One of the most important warning signs is uncertainty about what the lesion actually is.
A person may assume a changing dark spot is a wart when it could instead be a mole or another type of skin lesion. Likewise, a persistent sore that does not heal should not automatically be classified as a wart.
Medical evaluation is particularly appropriate when a growth:
- Changes rapidly in size, shape, or color
- Bleeds repeatedly
- Becomes significantly painful
- Develops an unusual appearance
- Does not respond to appropriate treatment
- Returns repeatedly after treatment
- Appears on the face or genital area
- Occurs in someone with a weakened immune system
Location matters as well.
A growth near the eye, on the face, or around the genitals can require specialized treatment because aggressive home treatment may damage surrounding tissue.
People with diabetes or reduced circulation should also be cautious when treating lesions on their feet. Even a small injury from attempting to remove a wart can become problematic in people whose wounds heal poorly.
Another important point is that HPV-related warts are not evidence of poor hygiene. Anyone can develop them.
The immune system plays an important role in determining whether an infection becomes established and how long it remains. Children and young adults commonly develop warts, but adults can develop them too.
Some warts eventually disappear without treatment. Others persist because the immune system does not eliminate the virus quickly.
A doctor may diagnose an obvious wart simply by examining it. In unusual cases, a small sample of tissue may be examined to rule out other conditions.
This is why an online photograph can never provide absolute certainty about a skin lesion.
If you have a growth that looks like the examples in the image but you are unsure what it is, the safest approach is to have it properly identified rather than assuming the diagnosis.
Chapter 5 — Can Warts Be Prevented or Treated?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent every common wart, but several everyday habits can reduce the chance of spreading them.
Avoid picking, scratching, or cutting a wart. If the surface is repeatedly damaged, viral particles may potentially spread to nearby skin. Keep the area clean and consider covering it when appropriate.