Conditions
Warts on the hands and feet: what they are and how to get rid of them
Warts are rough bumps on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and they are almost always harmless. Many go away on their own within about 2 years, and others improve with home treatment. The doctor evaluates them by video, tells you which treatment suits you and, if appropriate, prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- A red, warm, swollen wart with pus or red streaks, and a fever
- A wound or redness on the foot if you have diabetes, with fever or a bad smell
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At a glance
Warts
Common symptoms
- Raised, rough bumps, round or oval
- A spot lighter or darker than the skin around it
- A hard bump on the sole of the foot that hurts when you walk
- Smooth, flat bumps on the face or forehead
- Other names
- Common wart · Plantar wart · Flat warts
- Treatment
- Home treatment applied to the skin; office treatment (such as freezing) in person
On this page(8)
What are warts?
Warts are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 150 types of the virus. Warts can spread from one part of your body to another, and from person to person through contact.
They are usually raised and rough, round or oval, and sometimes lighter or darker than the skin around them.
- Common warts: usually on the hands and fingers.
- Plantar wart: on the sole of the foot; it can hurt when you walk.
- Flat warts: smooth, on the face and forehead; more common in children.
- Warts around or under the nails.
- Genital warts: these are different and handled separately; see genital warts and HPV.
How we treat warts by video
You see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, a Puerto Rico–licensed general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, in English or Spanish. Warts are diagnosed by how they look: show the wart close up on camera in good light, or send photos through the secure link we send you.
The doctor tells you whether it is a wart, which home treatment suits you and how to use it. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. Freezing a wart (cryotherapy) and other office treatments are done in person; if you need one, the doctor tells you where to go.
We see adults and children of all ages; patients under 21 need a parent or legal guardian on camera with ID. You need to be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit. See also our online skin care.
Your doctor
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD
General practice physician
Several years of emergency-department experience.
Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative.
Your visit in 3 steps
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
Request your visit.
Book a visit and choose "Doctor visit". You pay by card when you request it.
See the doctor by video.
We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
Get your plan.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. If you need an in-person treatment, we tell you where to go.
What the visit costs
Warts are handled in a US$79 doctor visit, the same price for every age, with no membership. You pay by card when you request the visit, and you get a full refund if the visit can’t take place. Any in-person treatment is paid separately where you get it. See all prices.
Wart symptoms
What you usually see:
- Raised, rough bumps, round or oval
- A spot lighter or darker than the skin around it
- A hard bump on the sole of the foot that hurts when you walk
- Smooth, flat bumps on the face or forehead
How to get rid of warts: treatment
Many warts go away on their own within about 2 years. Warts on the soles of the feet and around the nails are harder to cure, and warts can come back after treatment.
For warts on the hands and feet there are over-the-counter medicines you apply every day for several weeks or months. Before applying it, file the wart with a nail file when the skin is damp, for example after a shower. Don’t treat warts on the face or genitals yourself. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, don’t treat warts on your feet on your own: tell the doctor.
If warts don’t improve, there are office treatments, such as freezing, that are done in person.
When a spot is not a wart
Small smooth, round bumps with a dimple in the center are usually molluscum contagiosum, not warts. A spot that changes color, size or shape, or that bleeds, should not be treated as a wart. It needs an in-person exam, because sometimes a biopsy is needed to rule out skin cancer. If you notice something like this, the doctor refers you. For your safety, if a wart becomes red, warm, swollen and full of pus, or you have a fever, see cellulitis; if you have warning signs, go to the emergency room or call 911.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Can warts be removed through a video visit?
Are warts contagious?
What is a plantar wart?
Do you treat genital warts?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-02 · Updated: 2026-10-02
Sources (3)
- Warts (MedlinePlus, NIH) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Diabetes and Your Feet (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Molluscum contagiosum (MedlinePlus, NIH) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)