Skin warts are a problem that affects millions of people. These are small growths that appear on the skin’s surface and are benign and non cancerous. Though harmless, most people want their complete removal because they tend to look ugly and make the skin look imperfect, scratchy and rough. They are extremely unattractive. Warts can appear anywhere on the skin such as the hands, feet, face or neck. Most warts are quite harmless.

Skin warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus, also known as HPV. Skin warts pass quite easily from person to person through direct contact. They enter the skin through cuts or breaks. In fact people who bite their nails a lot will find themselves more susceptible to warts on the skin. What's more, you might pass on a wart to other parts of your skin from an affected area by scratching the infected area and then touching an unaffected area. An interesting point to note is that though warts pass through direct contact, not everyone is susceptible to them. This means that some people are more prone to warts than others. It all depends on the health and other subjective conditions.

The warts on the skin could be flat or plain warts or plantar warts. Plain and flat warts are quite soft. Plantar warts are usually found on the feet and are rather unpleasant and painful. Warts occur in clusters and keep on growing out. They might even grow inwards. These days another type of skin wart is spreading at an alarming rate, the genital wart. These warts are a sexually transmitted disease. Genital warts should not be taken lightly and if it occurs a doctor should be notified immediately.

Warts are a common thing that affects children, adults and the elderly alike. Sometimes warts can be painful, especially when they spread out on the skin and form clusters. The virus that causes skin warts thrives in moist and damp areas such as shower stalls and swimming pools. People with weaker immune systems are more prone to getting them.

It is best to contact a local physician if you want your warts removed. He or she can give out the correct diagnosis and also tell if the wart is an indicator of a more serious skin lesion.

There are a number of over the counter prescriptions available for removing skin warts and in fact you could also take your pick from home remedies. Though these might take a longer time to take effect, they are low cost and do prove to be beneficial. However you need to keep in mind that certain home remedies can react adversely on your skin. So you should figure out what you are allergic to and accordingly switch over to another treatment.

To know more details about a wart and to get more advice it is best to consult a doctor, dermatologist or a professional health care provider. You can also find valuable information on the internet along with effective remedies, precautions and treatments.