What is it about the term warts that brings us to those children’s books with the witch with the ugly wart on her nose? All hunched over and scary? What is it that makes us fear warts?

Warts are usually caused by different strains of the papilloma virus that cause abnormal growth of epidermal cells. These viruses are also known to cause cancer. Some types of warts also have nothing to do with Papilloma Virus. So how do you know what you have?

Well technically there are 5 main types of warts:

Common warts are the most frequent among all warts. The medical term for common warts is Verruca vulgaris. They are usually just a nuisance without any major pain or other effects on the body. They usually appear as lumps and bumps on the face and body caused by blood clots. They are always benign and the risk of cancer is non-existent. So no need to worry if this is all you have.

The second most common warts are genital warts. Everyone knows what these are. They are the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases. They are usually characterized by painful lumps in the genital regions around the penis, vagina, or anus. They could spread to the thighs quite easily. And frequent contact with clothing in the region makes it quite painful. They can be controlled in various ways. If this is what you have, be careful what you do. Get it checked out properly and treated as soon as possible. They are also easily controlled with home remedies.

The third most common wart is the plantar wart. They almost always appear on the feet. The lesion is mostly flat or slightly irregular. They are quite painful, especially with shoes constantly rubbing against them. Make sure you take off your shoes and let your skin breathe. They are spread by contact, and the rate of infection increases if the skin on the feet has been broken, such as from a cut on the leg. If you have a cut, always cover it with a bandage. The treatment of plantar warts is difficult and long. It is imperative to see a doctor if you have this. The risk is extremely high if you are diabetic because if warts are not controlled, they can get worse enough to require serious medical intervention, such as amputation.

The fourth type of wart is the flat wart. They are easily identified. They appear on the face or neck and have a higher rate of occurrence in women. They are nothing but a huge hassle for women who want to look good. They usually fade on their own, but the skin does fade and that’s pretty annoying. Most women often use over-the-counter makeup or skin lightening creams to treat them. If you have a severe case, it can be treated surgically.

The fifth type is the filiform or digitate wart, again like flat warts, they are just annoyances. They differ in the flat form of warts. They are like ugly little fingers sticking out of the eyelids or lips. They are difficult to remove and very unpleasant. They can be easily removed with an outpatient procedure or freezing.