Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Do They Look Like?Causes and Risk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentOther DiagnosesPreventionWhen to See a Healthcare Professional
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Do They Look Like?
Causes and Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Other Diagnoses
Prevention
When to See a Healthcare Professional
Flat warts are usually harmless.Flat warts are often light brown and can be found on areas of the body that are frequently shaved. However, they often appear on children’s cheeks, foreheads, hands, and forearms.
This article discusses more on symptoms of flat warts, causes of and risk factors for flat warts, diagnosing flat warts, other conditions that can look like flat warts, treating flat warts, when to see a healthcare professional, and how to prevent flat warts.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
What Do Flat Warts Look Like?
Flat Warts: Causes and Risk Factors
Can Flat Warts be an STD?HPV transmissionoften occurs via sexual contact, and flat warts can be sexually transmitted. However, HPV can also be passed on through:Sharing objects like razors and towelsSkin-to-skin contactSkin-to-mucus contact
Can Flat Warts be an STD?
HPV transmissionoften occurs via sexual contact, and flat warts can be sexually transmitted. However, HPV can also be passed on through:Sharing objects like razors and towelsSkin-to-skin contactSkin-to-mucus contact
HPV transmissionoften occurs via sexual contact, and flat warts can be sexually transmitted. However, HPV can also be passed on through:
Diagnosing Flat Warts
Treating Flat Warts
Warts usually disappear on their own. However, the process can take weeks or months. There are treatments available for removing warts but they can re-emerge due to viruses.
People with flat warts on their faces or genitals are advised to avoid over-the-counter medications and to see a healthcare provider for wart removal. Pregnant or breastfeeding people or those with severe diabetes (with nerve damage) are advised to see a healthcare provider before wart treatment or to avoid treatment.To treat a flat wart, the following treatments could be considered:
Flat Warts and Other Diagnoses
Flat Wart Prevention
Preventing flat warts requires preventing the transmission of HPV. HPV infects almost everyone, and research indicates hygiene might not have an effect. However, some general practices could help lower the risk of transmitting HPV that could cause flat warts, including:
Other symptoms with flat warts that could require medical attention include:
Summary
If you have a compromised immune system or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should speak to a healthcare professional before seeking treatment. While it’s difficult to prevent HPV, some hygienic practices could help prevent the spread.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.HPV infection.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316MedlinePlus.Warts.MedlinePlus.Warts.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Warts: Overview. 2019.Cleveland Clinic.Flat warts.Truong K, Joseph J, Manago B, Wain T.Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence. Aust J Gen Pract. 2022 Oct;51(10):799-803. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305Schwab RA, Elston DM.Topical imiquimod for recalcitrant facial flat warts.Cutis. 2000 Mar;65(3):160-2. PMID: 10738635Harvard Medical School.How to get rid of warts.Okhovat JP, Tahan SR, Kim CC.A pink enlarging plaque on the plantar foot: amelanotic acral lentiginous melanoma.Dermatol Online J. 2019;25(1):11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5070/D3251042617MedlinePlus.Seborrheic keratosis.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316Bossart S, Imstepf V, Hunger R, Jafari S.Nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccination as a treatment for skin warts in immunosuppressed adults: a case series.Acta Derm Venereol.2020;100(6):adv00078-2.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.HPV infection.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316MedlinePlus.Warts.MedlinePlus.Warts.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Warts: Overview. 2019.Cleveland Clinic.Flat warts.Truong K, Joseph J, Manago B, Wain T.Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence. Aust J Gen Pract. 2022 Oct;51(10):799-803. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305Schwab RA, Elston DM.Topical imiquimod for recalcitrant facial flat warts.Cutis. 2000 Mar;65(3):160-2. PMID: 10738635Harvard Medical School.How to get rid of warts.Okhovat JP, Tahan SR, Kim CC.A pink enlarging plaque on the plantar foot: amelanotic acral lentiginous melanoma.Dermatol Online J. 2019;25(1):11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5070/D3251042617MedlinePlus.Seborrheic keratosis.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316Bossart S, Imstepf V, Hunger R, Jafari S.Nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccination as a treatment for skin warts in immunosuppressed adults: a case series.Acta Derm Venereol.2020;100(6):adv00078-2.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.HPV infection.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316MedlinePlus.Warts.MedlinePlus.Warts.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Warts: Overview. 2019.Cleveland Clinic.Flat warts.Truong K, Joseph J, Manago B, Wain T.Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence. Aust J Gen Pract. 2022 Oct;51(10):799-803. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305Schwab RA, Elston DM.Topical imiquimod for recalcitrant facial flat warts.Cutis. 2000 Mar;65(3):160-2. PMID: 10738635Harvard Medical School.How to get rid of warts.Okhovat JP, Tahan SR, Kim CC.A pink enlarging plaque on the plantar foot: amelanotic acral lentiginous melanoma.Dermatol Online J. 2019;25(1):11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5070/D3251042617MedlinePlus.Seborrheic keratosis.Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316Bossart S, Imstepf V, Hunger R, Jafari S.Nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccination as a treatment for skin warts in immunosuppressed adults: a case series.Acta Derm Venereol.2020;100(6):adv00078-2.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.HPV infection.
Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316
MedlinePlus.Warts.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Warts: Overview. 2019.
Cleveland Clinic.Flat warts.
Truong K, Joseph J, Manago B, Wain T.Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence. Aust J Gen Pract. 2022 Oct;51(10):799-803. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305
Schwab RA, Elston DM.Topical imiquimod for recalcitrant facial flat warts.Cutis. 2000 Mar;65(3):160-2. PMID: 10738635
Harvard Medical School.How to get rid of warts.
Okhovat JP, Tahan SR, Kim CC.A pink enlarging plaque on the plantar foot: amelanotic acral lentiginous melanoma.Dermatol Online J. 2019;25(1):11. doi:https://doi.org/10.5070/D3251042617
MedlinePlus.Seborrheic keratosis.
Petca A, Borislavschi A, Zvanca ME, Petca RC, Sandru F, Dumitrascu MC.Non-sexual HPV transmission and role of vaccination for a better future (Review).Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(6):186. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9316
Bossart S, Imstepf V, Hunger R, Jafari S.Nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccination as a treatment for skin warts in immunosuppressed adults: a case series.Acta Derm Venereol.2020;100(6):adv00078-2.
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