brown or yellow flat growths on the face and sometimes on the arms, knees or hands
• Sensation of walking with a small stone in the shoe
• Flesh colored, thread like growths around the eyes, mouth or nose

Treatment
Most of the warts disappear on their own in a few months or years but they can be treated by a doctor for faster results and relief from painful symptoms by:

• Applying salicylic acid
• Applying cantharidin
• Applying liquid nitrogen
• Burning the wart
• Cutting out the wart
• Removing the wart with a laser

 Prevention

• Not sharing towels and other personal items with somebody with warts
• Washing hands often
• Not exposing broken skin to infections in public places like swimming pools
• Keeping skin dry
• Using a condom
• Avoid biting nails