Warts are common, benign skin growths caused by various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus enters the skin, often through small cuts, leading to increased cell growth and a thickened, hardened area. While generally harmless, understanding their appearance, including color variations, can help distinguish them and indicate when medical attention might be beneficial.
Typical Wart Hues
Warts can appear in a range of colors, often blending with the surrounding skin or presenting with distinct shades.
Common warts frequently look skin-colored, but they can also be light gray, white, pink, yellow, or brown. Their surface is typically rough and dome-shaped.
Flat warts, often found on the face, arms, or legs, are smaller and smoother, appearing skin-colored, pink, brownish, or slightly yellow.
Genital warts may be flesh-colored, pink, gray, or brown. Plantar warts, found on the soles of the feet, can be white or yellowish and often have small black dots, which are tiny clotted blood vessels sometimes called “wart seeds.”
What Makes Wart Colors Vary
Several biological and environmental factors contribute to the diverse coloration observed in warts.
The amount of keratin, a protein that makes up skin, hair, and nails, significantly influences a wart’s appearance; increased keratin can make a wart appear whiter or grayish.
The presence and visibility of blood vessels within the wart also play a role, as tiny clotted blood vessels can appear as black or brownish dots, particularly in common and plantar warts.
Skin pigmentation, determined by melanin levels, affects the wart’s color, meaning warts on individuals with darker skin tones may appear darker.
The wart’s location on the body can also influence its color and shape. For instance, plantar warts are often flattened by pressure from walking, appearing more yellowish or white due to callus formation. Friction or irritation can also cause changes in a wart’s color or texture over time.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While most warts are benign and often resolve on their own, certain changes in their color or other characteristics warrant medical evaluation.
Consult a healthcare professional if a wart suddenly changes color, such as becoming darker, red, or black, especially if multiple colors appear within a single wart.
A visit to the doctor is also recommended if the wart starts bleeding easily, becomes painful, or begins to itch.
Rapid growth or spread to other body areas also require professional assessment. Though rare, these changes could indicate a more serious underlying condition or complications, making timely medical advice important.