Have you ever looked down at your feet and spotted a small, fleshy bump that wasn’t there before? Maybe it is even a bit painful to the touch? If so, then you know what it’s like to discover that you have a wart. It’s okay, though – warts are actually a super common skin issue. While they can be a bit of a nuisance, they’re usually harmless. Still, you want to make sure you’re doing the right things to ensure you don’t spread them to anyone else, get rid of yours as quickly as you can, and prevent yourself from getting a new one. Read on to get to know these little bumps a little bit better.

What Exactly IS a Wart?

At its core, a wart is a small skin growth caused by a virus – the human papillomavirus (HPV). When the virus gets into your body through a tiny cut or scrape, it can cause the skin cells to grow rapidly on the surface, creating that familiar bumpy texture of a wart.

Warts come in all shapes and sizes and can show up almost anywhere on your body. That being said, there are some types of warts that are more common than others. The following are the most common types of warts that people get.

These are the classic warts, often found on hands and fingers. They have a rough, “cauliflower-like” surface. Usually they are fairly small, but they can grow if left untreated.