Viral warts can be caused by a variety of viruses, but the most common are those caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). This kind of warts are small, dense tumors with a rough surface, some of which have black dots in their center.

HPV warts develop mainly on the fingers, but can affect all parts of the body. They are known as chicken pox on the foot and as condyloma on the genitals.

Infection occurs when skin comes into contact with skin.

Children and young people become infected more often, as do people with weakened immune systems.

Viral warts can disappear by themselves, but in most cases they grow in size and number. They are highly contagious and can spread from one part of the body to another, especially when combing. There are more than 100 types of HPV, and a small number of them can cause serious diseases such as cervical cancer.

You can learn more about this topic in the article “What do we need to know about genital warts (condylomas)?”, prepared by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).