Types of viral warts
Not every wart looks the same. The type depends on its location on the body and the HPV strain that caused it.
- Verruca vulgaris (common wart) — the most frequent type. It appears on the hands, fingers and knees, and looks like a raised bump with a rough, grainy surface.
- Verruca plantaris (plantar wart) — grows on the sole of the foot, often inward. It can hurt when walking, and you'll usually see tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels).
- Verruca plana (flat wart) — appears on the face and hands, often in clusters. It's flat, subtle, and sometimes barely noticeable.
How to tell a wart from a callus
A viral wart and a callus (heloma) can look similar, especially on the foot — but they're two completely different problems that need different approaches.
- Skin ridges — in a viral wart, the fingerprint-like ridges are interrupted at the lesion; with a callus, they run normally across the entire surface.
- Black dots — a hallmark of warts (clotted blood vessels); calluses don't have them.
- Pain on pressure — a wart hurts when squeezed from the side; a callus hurts when pressed from above.
- Contagiousness — warts are contagious (HPV); calluses are a mechanical issue with no risk of transmission.
In-salon wart removal methods
At J'ADORE INSTYTUT, we use two effective in-salon methods — the choice depends on the location, size and number of lesions.
Chemical methods (salicylic acid, TCA) are used as a complementary approach — they require regular application over many weeks and bring moderate results. Low-concentration salicylic acid is available over the counter; higher concentrations and other chemical preparations are a salon procedure.
When is a dermatologist visit necessary?
A cosmetology salon treatment is suitable for typical, single or few warts. There are, however, situations that call for a medical consultation.
- Multiple or extensive warts covering large areas of the body.
- People with a weakened immune system (immunosuppression, chronic illness) — the risk of recurrence and complications is higher.
- No improvement after several months of consistent treatment.
- Lesions in intimate areas — these always need a diagnosis from a dermatologist or gynaecologist.
Why do warts come back?
Recurrence is one of the most frustrating aspects of HPV treatment. It usually comes down to one of three causes.
- Incomplete destruction of the lesion — residual cells carrying the HPV virus are enough for the wart to grow back.
- Reinfection — HPV spreads through contact with an infected surface (a pool floor, a towel, manicure tools). That's why it matters to choose salons that use single-use tools.
- Weakened immunity — HPV can lie dormant in the body and reactivate when the immune system weakens.
