Warts and verrucas

Warts and verrucas are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years.

Check if you have a wart or verruca

Two warts on a finger. — Warts feel firm and rough. They can appear on palms, knuckles, knees and fingers.

A verruca on the sole of a foot. — Verrucas appear on your feet. They have tiny black dots under the hard skin.

A collection of flat warts on a forehead. — Some warts are round, flat and can be yellow (plane warts). You can have many of them.

A collection of mosaic warts spread over the skin. — Clusters of warts, spread over an area of skin (mosaic warts) are common on feet and hands.

Warts do not cause you any harm but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. Verrucas are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle.

You can treat warts if they bother you, keep coming back or are painful.

A pharmacist can help with warts and verrucas

You can buy creams, plasters and sprays from pharmacies to get rid of warts and verrucas.

These treatments can take up to 3 months to complete, may irritate your skin and do not always work. You should not use these treatments on your face.

Your pharmacist can give you advice about the best treatment for you.

Find a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

you're worried about a growth on your skin
you have a wart or verruca that keeps coming back
you have a very large or painful wart or verruca
a wart bleeds or changes in how it looks
you have a wart on your face or genitals

Genital warts can be treated at a sexual health or GUM clinic.

Find your nearest sexual health service

Treatment from a GP

Your GP may be able to freeze a wart or verruca so it falls off a few weeks later. Sometimes it takes a few sessions.

Check with your GP if the NHS pays for this treatment in your area.

If treatment has not worked or you have a wart on your face, your GP might refer you to a skin specialist. Other treatments include minor surgery and treatment with laser or light.

How to stop warts and verrucas spreading

Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus. They can be spread to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You're more likely to spread a wart or verruca if your skin is wet or damaged.

It can take months for a wart or verruca to appear after contact with the virus.

Do

wash your hands after touching a wart or verruca
change your socks daily if you have a verruca
cover warts and verrucas with a plaster when swimming
take care not to cut a wart when shaving

Don't

do not share towels, flannels, socks or shoes if you have a wart or verruca
do not bite your nails or suck fingers with warts on
do not walk barefoot in public places if you have a verruca
do not scratch or pick a wart

Page last reviewed: 8 September 2017
Next review due: 8 September 2020