Print Overview Common warts Enlarge image Close Common warts Common warts Common warts can grow on your hands or fingers. They're small, grainy bumps that are rough to the touch. Common warts are small, grainy skin growths that occur most often on the fingers or hands. They're rough to the touch and often have tiny black dots. These dots are clotted blood vessels. Common warts are caused by a virus and are transmitted by touch. It can take 2 to 6 months for a wart to develop. The warts are usually harmless and over time go away on their own. But many people choose to remove them because they find them bothersome or embarrassing.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home Remedies SymptomsCommon warts symptoms include: Small, fleshy, grainy bumps on the fingers or hands. Feeling rough to the touch. A sprinkling of black dots, which are clotted blood vessels. When to see a doctorSee a healthcare professional for common warts if: The growths hurt, bleed, burn or itch. You've tried treating the warts, but they persist, spread or come back. The growths are bothersome or interfere with activities. You're unsure whether the growths are warts. You have many warts. You have a weak immune system. Warts show up on the face, feet or genitals. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesCommon warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, also called HPV. There are more than 100 types of this common virus, but only a few cause warts on the hands. Some strains of HPV are spread through sexual contact. But most are spread by casual skin contact or shared objects, such as towels or washcloths. The virus usually spreads through breaks in the skin, such as hangnails or scrapes. Biting your nails also can cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails. Each person's immune system responds to HPV differently. So not everyone who comes in contact with HPV develops warts. Risk factorsPeople at higher risk of developing common warts include: Children and young adults. People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or those who have had organ transplants. People with the habit of nail biting or picking at hangnails. PreventionTo help prevent common warts: Don't touch or pick at warts, including your own. Don't use the same emery board, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on healthy skin and nails. Use a disposable emery board. Don't bite your fingernails or pick at hangnails. Groom with care. And avoid brushing, clipping or shaving areas that have warts. Avoid shared hot tubs, showers and warm baths. And don't share washcloths or towels. Use hand moisturizer daily. This helps prevent dry, cracked skin. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment May 16, 2024 Print Show references Newman CC, et al. Clinical pearls in dermatology 2017. Disease-a-Month 63:165. Soutor C, et al., eds. Viral infections of the skin. In: Clinical Dermatology: Diagnosis and Management of Common Disorders. 2nd ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. High WA, et al., eds. Warts and molluscum contagiosum. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. Bunik M, et al., eds. Skin. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics. 26th ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. Kwok CS, et al. Topical treatments for cutaneous warts. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001781.pub3/abstract. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. Warts. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-overview. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. Kermott CA, et al. Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies. 2nd ed. Mayo Clinic; 2017. Fowler GC, et al., eds. Wart (verruca) treatment. In: Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 9, 2024. Schmitt, BD. Warts. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 17th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2021. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Jan. 15, 2024. Related Common warts Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home Remedies Common wartsSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatment Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry