Warts occur when skin cells grow faster than normal because they are infected with the human papillomavirus ( HPV). (Some, like those on the face, may be smooth and flat.) The center of a wart may be flecked with dark dots these are capillaries that supply it with blood. A typical wart has a raised, rough surface. Warts grow in the epidermis, the upper skin layer. Wart removal can be a challenge, but fortunately, the most effective treatments are the least invasive. And some, like those found on the soles of the feet, can make walking and exercise painful. Warts are generally harmless and often disappear on their own over time, but they're unsightly.
