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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Common warts are skin growths caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus causes a rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of your skin.
Common warts are different from moles, and they aren't cancerous. In fact, they're usually harmless and often disappear on their own. But you may find common warts bothersome or embarrassing, and you may want treatment to remove them.
Common warts usually grow on your hands or fingers. Treatment helps prevent common warts from spreading to other parts of your body or to other people. But common warts may recur after treatment, and they may be a persistent problem.
- Warts. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_warts.html. Accessed. Dec. 28, 2009.
- Androphy EJ, et al. Warts. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2958209. Accessed Dec. 28, 2009.
- Warts. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch122/ch122c.html. Accessed Dec. 26, 2009.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Cutaneous warts. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 28, 2009.
- Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed Dec. 28, 2009.
- Dehghani F, et al. Healing effect of garlic extract on warts and corns. International Journal of Dermatology. 2005;44:612.
- Egawa K, et al. Topical vitamin D3 derivatives for recalcitrant warts in three immunocompromised patients. British Journal of Dermatology. 2004;150:367.
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