What do flat warts look like?
Flat warts typically appear on your face and the back of your hands. They may also show up on your neck or legs after nicking your skin after shaving. They surround scratches and cuts. You may also get flat warts on your fingers and arms.
Flat warts are skin-colored — often yellow, brown or pinkish. They’re very small — between 1 and 5 millimeters (mm) across — no bigger than the head of a pin. They’re smaller than other warts and smooth on top.
Flat warts may be round or oval-shaped. They’re only very slightly raised, sometimes not even noticeable. They almost always appear in groups or clusters of up to 100 or more.
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What causes flat warts?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes flat warts. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Specifically, HPV types 3, 10, 28 and 49 cause flat warts. These strains of HPV are noncancerous (benign). They’re not caused by the same strain of HPV that causes genital warts.
HPV survives in warm, damp environments. When the virus infects your body, it grows and thrives on areas of your skin because it’s warm and moist. The virus causes the thickening of the top layer of your skin.
What are the risk factors for developing flat warts?
You’re more likely to develop flat warts if you have skin-to-skin contact with a person who has them. Other risk factors include:
- Touching an object that has come into contact with HPV.
- Having open cuts and scrapes.
- Exercising poor hygiene.
- Having a weakened immune system.
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Are flat warts contagious?
Yes. The virus that causes flat warts (HPV) is contagious. It’s not highly contagious, but it can spread through skin-to-skin contact. HPV can enter your body through a small break, cut or scratch on your skin. You can also spread flat warts from one part of your body to another. Rarely, you can contract HPV by touching contaminated objects or surfaces.
You can take several steps to avoid contracting warts:
- Don’t share clothing, towels or other personal items with others.
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone with warts.
- Wear shower shoes or flip-flops in public locker rooms.
