Types of warts

Warts come in a handful of standard types, named by where and how they grow - and the type decides both the treatment and the level of concern.

Common wart (verruca vulgaris). The classic rough, dome-shaped bump on hands, fingers, knees. The most frequent type, especially in children. Harmless; often multiple.

Plantar wart (verruca plantaris). On the weight-bearing sole, pressed flat and inward, covered by callus, painful on walking. 'Mosaic warts' are clusters of plantar warts merging into a patch. The most troublesome everyday type because of pain.

Flat (plane) warts. Small, smooth, flat-topped, numerous - face, forehead, and shaved skin. They spread easily along scratch and razor lines (self-inoculation), so picking and shaving over them multiplies them.

Filiform warts. Slender, thread-like or frond-like projections on the face - around lips, nostrils, eyelids - and neck. They grow fast but are superficial and respond well to simple clinic removal.

Periungual warts. Around and under nails, favoured by nail-biters; they can distort the nail and are among the hardest to treat because of their protected position.

Genital warts (condyloma acuminatum). A separate category caused by sexually transmitted HPV types (chiefly 6 and 11, which are low-cancer-risk; other genital types like 16 and 18 carry cancer risk). Soft growths in the genital/anal region requiring medical treatment, partner assessment, and for women up-to-date cervical screening. The HPV vaccine prevents these types - worth discussing with a doctor for eligible age groups.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive): classical texts categorize skin excrescences by appearance and dosha - an interpretive framework of limited evidence. The clinical typing above is what guides treatment choice.

Remember: hands = common, sole = plantar, face clusters = flat, threads on the face = filiform, around nails = periungual, genital = a medical visit with partner and screening considerations. The type, not the size, sets the plan.